The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman competition in Arlington, Texas, faced backlash after original winner Jammie Booker was disqualified due to allegations of being transgender, leading to Andrea Thompson being named champion. According to reports, Booker, who had previously competed in the open women’s category without weight restrictions, was disqualified after the organization became aware of the allegations. Official Strongman stated that competitors must compete in categories based on their biological sex at birth, prompting the ruling that Booker would be disqualified.
Thompson, a long-time participant in the competition, was awarded the title posthumously after the disqualification. Thompson had previously been a runner-up in the competition, finishing in second place in 2022 and third in 2019. She had also won the Masters World’s Strongest Woman event, reserved for women 40 years or older.
Booker, who had competed in three events this year, had expressed hopes of winning the competition and advancing her career as an athlete and trainer. She had started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the competition, citing financial constraints as a barrier to her participation. Her YouTube video, posted in 2017, had claimed to be transgender, sparking controversy and leading to the disqualification decision.
Official Strongman issued a statement emphasizing their inclusive approach to sports, stating,