What are the judges looking for in Wellness Competitors?

Learn what judges look for in Wellness Competitors, from stage presence to muscle tone. Get posing tips and advice on choosing the perfect competition bikini.

One of the first questions athletes have when it comes to competing in the wellness division is - “How are competitors judged?” 

Whether you are a bikini fitness competitor or have always wanted more muscle for women’s physique competitions, you need to start by understanding how you will be judged.

When it comes to wellness competitions, judges mainly focus on key aspects, such as - masculinity, symmetry, posing, vascularity, and stage presentation.

Here are a few things you need to know before competing - 

First and foremost is the two-piece rhinestone bikini you need to wear on stage, this suit can be a classic bikini or have a t-back bottom, whatever works best for you. There are two main rounds for judging and you can use the same suit with glass high heels for both rounds.

Wellness walk:

When stepping on the stage to house music, you need to strike a few poses. At each of these, you can show two poses. But keep in mind, that figure and bodybuilding poses are not allowed, and doing too many things at once can also lower your chances of scoring a win.

1. Front poses - Your stage routine plays an important role in wellness competitions. Stand upright with your eyes and face facing forward to the judges. Keep your heels together and feet angled at 30 degrees. Your knees need to be close together and straight, flex your chest and core, and keep the shoulders back, with your arms relaxed on the sides, elbows bent and fingers resting near the hips.

2. Right turn - When you make the first right turn, keep your eyes facing forward. Your heels and feet need to be angled at 30 degrees. Even here you need to keep your knees a little bent, your left arm should hang relaxed and a little back from the centerline of your body. While the other arm needs to be on your hip. This turn will help highlight your shoulders from the side and glutes.

3. Back pose - This is the third pose you need to ace. Turn around so your back faces the judges, maintain the same stance as the front pose and heels together, feet angled a little outward, core flexed, chest out, and shoulders back. Relax your arms on the sides.

4. Left turn pose - This will be the last pose you have to perfect. Turn your body left with your head and eyes facing forward. Keep your heels together and feet angled at 30 degrees again. This pose is similar to the right turn pose, only in the opposite direction. 

If you’re unsure about how to choose the perfect bikini bottom cut to enhance your stage presence, check out our guide to choosing wellness bikini bottom cuts for tips on selecting the right style to highlight your physique.

Judging criteria:

1. Body shape - The judges will examine how well your muscle groups are shaped. Wellness competitors need to have rounded muscles that are visually more appealing. With the right muscle definition, you should have a glowing skin condition, tone, and a graceful and confident stage presentation.

2. Body symmetry - You will have perfect symmetry when your muscle groups have the right balance and fit. The judges will look for proportions between different muscle groups, like the shoulders, glutes, and torso. Your main goal is to have a well-balanced physique with good muscle tone, having too much muscle size can also deduct your score. 

3. Muscle tone - Your muscles have to be just perfect, firm, and rounded with minimal fat percentage on them. Judges will score you based on clear muscle group separation but not too detailed striations. The ideal wellness competitor look is “physically fit,” without too much masculinity.  Having an overall muscle tone is important. 

4. Stage presence - Your stage presentation matters a lot, so when you step on the stage, your professionalism and charisma will play a big role. To look your best on stage, your competition bikini will play a big role. Rhinestone bikini suits that do not meet the standard can be banned by the show promoter or regional chairperson. Your competition bikini should help enhance your overall look, whether it's a simple bikini or a fully embellished suit.

So, now that you know all the secrets before competing in a Wellness Competition, try it out! 

Happy competing!