Background
Dunlap was born in 1954 in Newark, New Jersey.
Dunlap was born in 1954 in Newark, New Jersey.
Dunlap attended the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts on a full scholarship, earning a degree in Advertising Design.
She started competing in sports with gymnastics at age 10. She later competed in swimming, both speed and synchronized. In 1979, Dunlap decided to enter the "Best in the World" bodybuilding contest at the suggestion of Steve Wennerstrom.
She had never trained for bodybuilding, but still placed fifth among 45 entrants.
She started training seriously for bodybuilding the following March, and was soon competing successfully in top level amateur contests. Dunlap is the only female bodybuilder to have competed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
In January, 1999, Dunlap was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame. Away from the contest stage, Dunlap appeared in the bodybuilding documentaries Women Of Iron (1984, with fellow competitor Deborah Diana) and Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985).
She was selected by American Broadcasting Company to represent women"s bodybuilding in the women"s Superstars competition in 1984, where she finished seventh in a field of eleven competitors.
Dunlap was a regular on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network"s BodyShaping series from 1990 to 1995. She has also appeared as a color commentator on bodybuilding and fitness telecasts for National Broadcasting Company, United States., and Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Contest history
1979 IFBB Best In The World - 5th
1980 Amateur Athletic Union Mississippi America #1 - 1st
1980 Eastern Cup - 1st
1980 Mississippi
Atlantic Shore - 2nd
1980 Bodybuilding Expo I - 1st
1980 Non-Player Character United States of America Championship - 9th
1980 Non-Player Character Nationals - 3rd
1981 World Games I - 4th (HW)
1981 Non-Player Character United States of America Championship - 2nd (HW)
1981 Non-Player Character Nationals - 1st (HW and Overall)
1981 Pro World Championship - 4th
1981 Night of Champions - 1st
1982 Super Bowl of Bodybuilding I - 1st
1982 AFWB American Championships - 1st (HW and Overall)
1982 Swedish Grand Prix - 1st
1982 Non-Player Character United States of America Championship - 2nd (HW)
1982 Non-Player Character Nationals - 1st (HW and Overall)
1982 IFBB Mississippi
Olympia - 2nd
1982 Pro World Championship - 1st
1983 IFBB Mississippi Olympia - 1st
1983 IFBB Caesars World Cup (Grand Prix Las Vegas) - 1st
1984 Pro World Championship - 2nd
1984 IFBB Mississippi
Olympia - 4th
1985 IFBB Mississippi Olympia - 4th
1986 IFBB Mississippi
Olympia - 9th
1987 IFBB Mississippi
Olympia - 12th
1988 Pro World Championship - 10th
1988 IFBB Mississippi Olympia - 9th (originally 10th)
1993 Mississippi International - 13th.