Immediately after the Olympia last weekend, I logged into Facebook to see a lot of comments like, "Bikini shouldn't be part of the Olympia," "They don't even have to work hard," "Do those girls even lift?" and "What do they do to prep, swap burgers for chicken sandwiches?"
Now I understand that some Bikini competitors, especially at small shows, look like they decided to compete about 10 days prior to the show. But that's not the Division's ideal. Besides, there are competitors in just about every category at any small show who look like they haven't been lifting very long, or didn't diet very hard, or whatever. (And for the record, I still think those people ROCK. Competing is so hard - mentally AND physically - and getting on stage is a HUGE accomplishment.)
But I mean, are we really going to say that girls who look like this.....
 |
| (Source - Jamie Baird) |
 |
| (Source - India Paulino) |
Don't lift? Don't work hard? Don't diet hard?
These two girls - top IFBB pros - both have great shoulders/arms and BANGIN' legs. They are both displaying leanness that is simply not achievable or maintainable year-round.
This is obviously just based on my personal experience, but most of the Bikini competitors I've met have either been very athletic for most of their lives, or have backgrounds in powerlifting. After all, what better way to build a beautiful booty than lots of heavy squats and deadlifts?
It is a shame that some girls choose to wear butt-floss bikinis and make their posing routines overtly sexual, but I don't think that should take away from the hard work all competitors (Bikini, Figure, Fitness, Physique, Bodybuilding) put into their diets and training.
What do you think? Should Bikini remain part of the Olympia?
You already know what I think but I'll comment anyway! The Olympia is clearly above other competitions. I was so turned off by bikini after seeing a local competition, but those girls looked nothing like the likes of Jamie Baird. Did you see the picture I posted on FB today of Jelena Abbou? She did bikini last year, and figure this year. She looks incredible in both, and you can tell that she would have had to work her butt off to achieve either look! I'd be surprised if any of the top bikini competitors didn't lift weights. If they didn't, I don't think they have any chance of placing well.
ReplyDeleteI agree!! Jelena Abbou looks incredible in either division. I do think the judging needs to become more consistent, though. At one show the judges will reward one thing; at the next they'll reward another. Some judges penalize for butt-floss bikinis and sexualized posing (leaning forward, etc) and others reward it or turn a blind eye.
DeleteYeah...I used to think the same thing, until I started working shows. Come to a pro qualifier and meet the majority of the bikini girls in person...they are jacked. The posing confuses people, the controversy (aka...the labia shot at one of the national shows) turns people off, and couple it with the fact that the head judges are not disqualifying or redirecting people for inappropriate posing/suits/behavior, and it's easy for people to find things they can criticize. But don't for a minute confuse that with lack of training or effort on the part of the competitors. It is sad that the industry has worked to bring the WPD judging in line so quickly (just ask DLB - the first pro, but largely unsuccesful at a pro level due to her size) while allowing the bikini activity to go unchecked (especially in not enforcing rule breaks with shoes, suits and posing), especially since bikini is the one division that consistently brings in many competitors (i.e. makes money for the shows). As a result, yes bikini should remain. But the judging and enforcement of misconduct related to shoes, suits, posing and behavior needs to be tightened up and consistent. In the end, I think that is what will bring credibility to bikini more than anything. :)
ReplyDeleteI missed the labia shot!! HAHA whoa! That is what bikini bite is for people!!
DeleteSeriously - women's physique is much newer than bikini and its judging is SO much more consistent. I think the inconsistency in judging is the biggest thing that turns people off of bikini. Some judges seem to condone and even reward lewd posing/suits/etc while others crack down on it & it's confusing for the fans!
Glad you posted this - I was thinking about these ideas just last night!
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed to admit I'm a reformed Bikini shit talker. After some introspection and personal growth, I think I've concluded one reason people have so much spite toward Bikini competitors...Bikini makes obvious what other physique competitors try their best to deny: that physique sports are not just sports, in fact, but a negotiation of sexuality, bodily presentation and gender identity.
Whether we admit it or not, Figure or bodybuilding competitions are NOT soccer, tennis, or what have you. In those sports, the body is a means to an end. In physique sports, the body is the sport - the end itself. It's easy to be a Figure competitor or bodybuilder and say, "My preference for my own physique (i.e. pronounced muscularity) is not the 'norm' of what's considered sexy, so therefore I'm not manipulating my body but simply playing a sport." Fact is, Figure/bodybuilding/physique are just as much a display of sexuality as Bikini - but Bikini is the only division that flaunts that factor. Queue: anxiety! And in turn: criticism.
