How are figure competitions judged?

[Behemoth1]

I'm going out on a limb and hoping I can get some mature, educated guess responses in the ifbb forum.

I've been lifting for 7 years now but have only really been into bodybuilding for the last 2 of those years and im JUST now really starting to see how they're judged. Before, like most, I just saw a bunch of big mofos on stage. I knew nothing bout conditioning, lines, etc. However, I'mm put through the paces again i was watching the olympia this year on bb.com and i find myself in the same place i was 2 years ago. How do they judge these girls? 90% of them are hot, they're all slightly toned, heavily tanned, with crest kid smiles. Any body got any ideas?

[stealth_swimmer]

I have yet to discover how figure shows are judged as well. Obviously they got the same criteria but the overall "look" the judges seek is different, and I have no idea what that look is supposed to be.

[Behemoth1]

I have yet to discover how figure shows are judged as well. Obviously they got the same criteria but the overall "look" the judges seek is different, and I have no idea what that look is supposed to be.

all im aware of from what i've heard charles glass talk about in "the fit show" is that they don't want to come on stage looking too hard like a female bodybuilder. thats the extent of my knowledge ha

[mrusa85]

It does seem to be a big mystery. I've never heard anyone explain the judging criteria very well. And the criteria seems to keep changing. It's basically a shape/symmetry/proportion round only - and you can't be too ripped or too muscular. It's always been vague.

[dvsness]

Figure has been consistently inconsistent.

[stealth_swimmer]

Figure has been consistently inconsistent.

x2, seems like they go for a different look each time to me, lol

[Nuki]

I still think they look so much better when they're not in competition shape... But yeah, that's off topic.

I also agree with the op, what is the criteria exactly and why does it change so much?

Not like male bb shows are 100% objective but from the little I've seen of figure shows ... figure judging makes no sense at all.

[siersy]

x2, seems like they go for a different look each time to me, lol

yea they jsut share it around... they dont want it to be a freak contest and they dont want it to be an anorexic or too low body fat...

its basically who is hottest

edit: and maybe whos dick/pussy they lick

[WaterBlender]

went through the ifbb rulebook for you guys.

found this:

51.1 Assessment of Round 1 (Two-Piece Bikini):
Round 1 (Two-Piece Bikini) will be assessed using the following
criteria:
1. The judge should first assess the overall athletic
appearance of the physique. This assessment should
begin at the head and extend downwards, taking the
whole physique into account. The assessment,
beginning with a general impression of the physique,
should take into consideration the hair and facial
beauty; the overall athletic development of the
musculature; the presentation of a balanced,
symmetrically developed physique; the condition of the
skin and the skin tone; and the athlete?s ability to
present herself with confidence, poise and grace.


2. The physique should be assessed as to its level of
overall muscle tone, achieved through athletic
endeavors. The muscle groups should have a round and
firm appearance with a small amount of body fat. The
physique should neither be excessively muscular nor
excessively lean and should be free from deep muscle
separation and/or striations. Physiques that are
considered either too muscular or too lean must be
marked down.

3. The assessment should also take into consideration the
tightness and tone of the skin. The skin tone should be
smooth and healthy in appearance, and without cellulite.
The face, hair and makeup should complement the
?Total Package? presented by the athlete.

4. The judge?s assessment of the athlete?s physique should
include the athlete?s entire presentation, from the
moment she walks onstage until the moment she walks
offstage. At all times, the fitness competitor must be
viewed with the emphasis on a ?healthy, fit, athletic?
physique, in an attractively presented ?Total Package?.


for the second round, they added this in judging:

5. The judges must be mindful of the fact that a
competitor may present a different ?Total Package?
while wearing a swimsuit with high-heels as opposed to
a bikini with high-heels. Therefore, judges must ensure
that this round is judged from a ?fresh? perspective,
ensuring that all competitors receive a fair assessment
based upon their attire in this round.


if you guys read that carefully, their hair and make-up actually affects how they are judged overall. wtf.

[captainhorseboy]

i think they lay their penises on graph paper and they calculate the distance moved during the routines

[dvsness]

i think they lay their penises on graph paper and they calculate the distance moved during the routines

Since when does Figure have a routine?

[captainhorseboy]

Since when does Figure have a routine?

there are no posing routines? hmm then when do the judges measure the movement of their boners?

[Behemoth1]

there are no posing routines? hmm then when do the judges measure the movement of their boners?

Since when does Figure have a routine?

you'll have to excuse him. I knew this thread would attract the immature and dumb at some point or another. to answer hboy, that would be fitness competition with the routine not figure.

