Kamali Tells Coelho to Ignore Renewed Allegations and Let Her Conditioning ‘Speak for Itself’
The PMMA controversy surrounding reigning Women’s Physique Olympia champion Natalia Coelho continues to draw reactions from prominent names in bodybuilding.
Last week, Generation Iron reported that allegations against Coelho had resurfaced after Ali Taktak, husband and coach of four-time Women’s Physique Olympia champion Sarah Villegas, discussed the controversy during an interview.
Now, former IFBB Pro King Kamali has weighed in on the growing debate, offering his thoughts on why some competitors may turn to PMMA and other site-enhancing substances. However, when it comes to Coelho, Kamali believes she should ignore the outside noise and focus entirely on defending her Olympia title.
King Kamali Explains Why Bodybuilders Turn To PMMA
The controversy dates back to the 2025 Olympia, where Coelho defeated Villegas to reclaim the Women’s Physique Olympia title.
Villegas did not mince words following the loss. She accused Coelho of using site enhancements and brutally labeled her a “light weight OIL-ympia Champion,” adding “not a typo” to make her intentions unmistakable. Villegas also warned that “shortcuts will always catch up.”
The allegations against Coelho remain unproven. No publicly available medical documentation has established that she used PMMA.
During a recent appearance on RXMuscle, Kamali discussed the broader use of fillers and site-enhancing substances in bodybuilding. He suggested that some competitors may see them as a shortcut for improving body parts that would otherwise require significant work in the gym.
“They don’t want to work hard. To them, it’s why do I have to kill myself when I can just do this?” Kamali said.
Kamali used glute development as an example, arguing that athletes should instead focus on training to improve lagging areas.
“You have issues with your glutes, okay? Squat heavy and deep.”
PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate, is a synthetic material that can be used as a permanent injectable filler to add volume to tissue. Its alleged use in bodybuilding has become controversial because fillers could potentially alter the apparent size or shape of a muscle without that appearance coming entirely from muscular development.
Kamali Has Simple Advice For Natalia Coelho
Despite his concerns about the direction of bodybuilding, Kamali did not suggest Coelho should allow the allegations to interfere with her Olympia preparation.
Instead, he urged the reigning champion to settle the debate where bodybuilding competitions are ultimately decided: onstage.
“My last word on this subject today is, I’m going to send a message straight to Natalia: Go to the Olympia, let your condition speak for itself, kick ass, do what you need to do, and the best person will win.”
“Don’t worry about the other shit. Everybody is doing something.”
The controversy was reignited in August when Taktak claimed that a doctor associated with a Brazilian clinic contacted Villegas following the 2025 Olympia and allegedly provided information about procedures involving Coelho. Taktak went so far as to say he was prepared to stand behind his statements “in a deposition” and “in a courtroom.”
Those claims have not been independently verified, and being treated at or visiting a clinic would not by itself establish that Coelho underwent a PMMA procedure.
With Coelho preparing to defend her title and Villegas looking to regain the championship, the renewed controversy adds another layer to what has already become one of bodybuilding’s most personal rivalries heading into the 2026 Olympia.
Image embed via Instagram @ifbbpronataliacoelho
