Competitive physique sports organize athletes into divisions with distinct judging criteria. At the amateur level in the United States, the NPC oversees categories that include bikini, wellness, figure, fitness, and bodybuilding, among others. The IFBB Pro League operates professional divisions with related criteria at the international level.
Each division emphasizes different combinations of muscularity, conditioning, symmetry, stage presentation, and posing routines. Exact criteria are published by the governing organizations and may change by season.
Readers preparing to compete should consult current NPC or IFBB rulebooks and qualified coaches rather than any media summary. XMuscleMag provides context for fans and newcomers, not rules or coaching prescriptions.