# Mr. America (contest)

The Mr. America contest is a bodybuilding competition started by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). It was first held on July 4, 1939, and the winner was named "America's Best Built Man". In 1940 this was changed to what is now known as the Mr. America contest. In the mid-1940s, Joe and Ben Weider started the IFBB as an alternative to the AAU. They held their opposing contest, the IFBB Mr. America, in 1949 and then from 1959 through 1977. Rights to the Mr. America name have been sold several times after AAU discontinued holding the contests in 1999.

## History

The AAU voted to discontinue holding bodybuilding competitions in 1999.
In 2004, the World Bodybuilding & Fitness Association (WBFA) announced they had acquired the rights to the Mr. America name and would resume running contests under that banner.
In 2006 Bob Bonham acquired the rights and from 2011 through 2013 held the Mr America contest under the sanction of the INBF (International Natural Bodybuilding Federation), which is the amateur division of the WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation). The contests were drug tested under strict WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) guidelines using U.S. Olympic laboratory testing.
In 2015, rights to Mr. America were acquired by Bruce Ebel, and the contest's annual event cycle resumed via MRA Promotions. Qualifying events in spring were sponsored by the National Gym Association (NGA), Nspire Sports League (NSL), and Ultimate Fitness Events (UFE). The Mr. America Expo and contest was to have been held in Baltimore in October 2017.
The contest resumed in 2020 (with no specific organization affiliation), promoted by Marc Tauriello of Mr America LLC. The Mr. America Sports Festival & Expo is held in October in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.

