2018 Bodybuilding Competitions & Federations
The 2018 bodybuilding competition season is fast approaching! Here are links and lists to the biggest Texas federations and an overview of what they are looking for with respect to female athletes. I’ve also given the links for the shows in other states, in case you wanted to travel.
NPC
Link for all NPC shows: http://npcnewsonline.com/schedules/list/
Link for Texas NPC shows: https://www.texasbodybuildingcontests.com/events/
| 2018 NPC Schedule | |
| Mar 24th | Bob Cicherillo’s NPC Championships
National Qualifier
|
| Apr 7th | NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic
National Qualifier
|
| Apr 14th | NPC City Limits Championships
National Qualifier
|
| Apr 28th | NPC Phil Heath Fitness Expo
National Qualifier
|
| May 5th | NPC Southeast Texas Championships
National Qualifier
|
| May 19th | NPC Kuclo Classic
National Qualifier
|
| Jun 16th – Jun 17th | IFBB / NPC Europa Games Expo
National Qualifier
|
| Jun 30th | NPC Branch Warren Classic
National Qualifier
|
| Jul 14th | NPC Battle on the Bay
National Qualifier
|
| Aug 4th | NPC Southwest USA Fitness Expo
National Qualifier
|
| Oct 27th | NPC Texas Legends Championships
National Qualifier
|
| Nov 3rd | NPC Texas State Fitness Expo
National Qualifier
|
The big federation is NPC (Natural Physique Committee) and they host the Olympia and the Arnold Classic. Generally speaking they don’t drug test (depends on the show) and they pay the highest prizes to their winning pro athletes. (Don’t worry, amateurs and professional athletes don’t compete against each other.)
Their divisions for women are bikini, figure, physique and women’s bodybuilding and there is also the fitness division which is it’s own category and includes a gymnastics routine. The divisions are divided by age (anyone 35 and older is called “Masters”) and classes are also subdivided by height. There are “open” categories too, which means you can compete against anyone, no matter your age or height.
Here’s a link explaining the requirements for the bikini category. You can also click around to find descriptions for the other divisions as well. http://npcnewsonline.com/bikini-rules/
NPC doesn’t necessarily pay attention to the athlete’s face, they’re more interested in the overall physique and tend to like a more muscular look for all competitors.
INBA
Link: https://naturalbodybuilding.com/events-schedule/
INBA (International Bodybuilding Association) is the big natural bodybuilding competition. They drug test and they don’t play around. You have to pee in a cup in front of the official who labels your specimen and if any steroids or diuretics are found you get banned from the federation for seven years and your name is posted on the Wall of Shame.
What I like most about this federation is that they offer so many different divisions. There are your typical women’s bodybuilding, figure and bikini, but they also have two divisions for physically challenged athletes (wheelchair and standing), Bikini Mamas (for women who have given birth within 1, 2 or 3 years), INBA Angels (basically this is wearing Victoria Secret wings), Women’s Ink/Tattoo and Body Quest for Women (which is for transformations that include not only weight loss, but people who have overcome injuries, illnesses or a major roadblock in their life).
Some of the divisions, like Body Quest, require athletes to write a 200 word description of their journey as part of the judging criteria. When I did the sports model division a few years ago, each of us was given two minutes to give a speech about how fitness impacted us and how we would encourage people in the audience to get healthy.
Here is a link explaining the different divisions and requirements: https://naturalbodybuilding.com/categories/female/
2018 INBA Schedule
Musclemania/Fitness Universe
Musclemania has been around since the 1980s. They were the first bodybuilding competitions to air on ESPN and as such their poses are more family-friendly. (No booty-shot poses like in NPC). They drug test depending upon the division and the promoter.
The competitions have multiple divisions for women including bikini, sports model and figure. The shows have more of a pageant feel, and the announcer will read the athlete’s bio as they do their poses on stage. Many of these shows include two rounds of judging – bikini and sport-themed clothes or costume (athlete’s choice).
I recently starting combining doing Musclemania shows with family vacations, because why not, right? Last year I did their Fitness Universe show in Las Vegas and this July I won the Ms. Costa Rica Sports Model division. It was my first international competition where I travelled out of the country and it was an amazing experience.
2018 Musclemania Schedule
| USA REGIONAL SHOWS |
|---|
April 14
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara Convention Center
April
Lakewood, CO
Lakewood Cultural Event Cente
April
Lancaster, CA
Eastside Performing Arts Complex
April
San Antonio, TX
Carver Cultural Arts Theater
May
Danbury, CT
May
Brea, CA
Curtis Theatre
May
Albuquerque, NM
KiMo Theatre
May
Fresno, CA
May
Mississauga, ON
Meadowvale Theatre
May
West Palm Beach, FL
May
Jacksonville, FL
May
Tampa, FL
May
Las Vegas, NV
June 11
Montreal, ON
Centre Leonardo Da Vinci
Saputo Theatre
WAIKIKI
July 15
Honolulu, HI
July
San Diego, CA
August
Cleveland, OH
August
Stafford, TX
Stafford Civic Center
September
Washington DC
September
Mesa, AZ
September
Las Vegas, NV
September
Sacramento, CA
September
Charlotte, NC
October
Burbank, CA
The Colony Theatre
October
Albuquerque NM
KiMo Theatre
October
Tampa, FL
University of South Florida – Theatre 1
October
Philadelphia, PA
October
Montreal, Quebec
Leonardo da Vinci Centre – Saputo Theatre
October
Lakewood, CO
Lakewood Cultural Event Center
October
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Community Arts Center
NFF – Naturally Fit Federation
NFF (Naturally Fit Federation) is a newer drug-free federation started in Austin, Texas and they have recently expanded. Most of their drug testing is via a polygraph test prior to the show. They offer divisions in bikini, figure, athletic and transformation (weight-loss). You can read more about the divisions here: http://www.naturallyfit.com/rules-naturally-fit-federation/
They are a federation that blends traditional NPC posing with some elements of pageantry you will find in other federations. For example, they will read a short bio of each athlete during the individual walk and they usually ask transformation competitors to talk about their weight loss journey and how it impacted their life. As with the other federations, the divisions depend on the show, so check with the promoter before you sign up.
NFF 2018 Event Schedule
NFF Physique Showdown- PRO/AM. April 21st, 2018 – Stafford Texas. Pro Qualifier – Offering all Masters Pro Divisions
NFF Naturally Fit Super Show- PRO/AM. June 23rd – 2018 Austin Texas. Super Pro Qualifier – Offering ALL Pro Divisions- Including PRO Athletic
NFF Poseidon Classic- PRO/AM- September 22, 2018 – Galveston, Texas; Pro Qualifier – offering Pro BodyBuilding, Pro Figure, Pro Bikini
NFF Lone Star Muscle Mayhem- October 13, 2018 – Bastrop, Texas; Pro Qualifier – Offering Pro Women’s Physique & Pro Men’s Physique
NFF Alamo Showdown- November 3, 2018 – San Antonio, Texas; Pro Qualifier – Offering Pro Men’s Athletic & Pro Women’s Athletic
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Hope that was helpful!
Depending on your fitness level and how much (if any) weight you need to lose, it takes 3 months (minimum) to a year to prepare for your first show.
Email me to train with me: Sheslosingit.net@gmail.com
If you are interested in training for a competition, I’m now forming a team for the various Texas shows. I charge $50/session and train out of Round Rock. That includes the suggested meal plan for your show prep.
If you are not local to Texas and want to do online show-prep with me, my rate is $200/mo and that includes the suggested meal plan and exercise schedule for your competition.