Choosing the Division That’s Right for You
Bikini, Wellness, Figure, Fit Model & Beyond
One of the most common questions athletes ask before competing is:
“What division is best for me to compete in?”
Choosing the right division isn’t about trends, pressure, or where you think you should fit — It’s about understanding your body, your goals, and where you’ll feel most confident on stage.
At the Fit Show, we believe the right division sets athletes up not just for success on stage — but for confidence, longevity, and enjoyment in the sport.
Let’s break it down.
Start Here: Ask Yourself These 3 Questions
There is no division that is more “impressive,” more “elite,” or more respected than another.
Each division exists to highlight different physiques, strengths, and presentations.
The right division is the one that allows your strengths to shine, not the one that forces you to fight your natural structure.
Before you think about categories, ask yourself:
What does my natural structure support?
How much muscle do I enjoy building & want to live with year round?
What style of presentation feels authentic to me?
Those answers matter more than anything you see online.
Again, there is no “better” division — only a better fit.
How I Chose My Division (And What I Learned)
In 2009, I was finishing my degree at Middle Tennessee State University while working two jobs — one of them bartending on Broadway in downtown Nashville.
One night, a couple guys who clearly looked like bodybuilders sat down at the bar. And after a few minutes, one of them asked me, “Have you ever thought about competing? You have a really good build for it.”
I remember giving him a weird look and saying, “Competing? In what? What do you mean?”
He explained bodybuilding and showed me a photo of one of his Figure clients who had just competed. My immediate response was, “Ew! I don’t want to look like that.”
He gave me his number anyway and said if I ever changed my mind, he could help me get started. I honestly thought he was just hitting on me — but the seed was planted.
For the next couple of months, the idea of competing kept popping into my head. Eventually, curiosity won. I finally texted him and said, “If I were going to compete… how would I even get started?”
He told me to meet him at the gym the following week.
When I walked in, I noticed fitness magazine covers lining the walls. One image stopped me in my tracks — Jessica Paxon (now Jessica Mone). I said, “WAIT… she competes in Figure?! I didn’t know muscle could look so feminine and strong like that! I want to look like her.”
From that moment on, I was set on competing in Figure.
But reality set in quickly.
I was only about eight weeks out from my first show, and I started to understand something important: building the level of upper-body muscle needed for Figure wasn’t going to happen in a few weeks — it was going to take months, if not years.
This was also the year the Bikini division was introduced. I competed in Figure once, but after many honest conversations with others is the sport (and a lot of stubbornness on my part), I finally agreed to something that changed everything, including my mindset:
Train for Figure as the long-term goal — but compete in Bikini in the meantime.
When I finally stepped on stage in the Bikini division, I felt completely different. I was confident and comfortable on stage.
My coach looked at me afterward and said, “Where did all that come from? I’ve never seen you practice like that. This is DEFINITELY your division.”
He was right. I turned Pro in Bikini four years later and stepped on the Ms. Bikini Olympia stage just two years after that.
What that experience taught me — and what I wish every competitor understood early on — is this:
It’s about choosing the category that fits your body — right now – and training for what body type you want to live in year round, not just for a stage look.
Your goals can be long-term. Your division choice can evolve.
And choosing wisely can make this sport far more enjoyable — and sustainable for your life.
Judging Criteria for all Women’s Divisions
All female competitors are judged on these 4 factors:
Muscularity
Conditioning
Overall balance and symmetry
Presentation
The level and degree of each of these vary by division.
Bikini Division
Balanced. Feminine.
This division is often a great fit if:
You don’t want extreme muscle size
You have a naturally balanced frame
You enjoy presenting femininity with athleticism
This division is ideal if you:
Love training but don’t want maximum muscle mass
Have good shoulder-to-waist balance
Common misconception: Bikini is “easy.”
Reality: Bikini requires precision, discipline, and intentional development — just to a different extent.
