New Judging Rules For Bodybuilding, Fit Body, Figure and Bikini!

Beginning on the 2010, there will be a few modifications to the INBF/WNBF judging procedures. This is to ensure that athletes are provided the best opportunity to be fairly judged at all INBF/WNBF events and to help the athlete understand what the judges are looking for physique-wise.

BODYBUILDING-At all bodybuilding prejudging, three score will be given to both male and female competitors. Bodybuilders will be scored on symmetry, muscle mass and conditioning. In the past, INBF/WNBF guidelines dictated that athletes be scored over two rounds: Symmetry and muscularity. The muscularity round combined both mass and conditioning creating a difficult choice for judges of deciding between these two aspects of bodybuilding.

To make the scoring more clearly defined, an extra round will be added to the prejudging consisting of four poses : Most Muscular (of choice), Front Double Biceps, Side Chest (of choice) and Rear Lat Spread. Bodybuilders will be judged on fat-free muscle mass, not by overall conditioning. Athletes will be judged on conditioning in a separate round consisting of all the mandatory poses.

This will especially help Women's Bodybuilding, which is often confused with Figure and Ms. Fit Body.

FIGURE-Figure athletes are scored in three rounds in the prejudging: Beauty/Presence, Symmetry/Muscletone and Presentation. Athletes are required to display an athletic, feminine physique, which takes into account facial beauty, overall appearance and graceful presentation.

FIT BODY- Ms. Fit Body will no longer be scored by facial beauty. Instead scoring will be based on symmetry and muscle tone being presented in a series of feminine poses. Judges are not looking for a bodybuilding-type physique, but an above-average athletic appearance.

Bikini -    The Bikini Swimsuit Contest is a swimsuit/modeling contest designed to find the most marketable, most beautiful and most fit swimsuit models that represent the ideal for the Bikini online magazine (bestbodymagazine.com), for Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness newsstand magazine and also for the WNBF. The competition is judged based on one round of prejudging, where competitors will be compared while wearing a two-piece bikini swimsuit and high-heel shoes. Comparisons will be made in standard quarter-turns of the competitors (front, side, back, side). Judging will reward body shape, facial beauty, stage presence, poise, elegance and an overall fit, toned look. There is no fitness demonstration, and this is not a bodybuilding competition (there are no "poses").

The quarter-turns will examine all ladies in the same positioning to the judges. In this regard, the "face front" command will require both feet together, with toes and hips facing the judges. Quarter-turns will be made to the right in four steps, until the contestants are again facing front. The Head Judge may ask for movement among the competitors to see different people together in different locations onstage.

In addition, the competitors may be asked to "stand comfortably" in the quarter-turns, at which time they may be allowed to twist the lower body, angle or "T" the feet or otherwise modify the basic stances to enhance their presentation. However, this altered stance presentation is by request of the Head Judge only.

All competitors will perform a stage walk in their swimsuits (not figure competition suits) at both the prejudging and the night show. In the case of high athlete turnout, however, it is up to the promoter's discretion whether the walk will take place only at prejudging.

The walk will be conducted in a manner according to the promoter's site restrictions, but in accordance with WNBF rules. Competitors will enter stage left, walk to the center stage and then move forward to the center of the taped line. There they will do a complete turn; walk to stage right and do two alternating side stances; walk all the way over to stage right for two more side turn stances; and then exit. The turns are designed to allow contestants to show themselves to the judges and exhibit stage presence that enhances their presentation. However, overly exaggerated displays or taking excessive time onstage will be scored down.

The two-piece swimsuit must be in good taste; thongs or T-back bottoms are not allowed.  The suits may be adorned with rhinestones, sparkles, sequins, etc. for added effect. There is no one-piece swimsuit round in WNBF competition. Body jewelry (piercing) is allowed, so long as it is not offensive. Other jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelets) may be worn, but should not obscure the physique or be in poor taste.

Two segments will be judged simultaneously: "Beauty/Stage Presence" and "Body Shape/Symmetry." The judges will score both categories based on the individual model walks and the side-by-side group comparisons. Scoring will be on a placement system (first to last) in each category, with the judges then using those scores to assess a final placement for all the swimsuit models (first to last).

Bikini online magazine is looking for the next great swimsuit/fitness model. The contest will reward women who have fit, toned bodies, yet who are not necessarily overly muscular or defined. It is a beauty contest with a bit of a fitness edge to it.

Note: Bikini is a "softer" look than competitive Figure, and competitors should be aware of the judging differences.

Pro women can cross over to amateur Fit Body and Bikini divisions.