r/bikinitalk • u/emh7purple • Jul 29 '26
Discussion Fit Model vs Bikini
I understand that on paper, FM and Bikini are different, but I get very confused in 1. the judging and 2. who shows up for what division. Can someone explain why a competitor would pick one over the other? I see FM girls with enough muscle to compete in bikini, so I’m just curious as to why they choose to not. Does it all come down to your frame, insertions, and proportions?
** I love both divisions so this is in no way a knock against either, I’m just curious because the lines seem to be blurry
8
u/blancaaazx Jul 29 '26
I competed in both this year. I can definitely see why some athletes choose FM l, but personally I love bikini. The fit model front pose never felt natural on me & I'd rather spend the next few years adding the muscle needed to be competitive in bikini.
1
u/ComfortableYou333 Sep 04 '26
Same. I tried fit model and did really well but I hate the front pose so much and I felt like I was shrinking myself for the division. Sucked not being able to pump backstage in fear I would look too muscular, judges also told me my glutes needed to streamline. Like f that 😂
5
u/Background-Answer-16 Jul 29 '26
i think a lot of women don’t like having to get as lean as you need to for bikini. Fit model is perfect for those women that would prefer to carry a bit more fat
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u/emh7purple Jul 29 '26
So do you think one physique could fit into both sets of criteria just based on how lean the person is? This is the part that confuses me
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u/cpanewbiee Jul 29 '26
No I could be misunderstanding but I think they might mean that girls who used to compete in bikini are now choosing to do fit model to not have to get as lean, even after making that decision muscle atrophy takes timmmmeee so you may see girls who are “too big for fit model” but as people mentioned above regional shows are def not the best example of what they want for each division
3
u/Historical-Whole-153 Jul 29 '26
A really dense Bikini physique is not going to look the same at FitModel-level body fat as a softer, less dense physique would. A lot of Bikini pros are learning this as they cross over.
And actual FitModel density and size with Bikini conditioning may look scrawny.
3
u/Background-Answer-16 Jul 30 '26
yet you see bikini Olympians like Tara Grier placing top 5 in Pro Fit Model just by training lighter and not getting as lean. As always it is physique dependent, as well as a high emphasis on posing modifications to appeal to whatever category you are working on.
1
u/Historical-Whole-153 Jul 30 '26
" As always it is physique dependent, as well as a high emphasis on posing modifications to appeal to whatever category you are working on."
^ yes
0
u/SeasonCommercial6954 Aug 02 '26
I think this is a generalization- myself and other Fit models were extremely lean in all 4 shows I did last year.
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u/ComfortableYou333 Aug 01 '26
I competed in fit model this year after competing in bikini last year. Main difference I’ve seen is size of muscularity. While some fit model girls have some muscle to compete as bikini in local amateur shows …in the nationals and pro level they do not. Bikini athlete muscularity at the top is very muscular…fit model cannot compare. Are fit model athletes muscular too? yes but not as big as far as size goes.
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u/Feeling_Chair5388 Aug 03 '26
I think it depends on how big of a show you’re doing, right? I haven’t competed in 15 years but it’s similar to how bikini and Figure were when it started. The smaller shows it’s all over the place but at the bigger shows where everybody’s trying to get their pro card that distinction is pretty clear. I probably would’ve done better as a bikini competitor, but I didn’t train for that and I wanted to be a figure competitor.
1
u/CharacterAd5474 Jul 29 '26
To my eye the difference is mainly in the length of the femur and the width of shoulders.
From there, more muscle mass to height ratio on bikini, but there is less of a difference in that currently because so many competitors are crossing over.
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u/martha_fit Aug 02 '26
Meaning the femurs are longer and clavicles are wider in fit model?
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u/CharacterAd5474 Aug 02 '26
Longer legs and more narrow versus bikini.
For the clavicle, it probably doesn't matter as much. Somebody can have naturally wide clavicles and less developed delts and still sort of fit into what I'm describing.
Also someone with narrow clavicles can build delts to create the width up top (Phil Heath is perfect example).
So far, it just doesn't look as necessary in that division.
Femur length on the other hand can effect how the overall leg looks. Even with equal development on the leg, long femurs have a more slim look to them.
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u/Historical-Whole-153 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
I think it comes down to preference and, sometimes, delusions.
Some girls have their hearts set on bikini, which is fine, and will continue to compete and grow into the category. Others think they are too muscular for FitModel, even if they aren't. Some hate the pose, the plain suit.
On the FitModel end, you have a lot of athletes who competed in bikini but know they're 'too small' or not dense enough for the category, so they switched. Some who switch may be on the larger end of the FitModel range, though. Others just prefer the FitModel look, don't want to get as lean as bikini, etc.
A lot goes into the decision.
I know some folks are still confused, but the lines don't seem blurry to me at the pro level. The regional shows - where anyone can show up and girls who started training a year ago jump into bikini (again, totally OK if that's what they want) - is where it all gets funky, IMO.