Abby “Pudgy” Stockton

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Cardinal will feature prominent and/or historical women, living or dead, who advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, for a positive future, eliminating bias and discrimination. The Cardinal is proud to celebrate women who work for basic inclusion, equality and fairness.

Oliver Arce, Staff Writer

March 6, 2025

Abby “Pudgy” Stockton was an American professional strongwoman and an inspiration to women bodybuilding, becoming famous and known for her involvement with Muscle Beach lifting.

In the 1940s, Muscle Beach was a place for entertainment for people who like working out, getting their bodies to be the fittest, and inspiring the youth who want to be involved in the beauty aesthetics of bodybuilding. She worked a humble life answering phones as a sedentary job, soon to be titled ¨Queen of Muscle Beach¨.

Born on August 11, 1917, moving into California, Abby began as a 5´2 and only 115 pounds. With her team effort, working out with her husband, she managed to achieve one of the best muscle physiques that no one would think is possible, especially on a woman. With years of experience, she managed to get crazy goals, one being lifting almost twice her body weight over her head.

As a pioneer in women’s physical training, Abbye was also one of the first women to wear a two-piece bathing suit, which helped a lot and made it easier for movement in gymnastics stunts.

Becoming a media favorite, she was included in pictorials in Life. Back then, men did not care or viewed women as fragile. With the tough souls who fought in war, men were the only ones considered ¨strong¨, this is what got Pudgy Stockton to inspire the women who believe women are not considered submissive nor weak.

She helped organize the first Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned weightlifting competition for women, in 1947. She received the Steve Reeves International Society Pioneer Award in 1998. This resulted in the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation, Hall of Fame in 2000.

She was considered one of the strongest women in her era, she was standing and competing with men. Posing with the top male bodybuilders of all time, including big names like John Grimek and Steve Reeves.

About the Contributor

Oliver Arce, Staff Writer

Oliver Arce is a senior at Hoover High School, and is 18 years old. He plans to go to Mira Mesa to do community college and then transfer to UCSD. He is also determined to be a San Diego firefighter. Oliver looks forward to making his life very stable and never having issues by being financially stable, and having a very supportive family who he could rely on. He worked in a cadet fire department for the summer, and is working there until he becomes officially a firefighter. Meanwhile, he wants to attend college too in order to have more options. Although college isn’t necessary, he needs to give himself better opportunities if something does not work or goes his way. Oliver is very dedicated and serious about not having any issues with money. It means a lot to him and he wants to be passionate about supporting my family. He would like to go out a lot and socialize with people to make good friends and companions so he could have help out there in the real world. Socializing depends on the person and situation because sometimes he is focusing on his future or zoning out. There are hobbies to keep him distracted and entertained from things that we all deal with. These hobbies consist of being on the wrestling team, going out with friends for late-night drives, and walking with his three dogs. He also enjoys going to eat at restaurants because he enjoys eating. Oliver´s favorite place to eat at is any burger place, especially with their friends, preferably In-N-Out because they have the best cheeseburgers in San Diego. They like listening to the music of rap and hip-hop. Sometimes even jazz music, of any kind, relaxes him. For rap and hip-hop, Oliver likes listening to Tory Laynz and 50 Cent.