[Behemoth1]

if you guys read that carefully, their hair and make-up actually affects how they are judged overall. wtf.

Well first i wanna say good find on the rulebook, i'd rep if i wasn't in a sea of red myself. anyways, if you look in male bodybuilding rules i'm pretty sure the way they're groomed is mentioned in there as well.

[captainhorseboy]

you'll have to excuse him. I knew this thread would attract the immature and dumb at some point or another. to answer hboy, that would be fitness competition with the routine not figure.

i was half messing around only, i mean i think that figure serves the purpose of bringing some hotness to comps and offsets the kinda homo leanings of male bb-ing, thats just how i see it. its a marketable aspect of it, and i think that the ambiguity of function is why there is some inconsistency in its perception

[morderstwo]

all the judging of these happens behind the scenes if u know what i mean.

[antish]

Since when does Figure have a routine?

i got your routine in my favorites:P

[wlf.vik83]

Antish.. bro where have you been?

[curqleez]

went through the ifbb rulebook for you guys.

found this:

51.1 Assessment of Round 1 (Two-Piece Bikini):
Round 1 (Two-Piece Bikini) will be assessed using the following
criteria:
1. The judge should first assess the overall athletic
appearance of the physique. This assessment should
begin at the head and extend downwards, taking the
whole physique into account. The assessment,
beginning with a general impression of the physique,
should take into consideration the hair and facial
beauty; the overall athletic development of the
musculature; the presentation of a balanced,
symmetrically developed physique; the condition of the
skin and the skin tone; and the athlete?s ability to
present herself with confidence, poise and grace.


2. The physique should be assessed as to its level of
overall muscle tone, achieved through athletic
endeavors. The muscle groups should have a round and
firm appearance with a small amount of body fat. The
physique should neither be excessively muscular nor
excessively lean and should be free from deep muscle
separation and/or striations. Physiques that are
considered either too muscular or too lean must be
marked down.

3. The assessment should also take into consideration the
tightness and tone of the skin. The skin tone should be
smooth and healthy in appearance, and without cellulite.
The face, hair and makeup should complement the
?Total Package? presented by the athlete.

4. The judge?s assessment of the athlete?s physique should
include the athlete?s entire presentation, from the
moment she walks onstage until the moment she walks
offstage. At all times, the fitness competitor must be
viewed with the emphasis on a ?healthy, fit, athletic?
physique, in an attractively presented ?Total Package?.


for the second round, they added this in judging:

5. The judges must be mindful of the fact that a
competitor may present a different ?Total Package?
while wearing a swimsuit with high-heels as opposed to
a bikini with high-heels. Therefore, judges must ensure
that this round is judged from a ?fresh? perspective,
ensuring that all competitors receive a fair assessment
based upon their attire in this round.


if you guys read that carefully, their hair and make-up actually affects how they are judged overall. wtf.

This is for fitness not figure.

[antish]

Antish.. bro where have you been?

bz at work. i've been working on shifts.my job's the worst in the world.lol.
hw about you?

anyway vanessa adams, keep the good work up!

[wlf.vik83]

bz at work. i've been working on shifts.my job's the worst in the world.lol.
hw about you?

anyway vanessa adams, keep the good work up!

I am doing good. Missed u around the boards. BTW... ur PM box is full.

[dvsness]

i got your routine in my favorites

Ugh, I was such a twig.

[WaterBlender]

This is for fitness not figure.

i looked carefully, there was a fitness section and fitness body/body fitness section.

didn't have any section called figure so i just put 2 and 2 together.

[tinyman5000]

the hottest one..this isnt complex

[Victorian guy]

It's a bimbo fest, added in to make sure everyone knows bodybuilding is NOT gay. Why do they put the girls in the mags, on the covers...if I want playboy pics I'll buy Playboy. The whole sidebar 'fitness' stuff and the pretty girls at booths, etc, is that the sponsors and magazine publishers want to be as overtly heterosexual as possible. Otherwise it's magazines and contests with muscled oiled up guys in thongs. Add in the girls to remind everyone bbding is not gay.

[dvsness]

It's a bimbo fest, added in to make sure everyone knows bodybuilding is NOT gay. Why do they put the girls in the mags, on the covers...if I want playboy pics I'll buy Playboy. The whole sidebar 'fitness' stuff and the pretty girls at booths, etc, is that the sponsors and magazine publishers want to be as overtly heterosexual as possible. Otherwise it's magazines and contests with muscled oiled up guys in thongs. Add in the girls to remind everyone bbding is not gay.

Who cares? Maybe the women that train and diet for these competitions care. Did it ever occur to you that these 'pretty girls at booths' bust their asses to compete as well?