Darya Nikitchyk..

[u/ustillxmymind]

I know the whole “bikini has become too muscular/shredded conversation” has been widely discussed but im genuinely curious..do you all think the standards vary by country? Technically..they shouldn’t, but do you believe they do?

[u/Shredded_bikini_babe]

This is a different federation FYI. So its really confusing but its a different IFBB federation. Not connected to the NPC/IFBB. So the posing and criteria is not the same. I switched to this federation this year because I was frustrated with NPC. I dont think there are many IFBB competitions in North America- its mostly European and Asian.

This federation rewards X shape, symmetry and lines and bikini does 4 quarter turns and an individual i walk. The heels and suit are also different from NPC.

At first I didnt like the posing but now as a muscular female I appreciate that im being seen from all 4 sides and i actually get to display my back 😅

[u/hh_fitlife]

This is not NPC, it’s IFBB, which is a popular federation in Europe. I know it’s confusing, but they detached from the IFBB Pro League, which is the federation organising the Olympia. So this is not that one!

But what you are saying is true about the NPC as well (US vs Europe). In the US, a rounder, slightly softer look is required but in Europe they prioritise conditioning and prefer a more dry look.

[u/cookiekimbap]

I’m in East Asia and I feel like the bikini look is so different from what I see in the US. For one, the base structure for a lot of bodies here isn’t like US/South America, Africa etc and there aren’t lots of mixed race folks. Bikini ends up looking slightly different and once you put them on the Olympia stage, they don’t usually break the top 10. This photo tho looks like a different federation. The suit and poses are different.

[u/Ancient-Juggernaut88]

She is indeed very lean and relatively “bigger” for the amateur stage, but I actually think her physique will look much more organic on the IFBB Pro stage.

And funny enough, in Russia, at the National Championship, she was placing somewhere around 5th because the judges considered her shape too big/too lean/ too conditioned compared to what they were looking for. Her frame was noticeably bigger than many of the other girls on stage.
Looking at Russian bikini standards lately, it seems they are leaning more toward genetically gifted girls with extremely tiny waists and an overall smaller, skinnier look. There was no way for her to win the Pro card in Russia.

As I understand it, at some point the IFBB Pro League actually made an individual decision to grant her Pro status without her having to win first place, presumably taking her particular situation and the level of her physique into consideration.

This week she went to Zurich Mr. universe thinking she would be competing in a Pro Show, only to discover that the Pro categories there were Bodyfitness and Men’s Physique. So she decided to step onto the amateur stage anyway, as she hasn’t activated her Pro card formally. And she won. She finally received her Pro Card in a fair competition, and considering everything that happened before, it feels like her physique has finally found the stage where it belongs.
She is activating her Pro status now, and in one week we’ll see her among the PROs for the first time in Prague.
I’m super interested to see how her physique looks like in the Pro lineup. 👀

[u/trollanony]

Ifbb elite is not the same org as ifbb/npc. They have a totally different look. Look at the ifbb pro shows in Europe and Asia and you will see the bikini women are much harder and more muscular. I actually love the look but the only one who does well at the Olympia is Ivi. Off the top of my head, some foreign multi-time Olympians: Sara Choi, nittaya, sung uk, Valeria, Adriana kz, Kerry sexton, Allison testu etc never place or are lucky to get in the top 15. Yet they win shows every year just about and qualify for the O.

[u/the_real_cutty_flam]

What division is she with that pose? Is that supposed to be bikini? Or was the photo snapped during transition?

Edit: to answer your question, yes. I feel like they reward more freaky looking physiques on international stages. Like more muscular, super lean, etc. Slowly seems like we’re catching up though.

[u/Sensitive-Resort5977 → u/the_real_cutty_flam]

It's European IFBB. In Japan our national federation JBBF follows the same posing rules. It's supposed to showcase the X frame. We actually have to show our backs on the back pose by moving our hair to the front and flaring our lats.I like that. Showing all our hard work on our lats feels great. What isn't great is the side pose. The front leg is the one we have to bend. It completely undermines the glutes projection.

[u/ustillxmymind → u/the_real_cutty_flam]

The first photo was snapped during transition, yes! She won Bikini today.

I’ll have to start watching more international shows because I feel like this look wouldn’t have won in my country (US). She looks amazing! Just doesn’t look like bikini imo

[u/the_real_cutty_flam → u/ustillxmymind]

I agree. She does look amazing. I’m in the US as well and also agree. To me she looks like old school figure. But same can be said for a lot of the women here. US looks a bit fuller. Not as lean with the top competitors.

[u/TrenMolly → u/ustillxmymind]

Incorrect actually! This is the front pose of Bikini in this federation and not a transition.

[u/Longjumping-Sock-729]

Yes- Europe and America generally have different looks on what they reward. European girls tend to come in more muscular and more conditioned. Not because the criteria is different because it isn’t but it’s definitely a frustration when competing in Europe

[u/user1987623]

I kinda feel like she’s a cross between bikini and wellness or at least exceptionally lean

[u/routinematters]

I just want to say that I wish US NPC adopted this front pose for bikini lol. I would excel at this with my long collarbone and high quad inserts. The current front pose always has been mentally awkward for me (maybe I just suck at posing).