The Universe Championships are annual worldwide bodybuilding events organised by the British National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (NABBA). The first competition took place on August 13, 1948. Originally promoted as the contest, the event was expanded to include women's classes in 1968. Notable previous winners include bodybuilder, actor, and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, and bodybuilder and actor Steve Reeves (1926–2000). In 2025, Daniel Burke 3 times world champion won the overall title at the NABBA Mr Universe competition held in Gateshead, United Kingdom.
The Universe Championships includes the following classes: Men WomenAmateur Mr. Universe Miss Universe (Trained Figure) Junior Ms. Universe (Athletic Figure)NoviceMiss Universe (Toned Figure) Masters Over 45 Professional Miss Universe (Trained) Masters Over 55 Miss Universe (Bikini)Sports ShortsClassic Bodybuilding Professional Mr. Universe
History
In 1948, David Johnston, then editor of Strength and Health magazine, and his team organised the Mr. Universe contest in London to coincide with the Olympic Games. The event took place on August 13th, 1948 and drew great attention from bodybuilders and the general public who packed the Scala Theatre in London to see the spectacle. John Grimek earned the inaugural title with Steve Reeves placing second. Reeves eventually found his way to the microphone to declare, "I think that John Grimek is the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived!"
While there was no contest held in 1949, behind the scenes, members of the Strength and Health League were arranging the formation of the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association or NABBA. NABBA announced that it would be hosting the Mr Universe contest again in 1950. Steve Reeves returned to England to be crowned champion that year. Despite being the first NABBA Mr Universe, Steve Reeves was not chosen as the silhouette for the NABBA logo. That distinction would go to John Grimek and his likeness is still used to this day as the emblem of the association.
When Oscar Heidenstam became the NABBA Secretary in 1955, after a highly successful competitive career, he quickly became the main driving force of not only NABBA but also the Mr Universe contest. Around the same time, a network of area shows in the UK was established to increase membership.
In 1957, the Guadeloupan-French bodybuilder Arthur Robin became the first Black man to win the Mr Universe title.WFF / NABBA Latvia. NABBA Universe Champions. Retrieved 26 December 2019
The early success of the Mr Universe was underpinned by the support of many of the big names taking part such as John Grimek, Steve Reeves, Reg Park and Bill Pearl. Into the 1960s and 1970s the Mr Universe also became the launching pad for many of the famous bodybuilders of the day such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Serge Nubret and many others. These competitors also encouraged others in America and Europe to participate in the Universe.
While the contest was initially only for amateur male bodybuilders, a professional class was added in 1952. The NABBA UK Constitution traditionally defines an amateur as someone who has "never entered and accepted prize money in an advertised professional event." Today NABBA International, the worldwide governing body, offers Pro Cards to the four male height class winners at the Universe Championships and the NABBA World Championships. Between 2011 and 2013 there was no professional Mr. Universe class held as interest had diminished. In 2013 however, following a seven-year absence from competition, Lee Priest returned and won the overall title as an amateur. Following his victory, the NABBA International Council determined that in 2014 the NABBA Professional Division would be reestablished with the inaugural professional contest being the 2014 NABBA World Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 2014, Dave Titterton won the Professional Mr Universe title in Southport, England.
Women's bodybuilding classes were included from 1968 as Ms Physique and then divided in 1986 into Ms Physique and Ms Figure. The Ms Physique class was discontinued from 2010 at the Universe Championships, however Miss Trained, Athletic, and Toned Figures are now offered.
In 1985, a Junior Mr Universe class was included for men under 21 years. The class was discontinued between 1990 and 1999 but returned in 2000.
In 1991, a Masters Over 40 class was introduced. The inaugural winner was Graeme Lancefield from Australia, narrowly beating NABBA legend John Citrone for the title. A Masters Over 50 class was introduced in 2002 with Mr Universe veteran Ian Lawrence from Scotland capturing the new award.
The NABBA Universe Championships is conducted under the auspices of NABBA UK and its chairman Jim Charles.
A separate competition called IFBB Mr. Universe was organized by the IFBB however, its name was changed to the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships in 1976.
Mr. Universe should not be confused with Mr. Olympia, which began in 1965.
Judging
The athletes are judged on their symmetry, proportions and the size and clarity of each muscle group. Most of the judging occurs during the day (this is called the pre-judging) before the evening show, the finals.
