Figure- Compete To Win or Look Awesome?

[Alex A]

Lets face it folks...

What we think is a winning figure physique and what the judges see are two different things...

Even amongst judges the definition of a winning physique is still not truly defined...

The choice is this.... should girls compete to win? or compete to look awesome and let the cards land were they land..?

Time and time again, especially at the pro level..... the most conditioned and athletic looking girl is not the winner...

Its really sad too because some girls come in hard and lean and dont place that great.. then they soften up and then they are considered to smooth..

Finding the winning combination is not easy...

My pick for one of the best overall looks is Alicia Harris whom placed 6th at the Cal.. She looked much softer at the olympia and placed 13th..

 

[sadie]

i honestly think it depends on the day.. that has got to be a nightmare for competitors.. one show u place well hard.. the next they choose the softer look.. there seems to be exactly NO standard across the board from show to show

 

[Hungry Hungarian]

I guess I dont have an eye like the judges do, because that pic of Alicia looks like a winning Figure body to me. BUT in the judges eyes I'm sure they are saying: Abs are too defined, Shoulders too capped, Legs too muscular etc etc.
IMO, the ladies have it way harder than us guys. They have no idea what the judges are looking for contest to contest and thats a shame.

 

[Phidias]

My pick for one of the best overall looks is Alicia Harris whom placed 6th at the Cal.. She looked much softer at the olympia and placed 13th..

In that pic, Alicia looks... well, smoking hot! Perfect figure physique in my book too.

 

[Ashop]

Lets face it folks...

What we think is a winning figure physique and what the judges see are two different things...

Even amongst judges the definition of a winning physique is still not truly defined...

The choice is this.... should girls compete to win? or compete to look awesome and let the cards land were they land..?

Time and time again, especially at the pro level..... the most conditioned and athletic looking girl is not the winner...

Its really sad too because some girls come in hard and lean and dont place that great.. then they soften up and then they are considered to smooth..

Finding the winning combination is not easy...

My pick for one of the best overall looks is Alicia Harris whom placed 6th at the Cal.. She looked much softer at the olympia and placed 13th..

She does look great! A little tighter,,,in the quads especially I would say perfect.

 

[phatkid77]

id say shes abit too big for figure??? i admitidely know nothing

phats

 

[kscowboy]

I agree she looks awesome. But i personally think she is a "Tweener". She is in between figure and the olympia. Just a little too much rounded muscle. This is where the judging needs defined rules and what the judges are looking for. Without a definite guideline, these judges dont know what to look for and the girls dont know how to prepare.

 

[JETHRO TULL]

SHE LOOKS AWESOME, ALEX!

THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL FEMININE PHYSIQUE. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

 

[claymore]

Alex do you have any other pics of her ??, also who got 1st in that class ??

 

[Alex A]

....

 

[Alex A]

this is the girl that took first.. Heather Mae French.. I was at that show.. sitting right up front and i tell you...

Alicia Harris was the big time fan favorite..she looked very professional, smiling and just doing her thing...

I just felt that getting 6th place was wrong.. But what the heck she ended up on the cover of a some girls fitness magagazine...Not Oxygen but... something like it...

 

[Hungry Hungarian]

Alex, didnt Heather Mae French get 3rd...not 1st?

 

[littlejames]

sometimes i think they look for a more softer but firm look. not a hard a ripped look. which i think alicia looks hot as hell. very sexy.

does anyone no how bad mindy obrian hurt her back in her routine. she landed wrong on a flip and ran off stage holding her back .

 

[mo chuisle]

I was actually just having a conversation about this topic last night. A couple weeks ago, I was told that I don't need to put any more muscle on my frame, and that now is the time to lean out and just maintain my muscle instead of building more. That means changing my training style. While I'm not adverse to changing up my training, I'm frustrated because I actually LIKE to train heavy. I enjoy the style of training I usually do, and love seeing how I can transform my body.

The look in Figure is very obviously less muscular and defined than it was even a few years ago. Girls like Gina Aliotti and Monica Brant have softened up their physiques, appearing to even strip away a bit of muscle just to be competitive. While I understand that times change, it's disappointing to see role models changing their physiques into what most of us would classify as less aesthetic than the ideal look of a couple years ago.

I agree with you, Alex - Alicia looks amazing! That's the type of physique I want to bring to a show, regardless of how I would place as a result. I brought my best, tightest, and leanest look to the Jr Nationals, and didn't finish very high ... but I'm proud of how I looked, and I wouldn't do anything different if given the opportunity to change anything.

~ Mo

 

[tkav1980]

by definition whats the difference between figure and bodybuilding?

 

[pesty4077]

by definition whats the difference between figure and bodybuilding?

That is the million dollar question! Nobody knows.

 

[pesty4077]

There is no way that Heather looks better than Alicia. The judging in Figure lately is horrible.

 

[hotttsauce]

I wish they could have a peoples/crowd choice award for shows! That way the ladies that bust their ass to come in conditioned and with great muscle tone/volume could get at least a nod.

It is of course in the judges hands to determine what they want to select as the 'look' for the figure winner, but IMH (but useless) O.... Alicia, Monica and several others truly display what the figure 'look' should be. Feminine, yet strong and muscular, not soft and close to the bikini look, that is what that class is for.