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Beginnings:
Shelley Beattie was born August 24, 1967, in Santa Ana, California. She began losing her hearing because she accidentally swallowed a bottle of aspirin when she was three years old. She became deaf in one ear, and had partial hearing loss in the other. No one knew she was deaf until she was in the sixth grade. Her teen years were spent in a foster home because of her behavior.
Athletics:
When Beattie was 14, she started weightlifting. She held high school track heptathlon records. In 1998 and 1989, she held the national and world records for speed in a co-ed handcar team. In addition, she held a world record for bench pressing -- 315 pounds. By the time she was 22, she had became a professional bodybuilder. She won multiple bodybuilder competitions. About.com's Guide to bipolar disorder (Beattie had bipolar disorder) lists eight awards that she won, including third place in a Ms. Olympia competition.
Television and Movie Career:
What really brought Beattie to the attention of both the deaf and hearing worlds was her participation on "American Gladiators," a sports competition television show. She was "Siren" on the program of the same name from 1992 to 1996. Being Siren got her publicity in magazines such as People magazine in an article, "Siren's Song," and on the cover of Deaf Life magazine in July 1991 and again in December 1992.
Beattie also appeared in the 1993 movie Hot Shots! Part Deux, playing herself as Siren.
Life:
Beattie became a spokesperson for health and fitness organizations. She worked in group homes for the mentally and physically disabled. She was married to her coach John Romano. Besides bodybuilding, art, drums and animals also held Beattie's interest. She also attended Western Oregon State College (but never earned a degree), studying special education and psychology. In addition to bodybuilding, she was also into sailing, holding a spot on the first all-women's America's Cup sailing team.
Death:
On February 16, 2008, Beattie passed away. The cause of her death is unknown. She was only 39 years old. At the time of her passing, she was survived by her life partner Julie Moisa.
Resources:
Beattie is one of the deaf Americans included in the book Great Deaf Americans from Deaf Life Press. Muscular Development magazine reported it was planning a tribute to Beattie after she passed away. Deaf Mosaic #807 (1992) had an interview with Beattie. This video is available online, with captions. The video includes a montage of magazine articles on Beattie such as Muscle and Fitness magazine.
Sources:
America 3 Foundation
TV.com - This page includes quotes from Shelley Beattie.
Statesman Journal newspaper obituary.
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