Chinese woman wins female bodybuilding championship

Mou Cong, a 32-year-old Chinese woman, took home the championship for both Amateur Overall Figure and the female bodybuilding competition for those under 167 cm at the 2017 Arnold Amateur on March 5. Mou's win marked the first time a female Chinese athlete has won both championships and membership in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB).

It took Mou 20 hours to fly to the contest, where she went head to head with 15 top athletes from all over the world. Mou displayed her strength and confidence on stage, flaunting her physique in a rhinestone-covered bikini. Mou encourages women to find their own beauty. She hopes that more Chinese women take part in the competition in the future.

However, Mou's success didn’t come easily. Mou has been in the bodybuilding industry for a decade, and she has three years of MMA training under her belt. She also took home titles at the 2012 Asian Bodybuilding Championships.

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival was established in 1989, named after the actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is the second most prestigious event in professional female bodybuilding.