Figure Guidelines

Figure contests consist of group comparisons and individual presentations. Two-piece suits, attached with criss cross straps in the back and clear high-heeled shoes are worn for both parts. Suits can be of any color and may be decorated with crystals. Thong and T-back style suits are not permitted. Jewelry is permissible. Competitors must be age 16 or over. Competitors under 18 must have parental consent. Competitors cannot participate in any other categories at the same show. Athletes posing in an overtly sexual manner, doing anything on stage considered inappropriate for younger audiences or being disruptive to the show may be disqualified.

Judging Criteria

Judging for Figure is based on good leanness and conditioning with full, healthy and shapely muscularity, good balance, proportion, and symmetry of both muscularity and conditioning, and presentation. Figure competitors should not display deeply drawn-in faces or stringy-looking muscularity (an emaciated look), indicative of extreme leanness, or less shapely muscularity due to muscle glycogen depletion.

Figure competitors must show good muscle tone. Leanness and muscle development is expected; however, competitors should NOT exhibit as much conditioning and muscle mass/size or present an over-conditioned physique as is presented in Women’s Physique. Figure competitors should not display deeply drawn-in faces or stringy-looking muscularity (an emaciated look), indicative of extreme leanness, or less shapely muscularity due to muscle glycogen depletion. Competitors shall display a clear V-Taper when viewed from the front and back displaying clear deltoid caps and conditioned abdominals. Quadriceps should display sweep and clean lines but not overly cross striated muscles. Hamstrings should be full and muscular with well-rounded gluteus development.

Group Comparisons

Each class is brought to front center stage and is guided through quarter turns to display physiques from the front, left, back, and right. Quarter turn stances should be done as shown below. Not performing poses in the manner specified may result in lower scoring from judges.

Front Pose

• Heels must be together and in line, without either foot ahead of the other.
• Hips MUST face the judges and arms must remain to the sides (although they shouldn't touch the sides or be exaggerated spread wide).
• Lats should be open/flared to show a nice V-Taper.
• Toes must face the judges, but competitors can angle their toes out Slightly if it helps to accentuate their quad presentation.

Side Pose

• Hips and feet face the side of the stage with feet flat on the surface.
• Upper body turned 35 degrees toward judges so the rear shoulder can be seen, but not overly torqued towards the judges.
• The hand facing the judges should hang down and shouldn't touch the sides or be exaggerated spread wide.
• The hand opposite from the judges shall be placed on the hip.
• The feet can be offset only half the distance of the foot (front or back foot offset).

Rear Pose

• Both feet must be together or very close.
• Toes cannot be spread wide apart.
• Feet cannot be offset to any degree (i.e., one in front of the other).
• Competitors should brush their hair to one side so their back can be seen.
• Arms must be at the sides with the hands hanging freely- palms toward the body.
• Lats are flared out wide to display a V-Taper.

View the tutorial.

Watch a class being judged.

Individual Presentations

The individual presentation portion is a stage model walk. Competitors walk out to music to rear center stage and pause briefly in a stance of choice. Competitors then walk up to front center stage and perform quarter turns to show front, sides, and back views of their physiques, then walk to one side of the stage and pause briefly in a stance of choice, then to the opposite side of the stage and pause briefly in a stance of choice, then to front center stage and pause briefly in a stance of choice before exiting. The individual presentation is not factored into placement scoring but does count toward consideration for Best Presentation awards when offered.

See the stage path.

Watch a presentation.

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