African Americans

"Iris Kyle ought to consider a new nickname. After winning her record 7th Ms. International title at the Arnold Classic on March 1 in Columbus, Ohio, she might consider “Game Over” as she once again rode a perfect score to nab the $25,000 first-place prize. The seven titles are just one short of the Texan’s record eight Ms. Olympia crowns."

"From Cory Everson's initial dominance to Iris Kyle's recent unbeatable physique, the division has been utterly dominated by a handful of incredible physiques. Kyle looks to tie Lenda Murray as the most decorated women's bodybuilder of all time at the 2012 Ms. Olympia. Women's bodybuilding is entering a new phase in its ongoing transformation, an essential paradigm shift. Super-freaky mass and shredded conditioning doesn't guarantee podium finishes anymore. Today's game of assorted shapes and sizes captures audiences and draws into question the evolving definition of "ripped." Iris Kyle is a prime example. In recent years, she has come in fuller and less drawn and continued to win."

"I always stay focused on Iris Kyle, because she's currently the best. As much as I admire her, she has pushed me beyond my limits to stay focused and be better."

"Most people who follow female bodybuilding think Iris Kyle is on another level and pretty much a lock for first place."

"I also want to recognize Iris Kyle, who is now being acknowledged for all her hard work and longevity in the sport. She worked her way up and is now reaping the benefits! Way to go!"

"Of course Iris Kyle is amazing, but I was never truly threatened by Iris. There was nothing she had that I thought was so overwhelming that it blew me away. When Iris finally beat me it was because I had a leg injury that obviously effected my leg development. She did not beat me on conditioning….which she is an expert at. Her calves were better than mine, but calves were the last thing that made up a great bodybuilder. My upper body was always better than hers genetically."

"Standing in her way, however, is the seemingly unstoppable seven-time champion Iris Kyle."

"Iris returns to the International stage after sitting out in 2012. Iris is in a league of her own. The only way she'll lose is if she doesn't come prepared. Genetically she has the X-frame bodybuilders covet, is well balanced from top to bottom, and is always in great condition. If she's in the lineup, the real battle is for second place."

"Although Iris earned the Olympia gold medal, she didn't do it easily."

"Back to women's bodybuilding, Yaxeni Oriquen took second again to Iris. The two were friendly on stage even as they continue to battle each other for titles."

"This morning at the prejudging, it was apparent that these ladies took notes from Iris Kyle and came to the competition ready to unseat the champ. There was a noticeable difference in almost every competitor's conditioning. It seems that striated glutes and defined hamstrings have become the must-have accessory this season."

"They are hungry for that Olympia title and ready to step out from behind Iris Kyle's imposing shadow."

"Iris Kyle has been unrivaled since bursting onto the bodybuilding stage in 1999. If she can win the Ms. Olympia again in 2011, she'll have a Sandow for every day of the week. The 2011 Ms. Olympia will be one for the history books and by history I don't mean it being history. There's talk of the Ms. Olympia contest going away with the beginning of Women's Physique, however that has no merit to this point. The history I am speaking of is when Iris Kyle takes the stage to defend her title once again."

"Can the formidable Iris Kyle be taken down this year? It might be possible."

"There are two women who I could see giving her a run for money at the title, Iris Kyle and Dayana Cadeau. Iris Kyle is a past Ms. Olympia Champion and defeated Lenda Murray in 2004. She came up a bit short to Yaxeni as the runner-up last year. We saw he defeat Yaxeni and Dayana Cadeau at the 2006 Ms. International for that title. Dayana Cadeau and Iris Kyle were the only two women last year to give a preview at the press conference."

"Not to take anything away from Iris, but I believe I should have placed first in last year¹s show."

"The burning question: Could Iris Kyle be beaten? The answer: A resounding no. Ms. Kyle swept the competition at tonight's Olympia finals, leaving the others in her dust. Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia put up a fight, but when it comes down to width and quad separation, there is no beating Iris. She is the champion, now, and, perhaps, until she decides to hang up her trunks."

"As always, Iris Kyle will be in tip-top shape to defend her championship."

"The Ms. International is always down to Iris Kyle and Yaxeni, thanks to everyone else for showing up, hey it makes the stage look nice."

"One of the best V-tapers in the sport, it's her show to lose, she looks softer than she has in the past, but in terms of size and symmetry she's got the best of both worlds."

"Iris Kyle once again proved unstoppable bringing an incredibly crisp, cut physique with so many lines that even a tremendously improved Debi Laszewski and former Ms Olympia Yaxeni Oriquen couldn't overcome the reigning Ms Olympia."

"Can anyone beat the champ? Sure, but it'll take Iris being off. She's left a legacy on female bodybuilding and is virtually impossible to beat when in condition. If she takes top honors it will be her sixth Ms. International title, a record unmatched by anyone including the men. I'd wager on history being made at this year's Ms. International."

"But at the end of the day, Queen Kyle brought home the hardware, yet again."

"Kyle looked unbeatable from the rear, as usual. And her new hairstyle looks great. (Don’t want to sound like a sissy, but it does count for something with the women.) She did come in what was described as “a little under the weather” by MD’s Shawn Ray and it showed when she was on the side during the second call-outs. Kyle was being attended to by the show personnel and appeared to be dehydrating. Just goes to show you what a great champion she is."

