Debbie Dobbins
Encyclopedia
Debbie Dobbins was a popular fitness competitor and fitness model during the early 1990s. Her life was cut short due to smoke inhalation
in a house fire.
, of half Irish
and half Filipino
descent. When she was three her family moved to Portland, Oregon
, where she grew up in the northwest side. She competed in a variety of sports in high school and college, including track and field
and basketball
. She graduated from college with a degree in Marketing and Advertising. After college she began taking aerobic classes, and also took up running and weight training. Later she taught aerobics and cross training for seven years, and gradually made weight training a bigger part of her fitness regimen.
Dobbins moved to Los Angeles, California
at age twenty-four to pursue a career in the fitness industry. There she became an aerobics instructor and played volleyball
for Orange Coast College
in Costa Mesa. While establishing herself as a fitness model she worked full-time for a leasing company, and did promotional work for Randy Pfund
, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers
. Debbie also worked as a cheerleader for the Portland Breakers
of the USFL and Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL.
Her magazine cover appearances included Musclemag International and Iron Man
. She was also featured in Iron Mans special swimsuit issue and modeled for Iron Man gym wear. In 1993, Debbie placed third in the Ms. Fitness USA competition and tied for second at the Ms. Galaxy. Her death in late 1993 occurred as a result of smoke inhalation
in a house fire.
In a 1994 episode of Hard Copy, it was speculated that there was foulplay involved with the fire causing her death.
Smoke inhalation
Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in victims of indoor fires.Smoke inhalation injury refers to injury due to inhalation or exposure to hot gaseous products of combustion. This can cause serious respiratory complications....
in a house fire.
Biography
Dobbins was born in Olongapo, PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, of half Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and half Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
descent. When she was three her family moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where she grew up in the northwest side. She competed in a variety of sports in high school and college, including track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. She graduated from college with a degree in Marketing and Advertising. After college she began taking aerobic classes, and also took up running and weight training. Later she taught aerobics and cross training for seven years, and gradually made weight training a bigger part of her fitness regimen.
Dobbins moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
at age twenty-four to pursue a career in the fitness industry. There she became an aerobics instructor and played volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
for Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College is a community college in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides two-year associate of art and science degrees, certificates of achievement, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges...
in Costa Mesa. While establishing herself as a fitness model she worked full-time for a leasing company, and did promotional work for Randy Pfund
Randy Pfund
Randell "Randy" Pfund is an American former National Basketball Association head coach and a former NBA executive...
, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Debbie also worked as a cheerleader for the Portland Breakers
Portland Breakers
The Portland Breakers were a professional American Football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. Before moving to Portland, Oregon, the franchise was previously in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers and New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans...
of the USFL and Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL.
Her magazine cover appearances included Musclemag International and Iron Man
Iron Man (magazine)
Iron Man Magazine is a publication which discusses bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting. It was founded in 1936 by two Alliance, Nebraska natives, Peary Rader and his wife, Mabel Rader.-History:...
. She was also featured in Iron Mans special swimsuit issue and modeled for Iron Man gym wear. In 1993, Debbie placed third in the Ms. Fitness USA competition and tied for second at the Ms. Galaxy. Her death in late 1993 occurred as a result of smoke inhalation
Smoke inhalation
Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in victims of indoor fires.Smoke inhalation injury refers to injury due to inhalation or exposure to hot gaseous products of combustion. This can cause serious respiratory complications....
in a house fire.
In a 1994 episode of Hard Copy, it was speculated that there was foulplay involved with the fire causing her death.
Contest history
- 1993 Miss Fitness USA - 3rd Runner-up
- 1993 Miss Fitness USA - 2nd Runner-up
- 1993 Miss Galaxy Fitness - 1st Runner-up
Magazine covers
- December 1993 - Musclemag International
- February 1994 - Iron ManIron Man (magazine)Iron Man Magazine is a publication which discusses bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting. It was founded in 1936 by two Alliance, Nebraska natives, Peary Rader and his wife, Mabel Rader.-History:...
- March 1994 - Musclemag International
- July 1994 - Muscular DevelopmentMuscular DevelopmentMuscular Development is an American fitness and bodybuilding magazine first published in 1964. It was founded by Bob HoffmanBob Hoffman - athlete, nutritionist, weightlifter, coach and philanthropist - was born on a farm in Tifton, Georgia on Nov 9th 1898. His family stock was good. Bob was never...