Famed photographer Helmut Newton took this shot of Kellie Everts at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, 1975. Her dancing career went from March 1966 to August 1987, dancing coast to coast and all over Canada as well.

In the old days when female bodybuilding hit the scene, it was looked at with great interest and mixed feelings. They sacrifice for children, husbands, animals, but not the cause of women, except in rare cases; certainly no one in female bodybuilding, besides me, was like that. Kellie was happy to be onstage showing her hard and muscular body, secure in the knowledge that her efforts had thrown the spotlight onto women's physique, although she still had to contend with patronizing attitudes that relegated women's bodybuilding to that of a beauty pageant. she was also head of female bodybuilding for the Weiders, a position she used to discriminate against me, she is catty and competitive, can't put herself aside and work for the sisterhood. That moniker is enough to catch your attention, then throw in the eclectic totality of her resume (and just like her, it’s stacked) and things get even more interesting.Throughout female bodybuilding's decline Kellie Everts has been a strong proponent of handing the reins of power to women bodybuilders, to let them to choose their own destiny and rebuild the sport back to where it was at its peak and then some. On February 2, 2007 the WBBG (World Body Building Guild) gave recognition to her role as an early advocate with the award of “Progenitor” of female Bodybuilding and in August 2007 inducted her into their Hall of Fame. But the attainment of female muscularity and its promotion actually began eight years earlier with one woman who would go on to become known as the progenitor of women's bodybuilding, the originator of the fit, athletic, and muscular female form as a marketable and highly desirable health and fitness commodity.

Born Rasa Sofija Jakstas in Germany, 1945, Everts (who goes by Rasa von Werder these days) has built a varied and fascinating career. Before then she had regularly been profiled in Muscle Training Illustrated, a pre-eminent bodybuilding magazine of its day; this was five years before female bodybuilding's first major physique competition effectively legitimized women's bodybuilding. A month after finishing high school she ran away with the famous photographer of Marilyn Monroe, to Hollywood, CA, where she began her career in show business. But I kept pushing and tried stretching my legs from every angle imaginable, including bending forward and putting my leg behind me, and straight up.When I started looking at the magazines again in the mid 90s, it was like déjà vu, "the 70s are back". Initially, Rasa had won the titles of Miss Nude Universe in July 1967, Miss Americana 2nd place and Best Body in 1972 (on the same stage with Arnold Schwarzenegger), Miss Body Beautiful 2nd place in 1973, Miss Body Beautiful U. For years I did a split (stretch), but it wasn't perfect, so then I did it to perfection and it hurt. As a stripper Kellie attracted attention but it was the combination of Stripper and evangelical religious conviction which led to the creation of the “Stripper for God”. Everts, of Brooklyn, said her motive in appearing on the show was to try to rid the public of the stereotype that strippers 'are fallen women.

The high point of her ministry was the preaching of the Our Lady of Fatima message, with the aim of bringing about the conversion of Russia, in front of the White House on June 16 1978, and reported next day in the Washington Post.

When I am halfway limber all over I begin dancing in between and also do the weights in between various stretches.

By the early 70’s Kellie was becoming well known nationally with articles about her in national and local Media; Washington Post, Washington Star, San Francisco Chronicle, New York Daily News, and many other US newspapers.The Truth Came Out Because I Fought For It, With The Same Energy That Made Female Bodybuilding Happen.