Nancy Andrews
Nancy Andrews retired from WNBF leadership in 2024 as a distinguished Champion & WNBF Promoter.
Nancy Andrews was the second president in the history of the WNBF. She served from 2014 to 2024. Along with her partners; Bob Bell & Tina Smith, the WNBF grew into a Worldwide powerhouse for natural bodybuilding. Raising standards for drug testing, increasing pro prize money and adding new categories while doing as many great things for the athletes as possible were some of the things accomplished.
Nancy’s career started as the former Division 1 collegiate gymnast tried a new hobby. Nancy quickly rose to the top of the natural bodybuilding world by winning the prestigious ANBC National Championship in 1995. That win was one of the best wins of her amateur career as she prevailed over 40 women, all who won a local qualifying show to be there. Also, in 1995, Nancy qualified to the ONLY natural Professional league, the WNBF. Over the next two years, she competed in many different organizations – some tested and some not. One show she competed in during that time to note that will always be special was a show promoted by her husband Jim Broderick, the AAU New England Championships. She won that show and met her husband at that event so it is very special. As she tried different organizations and won over 25 amateur titles, Nancy realized the best path for her was to stick to only competing in tested shows as a WNBF Professional. From that point forward, she stayed with the WNBF for her entire career as a competitor and promoter.
In 1997, Nancy brought her best to the WNBF World Championship in NYC – Murray Bergtraum High School, to face 20 other women in the natural bodybuilding category. There were no height nor weight classes. Nancy was one of the smaller competitors there but that did not stop her as the judges awarded her the Overall WNBF World Champion title. She was a dark horse for sure but that was the beginning of a WNBF career that most athletes only dream of. Nancy went on to win three more World Championship titles including 1999, 2003 and 2004. In 1999, the WNBF Added weight classes to Worlds which lead to heavyweight and overall titles in 1999 and 2003 and lightweight and overall in 2004. Nancy never lost an overall. With four Overall World titles under her belt, she retired from competing in 2004.
One show that was significant to the WNBF today was the WNBF Pro Universe in 1999. Nancy won the Overall Pro Universe in Arizona promoted by fellow WNBF Pro Sarah Roach. That show had 3 World Champions in the heavyweight class where Nancy won her class and the overall. A lightweight competitor there named Tina Smith was introduced to Nancy and a long friendship was made which eventually led the WNBF to where it is today. Nancy had been promoting shows for five years and Tina & Bob were going to jump into the promoting end of the sport that summer. Nancy had a history of promoting the largest natural shows in the country so she offered much support and advice to her new friends. Tina and Bob went on to promote the largest natural event on the west coast, The California Muscle Mayhem (Originally the INBF Capital City).
Another significant friendship from that show lead to the Pro Series Seminars. Laurie Normandeau, a fellow Massachusetts WNBF pro competed at that show. When they were hanging out, they discussed the need for more education for natural bodybuilders. With that, they started the Pro Series seminars where they hosted many seminars ranging from weekly posing classes, one day seminars and the annual weekend camp. The events drew people from all over and featured many of the top officials in natural bodybuilding. Steve Downs, publisher of Natural Bodybuilding magazine always made his way to MA for the annual event. Also, Dr. Joe Klemczewski made multiple trips per year to MA to lecture on diet and peaking for natural athletes. Bill Murphy was a very popular presenter and this lead to him becoming a writer for Natural Bodybuilding Magazine. It was very popular in the early 2000’s as we did not have as many “experts” and there was not as much information as what you can get today. Moving forward, the classes and seminars will continue under Nancy Andrews Presents and Nancy hopes to help athletes looking to be on top of the natural bodybuilding world. Also, a goal of the camps is to showcase some of the top experts in natural bodybuilding. The plan is to continue educating, training and giving other people in natural bodybuilding opportunities to improve and learn.
The history of the WNBF was tied to the magazine, Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness. Looking back on the WNBF, we have looked to the 90’s and 2000 during the time Nancy was competing. Fast forward to 2013, the WNBF was having issues because the magazine which was affiliated with the WNBF was facing tough times as online publications took over and the money to print a magazine became cost prohibitive. Advertisers moved to online advertising versus print magazine. The decision was made by Chelo Publishing – the owner of the WNBF to not host a World Championships. Nancy was the biggest WNBF promoter with her annual Northeast Classic and Monster Mash events, so Charlie Carollo, WNBF Vice Chairman asked her to promote the Worlds. Without hesitation, she said yes knowing she would likely be paying for everyone’s experience. The Worlds show had such a positive impact on her life that she knew it had to happen. Since the prize money is so high, there was really no way for the event to be profitable but for Nancy, the event was way too important not to happen. She began organizing the event in July 2013. She had a plan and went with it. Promoting this event on her own and paying for it showed Nancy’s dedication to the athletes and the sport. No one else would have taken this on with such short notice.