"As long as Iris is competing it's going to be a tough road for any competitor looking to take that trophy home with them."

"Hard. Dry. Glutes. Conditioned. Symmetrical. Balanced. Thick. Dense. Glutes. Proportionate. Perfection. There's a reason this girl is the reigning champ."

"Iris is just cranking, she’s won every major show."

"But judges seem to want that Iris longer shape with her full detail."

"On any given day I believe that anyone can be my competition. But, based on my current placings, if I had to pick someone it would be Iris Kyle."

"Placed 1st last year. Iris Kyle was looking good! Her glutes were insane, and she is on! Incredible conditioning. She came geared up to win another title."

"Bodybuilding was game over once Iris Kyle stepped on stage, her conditioning and balance is unreal probably even better than 202 men."

"The women took the stage at the Arnold Expo today for their pre-judging and by the looks of it Iris is here to keep her title. Her conditioning was spot on. She has such an incredible symmetry and full muscle bellies. She is one of those competitors' who has no glaring weaknesses. Her glutes were striated and her hamstrings were very detailed."

"By that, we mean a lot of the incumbents treated us to a repeat performance of awesomeness; like Iris Kyle and Adela Garcia continuing their reigns as Ms. Olympia and Ms. Fitness Olympia, respectively."

"But tonight was Iris Kyle's night. She brought what we have come to expect from the champion. She was muscular, lean and had unparalleled symmetry. She took the title and now the record holder with 5 Ms International titles."

"Iris "I'm the best bodybuilder in the world" Kyle. What more can be said? She's unbeatable. I knew it before I got to Vegas, I thought it this morning when I saw her at prejudging, and I'll still be thinking it on the plane ride home. Pick a body part, and Iris will go head-to-head with any other competitor on stage, and come out on top. No two ways about it. This woman works HARD, and it pays off. She doesn't rely on past wins or laurels to help carry her through from show to show. No, she REproves herself each time; showing the audience and the judges why she deserved the three Olympia titles she already has, and why she deserves to have more come to her."

"One name comes to mind when you think Ms. Olympia - Iris Kyle. Ok, so you may also think Lenda Murray, Kim Chizevsky and Cory Everson?but when you think RECENT Ms. Olympia, you SHOULD be thinking Iris Kyle. This woman is the Ronnie Coleman of female bodybuilding. NOBODY packs more square inches of muscle on their frame than Iris (except maybe Kevin English, but we're talking women here). Iris has won this show the last three years running, and brings and tighter and tighter package every time. The judges know what to expect from her: A fine balance of shape, conditioning, size, conditioning, symmetry and conditioning."

"Iris is a true professional and will be in shape. No one should miss this. Iris is a legend in the sport,"

"The favorite to win. Beautiful lines from top to bottom with great conditioning, size and symmetry. W-I-D-E from behind; probably unbeatable. Even her back has vascularity. 1st callout: kept in the middle."

"The first thing that comes to mind is "Holy Crap! Iris Kyle is unbeatable!" Not to knock the other competitors, but her size, conditioning, muscle bellies and symmetry are untouchable. This is the best we've seen Yaxeni and Debi, and even THEY couldn't beat the reigning champ."

"Iris Kyle is creeping up on Lenda Murray's record with her seventh Ms. Olympia title. Kyle admitted to coming in a bit less ripped this year but that didn't change the results as she again bested the top female bodybuilders in the world to earn another Sandow and further cement her place in the history books."

"Iris Kyle dominated this competition like Ronnie Coleman used to on the men's side. She has incredible structure combined with unbelievable conditioning. Her skin is paper-thin and her muscles seem to explode when she poses. Little feathery lines pop out everywhere. Iris looked the same at the judging and at the finals. Tight at both shows. Iris was ripped from head to toe and back to front. She deserved the Ms. Olympia title and should be able to hold onto the title as long as she would like to."

"For the Bodybuilding Iris Kyle took the title again she looked very ripped and has that balance to add things up."

"Because that's what Iris had against me, and this time she won't have that. Because I have the whole package and I'm going to be as hard. I know Iris is coming back for revenge and I know what happened hurt her, and I know she is not going to do the same thing at the Olympia because she is not going to want to lose her title."

"All I can say, even if Iris wasn't at the sideline, is that nothing will stop me from winning the Ms. Olympia, but of course Iris is my main competition. You have to remember David it did happen a couple times, where I should have beat Iris; everybody knows and saw that!"

"The biggest shock came when Iris Kyle was not called out in the top 6. Iris was the defending champ and looking to repeat. Anyone who was at the prejudging could see suspicious marks in her buttocks and shoulders."

"Now the champion Iris Kyle took 7th and it seems that two protrusions on her glutes marked her down as the judges don't feel this is something the sport should exhibit."

"Regarding the whole Iris Kyle controversy: first of all, I feel really bad for her and understand how she must feel right now, so no comment about all this."

"Overall, to no surprise, Iris Kyle stole the 1st place spot hands down."

"Of course they will have to jump over the mountain known as Iris Kyle and Yaxeni Oriquen."

"Iris has proved herself in dozens of competitions. She is at the highest caliber of female bodybuilding, and no other woman quite matches up to her superior muscularity and physique. She is always shredded, thanks to her conditioning. Iris has a tall frame that she just layers the muscle on, which dwarfs the rest of the competitors. Guaranteed victory."