Colette Nelson

During her freshman year at Michigan State University, at the age of 19 years, she started to develop an interest in weight training when she attended the Powerhouse Gym and encountered her first female bodybuilder working at the front desk of the gym. Prior to weight training, she was an aerobics instructor, who was teaching up to 20 aerobics classes a week, and dancer.[1]

She met a male bodybuilder who began training her and helped with her diet. The male bodybuilder introduced her to a female bodybuilder and suggested they start training five days a week and work one body part a day. She gave up aerobics classes and started serious bodybuilding training. By the time she had completed her undergraduate degree in nutrition, she had gone from 120 lb (54 kg) to 155 lb (70 kg).[1]

In 1999, after 6 years of consistent training, at the weight of 165 lb (75 kg), she began competing and won her first the middleweight class at her first competition. In 2000, she won the heavyweight class and overall at the Northeastern Championships. That same year she also came in first in heavyweight at the USA Championships. In 2001 and 2002, she came in 1st in the heavyweight class at the USA Championships. In 2004, she won the heavyweight class at the Team Universe. That same year, she won her IFBB pro card at the North American Championships and qualified again for an IFBB pro card when she won the overall at the World Amateur Championships.[1]

In 2005, Colette attended her first professional competition, the New York Pro, which she placed 5th in the heavyweight class. In 2006, after coming in 3rd place the 2006 Europa Super Show, she qualified for her first Ms. Olympia, which she placed 13th.[1]

After competing at the 2010 IFBB Phoenix Pro, Colette retired from bodybuilding to compete in women's physique. She competed in 2014 in the Omaha and Toronto Pro and has now officially retired from competition to focus on her medical career.

• 1999 Ultimate Bodybuilding Championship – 1st (MW)
• 2000 NPC Team Universe – 4th (HW)
• 2000 NPC Northeastern Championships – 1st (HW and overall)
• 2000 NPC Nationals – 6th (MW)
• 2001 NPC USA Championships – 1st (HW)
• 2001 IFBB North American Championships – 2nd (HW)
• 2001 NPC Nationals – 3rd (HW)
• 2002 NPC USA Championships – 1st (HW)
• 2003 NPC USA Championships – 2nd (HW)
• 2004 NPC Team Universe – 1st (HW)
• 2004 IFBB North American Championships – 1st (LHW and overall)
• 2004 IFBB World Amateur Championships – 1st (HW and overall)
• 2005 IFBB New York Pro – 5th (HW)
• 2006 IFBB Europa Super Show – 3rd
• 2006 IFBB Atlantic City – 8th
• 2006 IFBb Ms. Olympia – 13th
• 2007 IFBB Ms. International – 14th
• 2008 IFBB Ms. International – 13th
• 2008 IFBB New York Pro – 12th
• 2010 IFBB New York Pro – 9th
• 2010 IFBB Phoenix Pro – 6th[2]

• 2014 IFBB Toronto Pro Supershow – 11th
• 2014 IFBB Omaha Pro – 16th[3]