To change up the judging panel, she decided to invite her friends Tina Smith and Bob Bell to judge the event. Tina and Bob had moved on to promoting for the NANBF and it had been years since Nancy saw them. They were all continuing on with promoting their passion for natural bodybuilding while maintaining full-time careers and raising young families. Tina and Bob have twins – Tyra and Bobby and Nancy has two children, Jamie and Jimmy. The challenges of promoting are multiplied when you have children, and yet they all managed. Tina and Bob came and supported and judged the event. The show was well attended by eight International affiliates and strong US participation. Although it was a financial loss, it was a huge hit with athletes for some of the most exciting overalls in the history of the WNBF Worlds. Also, of note for the first time ever, the WNBF Worlds offered four weight classes in the Pro Men’s Bodybuilding category.
The opportunity to own the WNBF became a reality in 2014. As the opportunity was available, Nancy asked her long-time friends Tina Smith and Bob Bell to join her in this venture. So, in 2014, with eight affiliates and about thirty USA shows, the WNBF Started with new leadership. The WNBF was purchased from Cheh Low. We continued operation from 2013 with many of the same promoters and affiliates. The Worlds show was always a top event that the team promoted together in Boston, New York, Atlantic City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Seattle. It is the most prestigious natural bodybuilding event in the World. Nancy served as judge and head judge at the World Championships since 2008.
Over the eleven years as WNBF owner, Nancy promoted the Hercules (2014-2018), Naturalmania and Pro Universe (2014-2024), South Shore Classic with Kristin Fonseca, Battle 4 Broadway with Dwayne Broadway, the Novice Northeast Classic which became the Springmania, the Northeast Classic and Pro American along with the Monster Mash Pro/AM. All of these events were promoted under Nancy Andrews Presents. Over her time as a promoter, she serviced over 10,000 entries and 100 events. Nancy’s promotions started in 1995. Nancy is very proud of the number of people she brought into the sport and the opportunities she has given to athletes, promoters and officials.
Covid closed the world down and Nancy was one of the only promoters willing to take the risk and to give athletes an opportunity to compete. She had to be creative as a traditional show was not an option with the restrictions of Covid. She hosted a show in a warehouse and managed the show by putting athletes in cohorts that met the state requirements. The show was live streamed. No audience was allowed but the live stream gave people the opportunity to stay connected to the sport. The competitors used the loading dock with doors opened as a staging safe area with all the regulations put forth. She was one of the only promoters to host events during such a difficult time in the World. Unfortunately, WNBF Worlds was canceled due to the pandemic. The last time that happened was 2001 after 911 in New York. Hosting these shows during such a difficult time is another testament to Nancy’s dedication athletes, coaches, judges and the sport in general.
In 2024 Nancy decided it was time for her to retire from promoting and owning the WNBF. The natural bodybuilding landscape has changed significantly and with her full-time career becoming more demanding of her time and her children being high school age, her time was limited. Nancy decided to gift her shares to the best partners Tina and Bob could ask for, their children Tyra and Bobby. The entire Smith/Bell family is dedicated to natural bodybuilding and as a family made many sacrifices over the years. The natural bodybuilding world is fortunate to have Tyra and Bobby joining forces. They are a breath of fresh air. They are very bright hard working young adults who will definitely make their mark in the years to come. They will be doing some amazing things and really are the future of the sport!
Nancy will never totally leave the sport. She will continue judging, promoting seminars and supporting all of natural bodybuilding. Her seminars and classes will be promoted through Nancy Andrews Presents.
Nancy's personal statEment To the Bodybuilding World
“It has been an amazing thirty years and I would not change a thing! I want to thank all of the coaches and athletes who trusted me and supported my events over the years. You all added so much to the events and the entire natural bodybuilding community. It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of so many amazing journeys! I will always be thankful for my friendship with Tina and Bob which lead to WNBF ownership over the last eleven years. It was a good run. And a huge thank you to the WNBF promoters and affiliates. Thank you Natural Bodybuilding and thank you WNBF!
My parting advice to all who are involved in the sport is to meet some new friends at every event. The best thing for me to come from the sport is the friendships I have made over the years. As you can see, the friendships last forever and are so meaningful.
Part two, if competing is something you have thought about, definitely try it. You will not regret it because you will learn so much about yourself, the importance of good nutrition and weight training. I think many don’t know where to start but definitely get a great coach and a network of people around you for support. It is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. Learn to enjoy the process and focus on self-improvement most. It will keep you in the sport longer. It will be one of the best decisions you make in life!”
Nancy Andrews