A British champion bodybuilder and ex pornstar has been found dead at her home.
Tributes are being paid to “generous, helpful and kind” Joanna Thomas who achieved fame competing in the US and was described as a “gutsy trailblazer.”
The 43-year-old died on April 26, but news of her death has only just been made public.
She grew up in Camborne, Cornwall before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to pursue her dream career, reports Cornwall Live.
Joanna was the youngest female to earn a pro card in her bodybuilding generation aged just 21 and trained at the world famous Golds Gym in Venice, California, in a career spanning more than a decade.
In 2005, she became even more famous when she featured in a Channel Five documentary called Supersize She.
The show depicted her training before the 2004 Ms Olympia contest.
She had an incredible body builder career(Image: GoFundMe)
The documentary discussed Joanna’s life, her parents’ feelings towards bodybuilding, her diet and sacrifices, her body and her work in the adult industry.
Upon leaving school Joanna had initially set her sights on a career in nursing, but after joining her sister Nicola at the gym and developing a passion for lifting weights this all changed.
Her family said: “Joanna was never a person to take advice – and despite the best efforts of her family – decided to stop halfway through her nurse training so that she could pursue her dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder…and a professional bodybuilder she became!”
They continued: “Joanna enjoyed the high life in the USA for approximately 12 years. She was one of the most popular and sought after female bodybuilders in the USA, attending Arnold Schwarzenegger’s birthday party and mixing with Paris Hilton’s PR manager in Beverley Hills.
“Joanna always loved her luxury and glam, having the perfect tan, pedicure, manicure and make-up.”
Last year, hard-up Joanna created an online fundraising page to raise money towards helping get back on track after a series of health problems stemming from bodybuilding.
It is understood her funeral took place in May and was attended by immediate family only due the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Bodybuilding website Digital Muscle paid tribute to the star and said: “Recently, Joanna had expressed transforming her body back into reasonable shape after years of inactivity and carrying extra bodybuilding weight.
“The sport of bodybuilding has truly lost one of its hardcore members of the iron game and she will be sorely missed.
“On behalf of Digital Muscle, Mr. Olympia Staff, IFBB Pro League and the entire bodybuilding community, we extend our sincere condolences to the family.”
Another tribute on social media read: “Very sad news… IFBB Pro bodybuilder Joanna Thomas passed away in her apartment in the UK.