Cory Everson Film Career

The Cory Story

"Just as there was only one Arnold in bodybuilding, there was only one Cory. Is it a coincidence that women’s bodybuilding enjoyed its greatest popularity while Cory Everson was Ms. Olympia, from 1984 to 1989? Hardly. With all-American good looks and a physique that always looked functional and athletic, she inspired an entire generation of women to work out. Showing that a woman could be sexy and strong at the same time, Cory also helped redefine the feminine physical ideal. Following her retirement from competition in 1989, she went on to success in television, films and business. Years after she stepped out of the bodybuilding limelight, Cory is busier and more successful than ever." (Ironman Magazine, "Cory Everson - The Legend Lives On" - August, 2004)

Corinna Kneuer, born in Racine, Wisconsin, is best known by her stage name Cory Everson, an American female bodybuilding champion, actress and model.

During a competitive career that spanned the 1980s, Cory Everson was the prime force in women’s bodybuilding – both in terms of contest results and as a spokesperson for presenting the sport to a wider public. Cory won an unprecedented six Ms. Olympia titles from 1984 through 1989. The Ms. Olympia world title is the highest and most prestigious honor in professional bodybuilding competition. Aside from her six consecutive titles, Cory holds the distinction of being the only woman with an undefeated record in professional bodybuilding competition.

In January 1999, aged 40, Cory was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Muscle Beach Venice Body Building Hall of Fame on September 5, 2005.

At the 2007 Arnold Classic she became the first woman to be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. As a result of her numerous accomplishments, Cory is one of the top names in fitness today!

The February, 2008 issue of Ironman Magazine featured an 18-page cover story called “Cory - Fabulous and Fit at 50”. The author, Babs Hogan also wrote a subsequent article in Maximum Balance about Cory Everson turning 50.
A Little Background

Cory attended Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Illinois, where she was a four-sport star (gymnastics, track & field, badminton, and swimming). She majored in interior design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she also won four Big Ten pentathlon championships.

Shortly after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Cory became seriously ill with a blood clot in her left leg. Doctors predicted that she would never walk normally again. Nevertheless, Cory worked diligently to regain her strength and eventually captured the Ms. Olympia title on her first attempt.

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Cory Everson's Bodybuilding Career

Cory Everson began to train seriously as a bodybuilder after her graduation, and made rapid progress. In the early years, she trained at Ernie's Gym on Sherman Avenue in Madison.

Beginning in 1980, Cory entered and won several bodybuilding contests:
• 1980 Ms. Mid America - 1st (Tall and Overall)
• 1981 Ms. Midwest Open - 1st (Tall & Overall)
• 1981 Ms. Central USA - 1st (HW and Overall)
• 1981 Couples America - 1st
• 1982 Ms. East Coast - 1st (MW)
• 1982 IFBB North American - 1st (MW and Overall)
• 1982 IFBB North American Mixed Pairs - 1st
• 1983 Bodybuilding Expo IV - 1st (MW and Overall)
• 1983 Bodybuilding Expo Mixed Pairs - 1st
• 1983 U.S. Bodybuilding Championships Couples - 1st
• 1984 American Women's Championships - 1st
(HW and Overall)
• 1984 NPC Nationals - 1st (HW and Overall)
• 1984 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1985 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1986 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1987 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1988 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st
• 1989 IFBB Ms. Olympia - 1st

In addition, Cory has received numerous other awards, including:
• 10 Most Outstanding Physiques of the 1980's
(Women’s Division)
• LA Sportswriters & Sportscasters Nominee (1992)
• Athlete of the Year (1992)
• Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award (1994)
• Most Fit Female in Hollywood-Ms. Fitness Magazine
(1995, 1996, 1997 & 1998-beating out the likes of Janet
Jackson, Rachel Welch, Jane Fonda, Sharon Stone)

Cory was the sport’s most popular female during her reign, and she attracted tremendous media interest internationally as well as in the United States.

