In the dawn of modern female bodybuilding, Kellie became a vocal advocate of the concept of female bodybuilding with appearances in print,
Esquire and
Playboy, and TV media. Her first major article was a six page spread in the July
Esquire. Even
Playboy's May 1977 decision to use photos of Kellie's bikini falling off while lifting weights helped to garner attention for the concept of female bodybuilding. She also posed with Arnold Schwarzenneger Television appearances included Mike Douglas 1975, To Tell the Truth 1975, Real People 1979, and Tom Snyder, each time involving the promotion of the concept.
Kellie participated successfully in various events sponsored by the IFBB and WBBG [2] in the seventies:
- Ms Nude Universe 1967, featured in Playboy Feb. 1968
- Ms Body Beautiful USA 1973 2nd Place, World Body Building Guild, New York
- Ms Body Beautiful USA 1974 1st Place , World Body Building Guild, New York
- IFBB Ms Americana 2nd place & Best Body, 1972, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York
- IFBB Ms. Americana 1973 , CA . ‘Most Voluptuous’ Trophy, Contest Promoted by Reg & Shari Lewis.
- IFBB Ms. Americana 1974, 2nd Place Trophy and Best Body Trophy, Felt Forum, New York
It is difficult to name the point at which the modern era began, but 1980 can be seen as a very important year in which the National Physique Committee(NPC) held the first women's Nationals, and the first Ms. Olympia took place. This 1980 Miss Olympia, in which Kellie took part as a competitor, was at the same time Kellie's last public involvement with bodybuilding competition. There was recognition for Kellie for her early advocacy of female bodybuilding in the official 1980 Miss Olympia Program which stated:
- She may well be called the "Herald" of women's bodybuilding as she exhibited her weightlifting prowess for national magazines and television shows as early as 1975.
Everts trained hard for the 1981 competition but was barred from entering the Caesar's Palace Boardwalk Regency IFBB competition in Atlantic City.. Kellie arrived and picketed them in a white bikini, speaking for 30 minutes on a radio show.Kellie's last move in bodybuilding came in 1981 with the publication by Leitner Enterprises of "The Ultimate Woman", a female Bodybuilding book advertised for a week on the Phil Donohue Show, and for which she appeared with Lisa Lyon on the Tom Snyder Show that same year.On February 2, 2007 the WBBG (World Body Building Guild)[3] 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.[4]