Debbie Muggli

Debbie Muggli was a professional bodybuilder who competed between the years of 1987 to 1995. She was born in 1964 and was part of the new wave of women bodybuilders that of the 1990s. Growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas Debbie Muggli stated that her family was very competitive. Her mother would enter her pets in dog shows. Debbie did the same. This gave Debbie the first exposure to competition. Debbie needed more of a challenge. When Debbie Muggli was in the sixth grade she competed in gymnastics. During high school Debbie was active in track and field. Debbie was talented in the 400 meter race. She recalled loving the challenge of running and the love of getting faster. Debbie once stated “I don’t like losing to anybody.” Debbie did not abandon sports when she went to college. Attending North Texas State College , Debbie would join a sorority. She realized most of the women did not like sports too much. When she was elected intramural chairperson she wanted more members to participate in athletic activities. They played soccer and football as part of intramural activities. They won the intramural championships two years in a row. When Debbie graduated, the sorority began losing again. It comes as no surprise she would gravitate to bodybuilding. She began training with weights in a gym off campus. Debbie got her degree in education and would go to teach at an elementary school in Carollton, Texas. Still keeping up with the gym, she joined the Texas Health Club for $80.00 per month. On a teachers salary, this was difficult.

Debbie did this for five months. Debbie recalls the only reason she remained was because of the attractive men she saw there. That was not enough to keep spending money. When Debbie found another gym, the interest in athletic training grew. During this period Debbie was not officially active in a competitive sport. Debbie Muggli was born before women’s bodybuilding was a professional sport. During the 1980s the sport was still evolving. Debbie was about to add another sport to her athletic resume.

Debbie Muggli would be persuaded to compete by a male friend. Her friend needed a female partner in the couples’ division in the Greater Denton Bodybuilding Championships. Debbie Muggli had built an impressive body worthy of competition. She would first step on stage in March of 1987. Between 1987 and 1990 Debbie would win all her contests. A novice winning their first contest is no simple feat. Debbie Muggli now found an atmosphere suited to the competitive personality. Now a new objective was set. Debbie had hoped to reach the Ms. Olympia stage. Debbie did not have to hope .She won her pro-card in 1990 at the IFBB North American Championships. It was a struggle. At that contest she had to defeat Nikki Fuller. Debbie lost 3 lbs making her seem smaller than her last contest. Despite this Debbie came in 1st place. Debbie Muggli from that point onwards would compete at 159 lbs. Debbie made an incredible advance from being 90 lbs in high school to a Ms. Olympia competitor. Debbie Muggli would compete in the 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 Ms. Olympia. Her highest placing was in 1994 at 4th place. Her physique was balanced with the perfect amount of size and symmetry. The challenge was that this was era of incredible champions. Obtaining first place at the Ms. Olympia remains hard. Debbie would retire from the sport after the 1995 Ms. Olympia .

Debbie held other careers such as actor and kindergarten teacher. What she enjoyed most about teaching was the innocence of children. Teaching kindergarten was her passion. Debbie once said ” I don’t think I would like teaching any other grade that much.” She expressed this in a 1992 Muscular Development interview. Debbie began teaching kindergarten in 1988. Maybe the reason she liked teaching the younger kids was because they would be less rambunctious. The primary reason in her words ” I love encouraging and building them up.” Most of her students did not know about her athletic career. This is because Debbie would not discuss it and most of the time athletes are full clothed. Some of her students saw her in a newspaper and her athletic physique was revealed. That is when the kids got curious. The legend goes Debbie’s nickname Muscles Muggli came from the kindergarten children. This was never confirmed by Debbie or fans. To Debbie the sport was more of a hobby outside of work. Some fans would have liked to see her compete longer. After 1995, it appears she was more devoted to teaching. Debbie also did some acting during her athletic career. Debbie got parts in Nemesis 2 and Nemesis 3 . These were low budget direct to video sci-fi B movies. Debbie Muggli also made an acting appearance on Martin . This was a hit sitcom by comedian Martin Lawrence for FOX. The majority of the roles seemed to typecast sportswomen at the time. The small acting parts at least got Debbie more exposure outside fitness and bodybuilder magazines.

Debbie Muggli has not been a part of the bodybuilding or fitness scene. She has not made many apparencies related to the sport. What is known about her now is she goes by the name Debbie Twiggs. At some point she got married and had a daughter. Her daughter made the news in 2015 as being a capable gymnast. This was reported by dallasnews.com. It appears that Debbie’s kid followed in her mother’s footsteps. Debbie Muggli was one of those competitors that got appreciation in her post competition years. Fans and judges just did not see it in the 1990s era. Debbie was a formidable opponent who went up the ranks. One would not expect an athlete of this caliber to have self doubt. At times Debbie did. When training at a gym as a novice , she chose to lift in the mostly female section of the gym. The reason was that she did not want men to see her struggle with just doing the bar. Male judgement and gym intimidation can deter women from getting involved in lifting. When Debbie won the Lone Star Classic in 1989, colleagues encouraged her to go for a national show. Debbie declined, because she did not think her physique was good enough for a national level contest. Debbie Muggli was able to overcome these cases of self doubt. The following year she won the NPC National Juniors. Debbie Mugguli competed in a total of 14 contests. After eight years Debbie Muggli finished her bodybuilding career. The gal from Texas, became the decade’s prominent competitors.