Obviously, I'm open to other perspectives...but I'm pretty confident other physique competitors just despise Bikini because y'all put out there what the rest of us are trying to deny :)
Valerie, this is a GREAT point. I remember in my first few posing classes, when I was intending to compete in figure, the NPC judge who was teaching me to pose kept saying "think sexy!" and I was like uhhh this is figure what are you talking about?!?! But the simple truth is that sex sells and no matter WHAT division you compete in, you need to have some sex appeal. I mean... you're on stage in stripper heels and a tiny bikini.
DeleteSomeone once told me that we react most strongly to what is present within us, and I think that's a very large part of why most people seem to despise bikini.
I think it should! The point of figure/body competitions is to build the body that a certain category/guidelines calls for--so if bikini is a little "sexier" than the others? That doesn't mean someone didn't work hard to be the top and meet those requirements! You don't get a nice booty and legs doing nothing/eating whatever, so even if figure doesn't have the same level of muscle, it's just a different "look" that (well, you know!) still requires tons of dedication.
ReplyDeleteI don't quite have a formed opinion at all but this is very interesting. I never really knew about all the differences about the competitions until you started posting about them. So thank you!
ReplyDeleteSetting aside the question for a moment... I don't understand the animosity for the bikini competitors. I think those that have that ugly attitude have lost their way.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting question! I don't think I really know enough about the topic to have a really formed opinion, but from what I've seen, women who compete in bikini are gorgeous and clealry work hard to get to that level! I mean, no one's really strutting off the street and deciding they want to compete - it must take dedication to look like that.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% Sable! I think it should stay. During the Olympia, they said that one of the bikini competitors was a powerlifter... so take that haters! There are some bikini competitors that don't lift but that doesn't mean that every bikini competitor should be generalized as cardio bunnies who don't lift. Clearly some of them work very HARD. How do some of them get incredible legs and abs if they don't?! They should be respected just like everyone else. :)
ReplyDeleteIt should stay. I love your points here! People work HARD to get up on that stage, for those few minutes to show the world just what you can accomplish if you give it your everything. It's phenomenal to see the progress and results in physique athletes - all of them... including bikini! You don't just get a body built up like a machine without fueling it right and putting in (at least some) hard work in the gym.
ReplyDeleteI think it should definitely stay. Anyone who looks at those ladies and doesn't think they work hard is nuts.
ReplyDeleteAs a former figure competitor who competed on a provincial level ( that's Canadian for state) and as a National bikini finalist, my workouts and diet were the same. I did not lift heavier for figure and no, I did not swap burgers for chicken burgers. I dieted down just as hard for bikini. However I had so many figure competitors tell me: it would be so much less grueling training for bikini. I'm here to say it wasn't. The main difference comes in that last week when my coach is trying to water cut me, but not so much that I looked striated like a figure girl, but enough that I still have an athletic physique. In figure it was a lot easier to dry out.
ReplyDeleteWell, speaking from experience, and judging from all the work I've put into my bikini competition prep (which is still 6 weeks out), I would say it's been really hard work.
ReplyDeleteYes, fitness, figure and bodybuilders have an even harder goal to reach, but that doesn't mean what bikini competitors do is a walk in the park. Damn, I'd love to have 12 days of prep!! How awesome would that be???
Overall I think it would be interesting to judge people based on where they came from to where they are, rather than just how good they look on competition day.
Cuz I've come a loooooong way baby!
Love that you said even the girls on stage who don't look ready are awesome for getting up there! Awesome attitude!!! I think bikini should be in, generally I prefer their look, but regardless of my opinions they have worked hard to be there!
ReplyDeleteI think that's a bit mean of people to judge them, saying they don't put any effort in- it's obvious, a lot of effort has been put in!
ReplyDeleteI think the bikini category should definitely still stay! Whether you are body building or counting calories to merely lose weight, any kind of body transformation is HARD WORK...and requires a heck lot of motivation & will power! If it wasn't hard work, then why the heck isn't the rest of the world rockin' a bikini body??
ReplyDeleteI'm just chopped liver over here, but I think it should be a part. Those chicks (and you too, Sable) have major dedication WAY WAY WAY ABOVE the average hard-worker like myself.
ReplyDelete