Winners + Year Mr. Universe (Professionals) Mr. Universe (Amateur) Miss Universe (Bikini) Miss Physique Miss Trained Figure Miss Toned Figure Miss Athletic Figure 1948 John Grimek 1950 Steve Reeves 1951 Reg Park Monotosh Roy 1952 Juan Ferrero Mohamed Nasr Manohar Aich 1953 Arnold Dyson Bill Pearl 1954 Jim Park Enrico Thomas 1955 Leo Robert Mickey Hargitay 1956 Jack Delinger Ray Schaeffer 1957 Arthur Robin John Lees 1958 Reg Park Earl Clark 1959 Bruce Randall Len Sell 1960 Paul Wynter Henry downs 1961 Bill Pearl Ray Routledge 1962 Len Sell Joe Abbenda 1963 Joe Abbenda Tom Sansome 1964 Earl Maynard John Hewlett 1965 Reg Park Elmo Santiago 1966 Paul Wynter Chester Yorton Elizabeth Lamb 1967 Bill Pearl Arnold Schwarzenegger Kathleen Winstanley 1968 Arnold Schwarzenegger Dennis Tinerino Silvia Hibbert 1969 Arnold Schwarzenegger Boyer Coe Jean Galston 1970 Arnold Schwarzenegger Frank Zane Christine Zane 1971 Bill Pearl Ken Waller Linda Thomas 1972 Frank Zane Elias Petsas Christine Charles 1973 Boyer Coe Chris Dickerson Jean Galston 1974 Chris Dickerson Roy Duval Linda Cheesman 1975 Steve Michalik Ian Lawrence Linda Cheesman 1976 Serge Nubret Shigeru Sugita Cindy Breakspear 1977 Tony Emmot Bertil Fox Bridget Gibbons 1978 Mike Mentzer Dave Johns Sandra Kong 1979 Bertil Fox Ahmet Enünlü Karen Griffiths 1980 Tony Pearson Bill Richardson Erika Mes 1981 Robby Robinson John Brown Jocelyn Pigeonneau 1982 Edward Kawak John Brown Jocelyn Pigeonneau 1983 Edward Kawak Jeff King Mary Scott 1984 Edward Kawak Brian Buchanan Mary Scott 1985 Edward Kawak Tim Belknap Jocelyn Pigeonneau 1986 Lance Dreher Charles Clairmonte Monika Steiner Heidi Thomas 1987 Olev Annus Basil Francis Connie McClosky Sonia Walker 1988 Charles Clairmonte Victor Terra Lisa Campbell Sarah Staunton 1989 Charles Clairmonte Matt Dufresne Tatjana Scholl Tracey Citrone 1990 Charles Clairmonte Peter Reid Monika Debatin Browny OBrien 1991 Victor Terra Reiner Gorbracht Ute Geisel Helen Maderson 1992 Peter Reid Mustafa Mohammad Bernadette Price Anita Lawrence 1993 Edward Kawak Dennis Francis Deborah Compton Ali Slater 1994 John Terilli Nick van BeeckComplete list of all NABBA Universe Winners GMV.com.au. Retrieved 10 May 2021. Andrea Izard Susana Perez 1995 Brian Buchanan Grant Clemesha Cathy Butler Susana Perez 1996 Shaun Davis Jenő Kiss Billie Kaine Pina Theodoridis 1997 Eddy Ellwood Grant Thomas Patricia Veldmann Jasraj Bhadana Gujjar 1998 Eddy Ellwood Gary Lister Julia Abel Pina Theodoridis 1999 Eddy Ellwood Franco Malè Taylor Young Giovanna Rosa 2000 Eddy Ellwood Sergei Ogorodnikov Olga Tikhonova Giovanna Rosa 2001 Eddy Ellwood Steffen Müller Anja Timmer Giovanna Rosa 2002 Gary Lister Costantino Galeazzo Claudia Bianchi Giovanna Rosa 2003 Gary Lister Hassan Al Saka Olga Tikhonova Cherie Loomes 2004 Hassan Al Saka Steve Sinton Sandra Waterschoot Lorena Bucci 2005 Sergei Ogorodnikov Charles Mario Desiree Dumpel Andrea Carvalho 2006 Steve Sinton Tomáš Bureš Olga Tikhonova Silvia Finocchi Ferreira 2007 Orazio Salvatori Orazio Salvatori Alina Popa Andrea Carvalho 2008 Alessandro Savi Lionel Beyeke Vivian Hylkema Maria Stukova 2009 Alexey Netesanovhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juIglI0LJbA Alexey Netesanov (RUS), NABBA Universe 2009 - Pro Winner Martin Kasal Larissa Cunha Dora Rodrigues 2010 Charles Mario Miha Zupan Valentyna Yefyemchuk Flora Conte 2011 Paulo Lima Santos Maria Kuzmina Maria Tereza Mendonca Pintya 2012 Sangram Chougule Andy Polhill Maria Kuzmina Nicola Bentham 2013 Lepomir Bakić Lee Priest Flora Conte Nicola Bentham 2014 Dave Titterton Barny Du Plessis Dora Rodrigues Charlotte MacGill 2015 Tony Mount Paul Stewart Daria Diossi Alex Larkin 2016 Tony MountLye gym boss's Mr Universe show brings muscle to Birmingham Ludlow Advertiser. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2021. Fabian Mayr2916 Mr Universe - NABBA MuscleMemory.com. Retrieved 10 May 2021. Emma Gormley Amy Wilson 2017 Shaun Joseph-TavernierShaun Joseph Tavernier IFBB Pro: Bio DNA-Lean.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2021. Lee Seung Chul Gemma Lancaster Natasha Novak Lee Tae Hee 2018 Lee Seung Chul Loughlin Gannon Jekaterina Übelacker Natalia Jaremko Christine Scerri 2019 Josh Maley Jack Brooker Ilaria Armeni Gabriela Dezan Ana Carla Ceron 2020 These editions of the competition were not held due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 2022 Petr Kovář Daniel Glamm Emma Thackray Lisa Capper Tracy Hutchinson 2023 Petr Kovář Klaus Drescher Elodie Moore Kelsey Yung Aurélie Moreau2024 Lionel Beyeke Lionel Beyeke Ashleigh Sives Jackson 2025 Daniel Burke Daniel Burke
References
External links Full Winners List at NABBA Complete Results - Amateur Men Complete Results - Amateur Women Complete Results - Pro Men www.nabba.co.uk www.nabba-international.com/ Evolutionofbodybuilding.net - Bodybuilding News Official Instagram