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10 year old Maughan Wellham  entered a bodybuilding show and quickly became the subject of much media attention.

Maughan is from Thornton near Newcastle and competed in the annual International Natural Bodybuilding Association's | 2008 INBA All Female Classic held at Glen Eira Auditorium, Victoria on July 12, 2008.

 

She was involved in the same events as the adults – there was a bikini round, a dress round, and a pose routine which was performed to music. As she was the only entrant, event promoter Tony Lanciano had a special division entitled ‘Ms Fitness Kidz’.

 

Maughan attracted great media attention by her entry with debates raging on on each side over whether as a  "10 year old bodybuilder" she was too young or not. She was featured in various Australian newspapers as well as television, and numerous international websites picked up the story, as well as an international bodybuilding magazine. [scans on this page]

Maughan said push-ups and sit-ups were part of her regime.

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• Videos: Maughan Interview and Clips of her Posing
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Photo credit: Liam Driver

Photo credit: Brendan Breen/Daily Telegraph

Video Screenshots:

 

 

 

Scans of Australian newspaper articles about 10 year old Maughan Wellham. Click on images to enlarge:

         

The July 17 Daily Telegraph news article by Lauren Williams which can be found here:

"A ten-year-old girl's decision to enter a bodybuilding competition has attracted support from her parents but criticism from health and sport experts who say it is inappropriate.

 

Maughan Wellham, from Thornton, near Newcastle in the Lower Hunter, took part in the Ms Fitness Australia category of the annual International Natural Bodybuilding Association's All Female Classic competition held in Victoria on Saturday.

 

As the only child in the event, Maughan became the first and only competitor in a specially devised "Ms Fitness Kidz" division.

 

Like her adult counterparts, Maughan took part in three compulsory components to the event - a pose routine set to music, dress round and bikini round.

 

Maughan was given permission to enter the event after her mother Michelle Wellham contacted event promoter Tony Lanciano.

 

"I was surprised," Mr Lanciano said. "But as a promoter I thought this could be a good opportunity to encourage other young girls to get fit.

 

"She showed her biceps beautifully in time to the Gladiator movie theme music. When she showed her abs and thighs, the crowd erupted.

 

"We're not telling girls to start heavyweight lifting. It's about fun and fitness."  He said Maughan's bikini routine had been "modest".

 

Yesterday Mrs Wellham said Maughan made the decision herself and had gained in confidence from doing so.

 

She said Maughan was not interested in bodybuilding, but as a successful little athletics champion, enjoyed the contest on its fitness merits.

 

Mrs Wellham said: "I'm against beauty pageants and I don't believe in dressing up kids like 40-year-olds. "Maughan is intrigued by people who look after their bodies - Jana Rawlinson is her hero."

 

Maughan said push-ups and sit-ups were part of her regime."I want muscles but I don't want to be a bodybuilder - I want to be a runner," she said.

 

National Amateur Body Builders Association president Graeme Lancefield said he was shocked by the parents' and promoter's decision. "Bodybuilding is not sport - it is a show - like ballet, dressage or pageants," Mr Lancefield said.

 

Head of Child Psychiatry at Newcastle University Louise Newman said that bodybuilding could involve unhealthy practices"

 

 

 

Article from The Herald Sun on July 17th written by Natalie Tkaczuk Sikora which can be found here:

"A BIKINI-clad 10-year-old girl has appeared in a bodybuilding competition in Melbourne, sparking concern from health experts and family groups.

Maughan Wellham was given her own category because she was so young. Organisers have said they will consider regular events for 10-year-olds organiser Tony Lanciano said. "I've never seen anything like that."

Mum Michelle Wellham said she saw nothing wrong with her daughter's daring display at the All Female Natural Muscle & Fitness Classic at the Glen Eira Auditorium last Saturday. "Maughan wanted to do it for fun. So I investigated it. I am very protective of my children," she said.

The mum of five, from Maitland in NSW, said Maughan was a fitness fanatic who runs, does push-ups and squats, but doesn't use weights. "I think it's very irresponsible to put a child on weights," she said.

Maughan said she wanted to be an Olympic athlete rather than a bodybuilder, and was inspired by runners such as Jana Rawlinson. She entered the competition to have fun after watching bodybuilding shows.

"I wasn't nervous. I just jumped around and was just so excited," she said. But child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said Maughan was too young to be flaunting her body and it could send out the wrong message to image-conscious kids.

"The thing that concerns me is that young people can damage themselves quite badly if they over-exercise when young," he said. "What we should be saying to kids is they should be valued more for what they do than how they look."

Leading sports and exercise physician Peter Larkins said it was precocious for a 10-year-old to do body posing. Dr Larkins was not critical of Maughan, but added: "Weight training at the pre-pubertal age group is not safe or effective. You don't have the hormones responsible for muscular development."

Australian Family Association president Angela Conway said putting the spotlight on young body shapes and passing judgment could have far- reaching consequences.

"There is a growing concern among young children about their body shape, and an increase in children coming into the Royal Children's Hospital eating disorders unit," she said.

Mr Lanciano, president of the Australian branch of the International Natural Bodybuilding Association, said the INBA would consider opening a new category for children aged 10-17."