Rachel McLish
Inducted 2006
Hometown: Harlingen
High School: Harlingen High School
College: Pan American University
Best Known for: Bodybuilding
One of the first mega-successful female body builders on the world stage, McLish parlayed incredible strength, arresting beauty, and an outgoing personality into a successful career as an actress and author.
McLish was raised in Harlingen as Rachel Elizondo and attended Pan American University, where participation in a weight-training class was the catalyst. She rose to international fame as the first winner of the title Ms. Olympia, in 1980 and won the award again in 1982, during a five-year span in world competition when she won four titles, finishing second or third four times.
By now a household name in fitness, McLish starred in the 1985 documentary Pumping Iron II: The Women, and appeared in three movies during the 1980s, including Iron Eagle III. She authored a pair of best-selling books on fitness and was named to the International Female Body Builders Hall of Fame in 1999.