A Brief History of Mr. Universe

Mr. Universe Begins
Despite Atlas' early notoriety, competitive bodybuilding remained a rarity until the 1940s, when several groups began to organize contests for men to show off their muscles. In England, the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) christened John Grimek the first Mr. Universe in 1948. In the photo above, a handful of the 50 men who competed for the 1950 Mr. Universe title line up in London.

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