## Winners
### Bodybuilding
#### Amateur Athletic Union / International Natural Bodybuilding Federation

| Year | Federation | Mr. America | Ms. America | Masters Bodybuilding | Classic Bodybuilding | Men’s Bodybuilding A | Men's Bodybuilding B | Venue |
| 1938 | Amateur Athletic Union | Bert Goodrich | | | | | |
| 1939 | Amateur Athletic Union | Roland Essmaker | | | | | |
| 1940 | Amateur Athletic Union | John Grimek | | | | | |
| 1941 | Amateur Athletic Union | John Grimek | | | | | |
| 1942 | Amateur Athletic Union | Frank Leight | | | | | |
| 1943 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jules Bacon | | | | | |
| 1944 | Amateur Athletic Union | Steve Stanko | | | | | |
| 1945 | Amateur Athletic Union | Clarence Ross | | | | | |
| 1946 | Amateur Athletic Union | Alan Stephan | | | | | |
| 1947 | Amateur Athletic Union | Steve Reeves | | | | | |
| 1948 | Amateur Athletic Union | George Eiferman | | | | | |
| 1949 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jack Delinger | | | | | |
| 1950 | Amateur Athletic Union | John Farbotnik | | | | | |
| 1951 | Amateur Athletic Union | Roy Hilligenn | | | | | |
| 1952 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jim Park | | | | | |
| 1953 | Amateur Athletic Union | Bill Pearl | | | | | |
| 1954 | Amateur Athletic Union | Dick DuBois | | | | | |
| 1955 | Amateur Athletic Union | Steve Klisanin | | | | | |
| 1956 | Amateur Athletic Union | Ray Schaefer | | | | | |
| 1957 | Amateur Athletic Union | Ron Lacy | | | | | |
| 1958 | Amateur Athletic Union | Tom Sansone | | | | | |
| 1959 | Amateur Athletic Union | Harry Johnson | | | | | |
| 1960 | Amateur Athletic Union | Lloyd Lerille | | | | | |
| 1961 | Amateur Athletic Union | Raymond Routledge | | | | | |
| 1962 | Amateur Athletic Union | Joe Abbenda | | | | | |
| 1963 | Amateur Athletic Union | Vern Weaver | | | | | |
| 1964 | Amateur Athletic Union | Val Vasilieff | | | | | |
| 1965 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jerry Daniels | | | | | |
| 1966 | Amateur Athletic Union | Bob Gajda | | | | | |
| 1967 | Amateur Athletic Union | Dennis Tinerino | | | | | |
| 1968 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jim Haislop | | | | | |
| 1969 | Amateur Athletic Union | Boyer Coe | | | | | |
| 1970 | Amateur Athletic Union | Chris Dickerson | | | | | |
| 1971 | Amateur Athletic Union | Casey Viator | | | | | |
| 1972 | Amateur Athletic Union | Steve Michalik | | | | | |
| 1973 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jim Morris | | | | | |
| 1974 | Amateur Athletic Union | Ron Thompson | | | | | |
| 1975 | Amateur Athletic Union | Dale Adrian | | | | | |
| 1976 | Amateur Athletic Union | Kalman Szkalak | | | | | |
| 1977 | Amateur Athletic Union | Dave Johns | | | | | |
| 1978 | Amateur Athletic Union | Tony Pearson | | | | | |
| 1979 | Amateur Athletic Union | Ray Mentzer | | | | | |
| 1980 | Amateur Athletic Union | Gary Leonard | Carla Dunlap | | | | |
| 1981 | Amateur Athletic Union | Tim Belknap | Laura Combes | | | | |
| 1982 | Amateur Athletic Union | Rufus Howard | Tina Plakinger (medium & overall) Chris Wood (tall) Rebecca Thomas (medium-tall) Gloria Romo (short) | | | | |
| 1983 | Amateur Athletic Union | Jeff King | Kerrie Keenan (medium & overall) Cheryl Harris (tall) Becky Thomas (medium-tall) Diane Langone (short) | | | | |
| 1984 | Amateur Athletic Union | Joe Meeko | Jill O'Connor (medium & overall) Dawn Goldstab (tall) Cynthia Albrecht (medium-tall) Joone Hopfenspirger (short) | | | | |
| 1985 | Amateur Athletic Union | Michael Antorino | Joone Hopfenspirger (short & overall) Christine Engle (tall) Debra Poston (medium-tall) Cathey Palyo (medium) | | | | |
| 1986 | Amateur Athletic Union | Glenn Knerr | Connie McCloskey (short & overall) Teresa Nordaby (tall) Cathy Butler (medium) | | | | |
| 1987 | Amateur Athletic Union | Richard Barretta | Teresa Nordaby (medium-tall & overall) Gretta Mikalac (Tall) Cathy Butler (medium) Linda Lawrynkiewicz (short) | | | | |
| 1988 | Amateur Athletic Union | William Norberg | Cathy Butler (short & overall) Anita Briggs (tall) Antoinette Winn (medium-tall) Theresa Locicero (medium) | | | | |
| 1989 | Amateur Athletic Union | Matt DuFresne | Mary Adams | | | | |
| 1990 | Amateur Athletic Union | Peter Miller | Linda Slayton (short & overall) Anita Briggs (tall) Tammy Kamienski (medium-tall) Theresa Locicero (medium) | | | | |
| 1991 | Amateur Athletic Union | Joe DeAngelis | Theresa Locicero (medium & overall) Jodie Adams (tall) Donna Marie Schultz (medium-tall) Gayle Schroeder (short) | | | | |
| 1992 | Amateur Athletic Union | Mike Scarcella | Kathi Costello (medium & overall) Betsy Briggs (tall) Linda Mignosa (medium-tall) Laurie Fierstein (short) | | | | |
| 1993 | Amateur Athletic Union | Billy Nothaft | Karla Nelsen (tall & overall) Christine Gillett (medium-tall) Bonnie Chymeryc (medium) Jeannie Davidson (short) | | | | |
| 1994 | Amateur Athletic Union | Andrew Sivert | Midge Shull (short & overall) Betsy Briggs (tall) | | | | |
| 1995 | Amateur Athletic Union | Terence Hairston | Betsy Briggs (heavyweight & overall) Vicki Dunn (middleweight) Victoria McKinney (lightweight) | | | | |
| 1996 | Amateur Athletic Union | Doug Rieser | Cynthia Barker (heavyweight & overall) Sonyo T Bond (middleweight) Johanna Carter (lightweight) | | | | |
| 1997 | Amateur Athletic Union | Bill Davey | Denise Richardson (heavyweight & overall) Beth Eisenman (middleweight) Mary Martino (lightweight) | | | | |
| 1998 | Amateur Athletic Union | Harvey H. Campbell | Denise Richardson (middleweight & overall) Kimberly Rogers (heavyweight) Ann Katz (light-heavyweight) Denise Richardson (middleweight) Mary Martino (lightweight) | | | | |
| 1999 | Amateur Athletic Union | Tracey Dorsey | Cathy Boulé (medium & overall) Donna Shultz (Tall) Melody Leese (short) | | | | |
| 2011 | International Natural Bodybuilding Federation | Rawle Greene | None (Overall) Julie Sleight (heavyweight) Cynthia Mustafa (lightweight) Julie Sleight (Masters) | | | | | New York City, New York, United States of America |
| 2012 | International Natural Bodybuilding Federation | Daniel White | | | | | | Secaucus, New Jersey, United States of America |
| 2013 | International Natural Bodybuilding Federation | John Heart | | | | | | Secaucus, New Jersey, United States of America |
| 2015 | None | Cleveland Thomas | | | | | | Rochester, New York, United States of America |
| 2016 | None | Shevon Cunningham | | | | | | Six Flags America, Woodmore, Maryland, United States of America |
| 2020 | None | Jay Brew | | | | | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America |
| 2021 | None | Corey Brown | | Joe Farese | Jeremiah Kenney-Wright | | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America |
| 2022 | None | Meshack Ochieng | Melody Farkas | Matthew Otero | Jeremiah Kenney-Wright | Meshack Ochieng | Prince Bada Lekan | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America |
| 2023 | None | Robert Thompson Jr. | Maria Popa | Desario Smith | Jeremiah Kenney-Wright | TBD | TBD | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America |
| 2024 | None | Rodney Addison | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America |

#### International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness

| Year | Mr. America |
| 1949 | Alan Stephan |
| 1959 | Chuck Sipes |
| 1960 | Gene Shuey |
| 1961 | Gaétan D'Amours |
| 1962 | Larry Scott |
| 1963 | Reg Lewis |
| 1964 | Harold Poole |
| 1965 | Dave Draper |
| 1966 | Chester Yorton |
| 1967 | Don Howorth |
| 1968 | Frank Zane |
| 1969 | John Decola |
| 1970 | Mike Katz |
| 1971 | Ken Waller |
| 1972 | Ed Corney |
| 1973 | Lou Ferrigno |
| 1974 | Bob Birdsong |
| 1975 | Robby Robinson |
| 1976 | Mike Mentzer |
| 1977 | Danny Padilla |