*Official NPC Bikini Division Judging criteria can be found online HERE
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2. Wellness Division
Lower-Body Dominant.
Wellness highlights:
More muscle overall than Bikini
A more developed lower half than upper half
(Glutes, hamstrings, and quads)
Athletic upper body without excessive size
This division is ideal if you:
Naturally build lower body muscle easily
Love heavy leg training and strength
Feel confident showcasing power and athleticism
Wellness is proportionally different than any other division.
*Official NPC Wellness Division Judging criteria can be found online HERE
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3. Figure Division
Structured. Symmetrical. Athletic.
Figure competitors display:
More upper body development than Bikini
Visible muscle separation
Strong (back & shoulders) V-taper and symmetry
Confident, composed presentation
This division is ideal if you:
Want to & are able to build shoulders and back well
Enjoy disciplined, heavy, structured training
Want a visibly more muscular, but refined look
Figure is about strength with elegance.
*Official NPC Figure Division Judging criteria can be found online HERE
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4. Fit Model
Mainstream. Fitness Cover Model. Athletic.
Fit Model emphasizes:
Athletic, healthy physiques
Less extreme conditioning & muscularity
Marketable, fitness-focused look
Natural presentation & marketability
This division is ideal if you:
Want a competitive experience without extremes
Are newer to the stage & need to build more muscle
Love fitness, health, and lifestyle presentation
Fit Model is a great entry point — and a powerful confidence builder.
*Official NPC Figure Division Judging criteria can be found online HERE
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5. Women’s Physique
The more feminine version of female bodybuilding
As women’s bodybuilding has slowly faded out over the years, this is for women who love the bigger, more muscular size and more extreme conditioning. This is the only division, other than Women’s Bodybuilding, that does an actual 1-2 minute “posing routine” on stage at Finals to the music of their choice.
*Official NPC Women’s Physique Division Judging criteria can be found online HERE
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6. Fitness
Aesthetics mixed with Performance.
THIS is the division that breaks the mold and is judged on more than just aesthetics. They compete in 2 rounds instead of 1 like all the others.
The first round is ⅓ of their total score & they are judged exactly like Figure competitors in a 2 pc suit in a comparison line up on stage.
The second round, which is weighted more heavily as ⅔ of their final score, is the 2 minute routine round to music of their choice.
The fitness routine must contain the following mandatory movements:
push up (of any kind)
high kick
straddle hold
side split
This is great for anyone with a gymnastics, cheer, or dance background, but not limited to only these types. It mixes athletic performance with aesthetics.
*Official NPC Fitness Division Judging criteria can be found online HERE
What NOT to Base Your Decision On
❌ What’s trending on Instagram
❌ What your friend is competing in
❌ What your family & friends think you should compete in
❌ What you think judges “like more”
❌ Fear of being “too small” or “too big”
Your division should support your strengths and feel like where you belong.
Switching Divisions Is Not Failure
Many successful competitors start in one division and as they learn their body, transition to another division that fits them better.
Changing divisions doesn’t mean you made a mistake. It means you’re learning and evolving.
The goal is longevity, confidence, and enjoyment — not rushing into the wrong category.
Compete Where You Shine
At the NPC/IFBB Nashville Fit Show, our goal is to create a stage where:
Athletes feel confident in their division choice
Physiques are judged fairly
Every competitor feels seen and respected
When you choose the right division, you don’t just look better — you feel better stepping on stage.
Need Help Deciding?
We always encourage athletes to:
Seek guidance from experienced coaches
Crossover and compete in 2 divisions in order to get judges feedback
Focus on your own progress, not comparison
Think about what body type YOU want to live in comfortably – in the offseason and all year, not just on stage
Because when you compete where you belong and in the division that fits you, the experience changes entirely and you enjoy the process more.
There’s no rush, no pressure, and no “right timeline.” The stage will always be there. ;)
January 25, 2026
Whitney Wiser Savage