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Cory Everson's Film & Television Career

After retiring from competition, Cory entered acting. Her movie credits include Double Impact (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994), and Ballistic (1995). Cory also appeared in the movies, Felony (1996) and The Morning After (1986).

Cory Everson has made a number of TV appearances, most notably playing Atalanta on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

Cory was the original host and producer of the fitness show BodyShaping, which was the #1 rated fitness show on television. She also hosted her own exercise show on ESPN, Cory Everson's Gotta Sweat, for seven years.

Other TV appearances include Charmed, Home Improvement, Goode Behavior, Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, Strange Luck, Renegade, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

Guest appearances include Late Night With David Letterman, Co-Host of ESPN’s Mr. and Ms. Fitness Olympias, Discovery Channel: History of Bodybuilding, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, The Dennis Miller Show, The Home Show, The Montel Williams Show, CNN, HBO, Primeticket and Vicki.

Cory's comfort in front of the camera, combined with her sculpted figure and natural beauty have also made her a highly sought-after model for fitness photography.
Cory Everson Fitness Videos

Cory stars in a seven volume video series Gotta Sweat with Cory Everson, capturing the essence of her fitness/ workout shows of the same name. Cory’s past videos include: Cory Everson’s Get Hard Abdominal and Glutes and Cory Everson’s Get Hard Arms and Shoulders, which had major success as soon as they hit the video stores. Cory Everson’s Step Training Video the first in a series of seven exercise videos, was certified platinum, selling over 180,000 copies in eight months. Step Training ranked #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Sales Charts for Non-Theatrical Releases.

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Cory Everson Fitness Books

Lifebalance, a semi-autobiographical book, is in release by Putnam Books. Fat Free and Fit from Putnam Press provides Cory’s complete program for fitness, exercise and healthy living in which she shares her personal fitness plan and gives her advice on how to make healthy eating choices.

Cory’s past books include: Superflex, a primary resource guide for educating women on weight training, Cory Everson’s Workout, and Back In Shape, a collaboration with the Texas Back Institute.
Magazine Exposure

Cory has been featured on many major magazine covers during and after her impressive professional career, along with contributing to popular fitness tip columns and interviews. Some of the most recent cover articles are in Ironman, Fit Magazine, Physical, Shape, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Total Health, Ms. Fitness and HERS!

The February, 2008 Ironman article entitled “Cory - Fabulous and Fit at 50” was yet another tribute to Cory’s unique ability to evolve, both physically and otherwise, giving people everywhere renewed faith that there is, indeed, “life after 50”!.

Cory Everson at 50

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Cory Everson's Artistic Talents

Trained in commercial design, Cory is an accomplished painter and designer who also enjoys building furniture and creating her own landscapes. Her artistic talents have been showcased on Entertainment Tonight, The Los Angeles Times and People Magazine. An original piece of Cory’s artwork was signed by Mohammad Ali and subsequently auctioned to the highest bidder. The proceeds were donated to the Georgia Council on Child Abuse.

"I’ve always been an artist at heart. It ended up translating well into the art of sculpting my body into the ideal shape I envisioned and creating moving posing routines. Most people don’t understand
that bodybuilding and artistic creativity actually go hand in hand." (quoted from Ironman Magazine, "Cory Everson - The Legend Lives On" - August, 2004)
Cory's Family

Of all her impressive achievements Cory Everson’s most treasured accomplishments are her happy marriage to husband, Steve and their adopted children, Boris and Nina.

"My family is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Though I have so many great memories and feelings from my six Olympia wins, they don’t compare to how my husband and my kids make me feel.

I enjoy a much more balanced life now and enjoy completely different things. Life is a lot more stable." (Ironman Magazine, "Cory Everson - The Legend Lives On" - August, 2004)

"Her goal is no longer to win the Ms. Olympia. Now it’s to build a great life as well as a great body. At 50 Cory Everson’s priorities are home, family and relationships with friends. She still trains religiously; it’s just not the focal point of her life. She continues to support adoption agencies and saving lost dogs—and encouraging full, happy living through her books and seminars." (Ironman Magazine, "Profiles: Cory at 50" - February, 2008)