Figure vs Bikini

[Srandazzo93]

Can someone explain the difference between figure competitions and bikini.

Also if someone who knows the difference can look at my pics and tell me what I am best suited for. I am naturally really muscular but also thin.


Thanks!

[heatheraloo]

Can someone explain the difference between figure competitions and bikini.

Also if someone who knows the difference can look at my pics and tell me what I am best suited for. I am naturally really muscular but also thin.


Thanks!

As far as IVe been able to tell, figure girls will have larger muscles, more definition. Judges don't want to see a lot of muscle on a bikini girl but both divisions of competitors should have low bf.

Figure girls for NPC will be judged on:
Scoring – Judges will be scoring competitors using the following criteria:
◾Small degree of muscularity with separation, no visible striations
◾Overall muscle tone with shapely lines, overall firmness and not excessively lean
◾Full general assessment
◾Healthy appearance
◾Make-up
◾Skin tone

Bikini girls for NPC will be judged on:
◾Balance and Shape
◾Overall physical appearance including complexion, skin tone, poise and overall presentation.

Retrieved from NPC news online

[megdaig]

Figure wants a femininely muscular physique. A good V-taper, large round delts, and low body fat.


Bikini is more about flirtiness and being sassy, having a soft and lean figure with lots of emphasis on a big(-ish) round butt.


Based on your current pictures, you don't have the size for figure [yet]. You'd do well in bikini once you cut down. If you want to do figure, you need to spend a few years bulking and building the necessary muscle.

[Lyndseyd]

Figure wants a femininely muscular physique. A good V-taper, large round delts, and low body fat.


Bikini is more about flirtiness and being sassy, having a soft and lean figure with lots of emphasis on a big(-ish) round butt.


Based on your current pictures, you don't have the size for figure [yet]. You'd do well in bikini once you cut down. If you want to do figure, you need to spend a few years bulking and building the necessary muscle.

I was wondering the same thing, i can see that figure requires more muscle, what level of body fat would you be aiming for in Bikini? I know I need to gain some muscle but I've also been told I need to put on body fat? This seems contradictory - I thought it was important to be lean? Thanks!

[EPolis13]

I was wondering the same thing, i can see that figure requires more muscle, what level of body fat would you be aiming for in Bikini? I know I need to gain some muscle but I've also been told I need to put on body fat? This seems contradictory - I thought it was important to be lean? Thanks!

Train for the look, not the #. Everyone's body fat varies on stage. It's about how you look. I've competed at as high as 15% before and as low as 10% - and that's for figure. I never, ever go by #s.

[Lyndseyd]

Train for the look, not the #. Everyone's body fat varies on stage. It's about how you look. I've competed at as high as 15% before and as low as 10% - and that's for figure. I never, ever go by #s.

Thanks for the reply. I'm so new to this :-)

[bestbodyforever]

Interesting Question!!
You may try to some competition area, where girls participated for their body building competition. so you will get right reviews from there.
Thanks

[megdaig]

I was wondering the same thing, i can see that figure requires more muscle, what level of body fat would you be aiming for in Bikini? I know I need to gain some muscle but I've also been told I need to put on body fat? This seems contradictory - I thought it was important to be lean? Thanks!

You may have been told to gain some fat to give you a softer/fuller look, especially if bikini is the way you want to go. It's definitely all about the look.

But to throw numbers out there...

Figure...anywhere from 7 to 12%
Bikini....12 to 16%...maybe higher depending on how you distribute fat


Also note that this sport is all about illusion (i.e. posing). There are some women who will compete in both bikini and figure in the same competition, all they do is change their posing to give the illusion of the look that the judges want.

[Lyndseyd]

You may have been told to gain some fat to give you a softer/fuller look, especially if bikini is the way you want to go. It's definitely all about the look.

But to throw numbers out there...

Figure...anywhere from 7 to 12%
Bikini....12 to 16%...maybe higher depending on how you distribute fat


Also note that this sport is all about illusion (i.e. posing). There are some women who will compete in both bikini and figure in the same competition, all they do is change their posing to give the illusion of the look that the judges want.

I suppose it would take longer to prep for figure in terms of muscle gain?

[Srandazzo93]

You may have been told to gain some fat to give you a softer/fuller look, especially if bikini is the way you want to go. It's definitely all about the look.

But to throw numbers out there...

Figure...anywhere from 7 to 12%


Bikini....12 to 16%...maybe higher depending on how you distribute fat


Also note that this sport is all about illusion (i.e. posing). There are some women who will compete in both bikini and figure in the same competition, all they do is change their posing to give the illusion of the look that the judges want.

Wow, that is very interesting to know. Right now my body fat is 10 percent. I feel like I am too thin but when I look at pictures of previous NPC bikini winners, I feel like I am on track. Also I have noticed that Bikini competitors range in size. Some winners are very thin and frail looking while others are more bootylicious? volumtptious?. If you get my drift.

[smiskell]

Wow, that is very interesting to know. Right now my body fat is 10 percent. I feel like I am too thin but when I look at pictures of previous NPC bikini winners, I feel like I am on track. Also I have noticed that Bikini competitors range in size. Some winners are very thin and frail looking while others are more bootylicious? volumtptious?. If you get my drift.

I was around 10% for my show a few weeks ago. I think that one specific BF% can look very different from person to person, so focus more on how YOU look. Also, I do agree that there is a variety of bikini "looks" that are in the top three at each show. I believe it just depends on the preference of the judging panel at that show, very subjective. This can be frustrating but part of the bikini division, nothing you can do to try and really figure it out. Best think you can do is look YOUR best!