NPC’s new Fit Model division is ridiculed by fans and athletes.
NPC Vice-President Tyler Manion has just announced that the NPC and NPC Worldwide will launch a new division for the 2025 amateur season and will be a pro division for the 2026 season.
Fit Model will be the new division, focussing on a typical entry-level bikini division. Tyler compared the look to Ashley Kaltwasser, when she won her first Bikini Olympia title in 2015.
This announcement was positive to some in the industry, but many were not happy with it, especially the hardcore athletes and NPC’s own bodybuilding pundits.
As with every entry-level division, the sport advances with athletes stepping on stage with their best looks, just like how the Bikini and Men’s Physique divisions evolved over the years.
Going back to the early years of Bikini and Men’s Physique events, the theory was the same, it was aimed for athletes to step on stage with the typical “Beach Body” look. The athletes were not meant to look hard and super conditioned, just as the images below, taken from the 2011 NPC North American Championships.
The Fit-Model look Tyler Manion is aiming for: (L to R) Ashley Kaltwasser and Crystal Matthews from the 2011 NPC North American Championships.As expected, over the years, every Bikini and Men’s Physique athlete evolved into a super condition athlete, who moved away from the typical “Beach Body” look, and most probably, the new Fit Model athletes evolve into full-fledged Bikini athletes.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net compares NPC’s new Fit Model division to other established events from other federations, such as the IFBB.
Not to be confused with IFBB’s Fit Model
The NPC’s Fit Model division is not to be confused with IFBB‘s Fit Model division, which has been running successfully for several years.
The IFBB’s Fit Model division is totally different from what Tyler Manion is proposing. The IFBB’s version of this event is split into two different parts, one with the female competitor displaying her physique with a one-piece bikini, and the second part of the event sees the female competitor displaying her physique wearing an evening gown dress.
The female athletes competing with the IFBB, still have to adhere to slightly different rules, which are:
IFBB’s Women’s Fit Model Description
The Women’s Fit Model category is aimed at women who prefer a physique neither excessively muscular nor excessively lean.
The overall appearance of a fit model competitor, including the whole physique, has to be shaped, balanced, proportionally, and symmetrical developed body.
The general impression made by the competitor on stage – the condition of the skin and skin tone, hair, and facial beauty, as well as the athlete’s ability to present herself with confidence and grace, have to be taken into account by judges.
The NPC’s version of the Fit Model competitor is just a watered-down bikini athlete, without any real muscle mass or condition, taking as back to the NPC Bikini events in 2010 and 2011.
Direct competition with Betty Pariso’s WBBF Federation
Earlier in the year, one of Jim Manion’s most loyal promoters Betty Pariso, and her husband, decided to end their relations with the NPC and Pro League, to then start a new federation called the World Beach Body Federation (WBBF).
The Pariso’s were known for promoting the popular USA Games and Expo, which they will still organize, replacing the NPC with their own newly formed federation.
When browsing the WBBF official website, it is obvious that the new Fit Model division launched by the NPC is in direct competition with Betty’s Beach Bikini and Fit Bikini divisions.
The WBBF is not focussing on bodybuilding or extremely built physiques, but the physique that is most attainable by the normal fitness enthusiast.
With the WBBF focussing on such physiques, the NPC will have a hard time convincing athletes to compete with them, knowing there is already an established federation dedicated to these types of physiques.
Tyler Manion answers his critics
A few hours after making his announcement about the new Fit Model division being added to NPC’s 2025 contest schedule, Tyler Manion, was flooded with negative comments about the new division.
The majority of athletes and fans are not happy with another division, that is similar to the Bikini division that is already established. Many negative comments were removed.
Tyler Manion quickly answered his critics, explaining in more detail on his personal social media account.
“The new division’s logic is very simple. Even though people inside the industry know the top bikini competitors aren’t overly big and muscular when you see them in person, the average gym goer does not.”
“They are apprehensive about getting onstage and looking at pictures and video. Attracting more people into the industry will only help us attract more mainstream sponsors.”
“This is the only way the Pro League will continue to grow. I remember when everyone didn’t like the addition of Men’s Physique and Bikini.”
“Today they are amongst the most popular and celebrated divisions. This new division will require time, effort, and work just as the bikini division did 10-15 years ago.”
What Tyler is not admitting, is that his own athletes are preventing mainstream sponsors from getting involved in the sport. Tyler Manion should do something about some of his athletes talking freely about steroid use on social media. This is something mainstream sponsors want to stay away from and not be associated with.
As well, every athlete has a starting point, saying new athletes are “apprehensive” to step on stage is incorrect. Every athlete has a starting point, which is why there are local, regional, and national amateur events. Every athlete works his or her way up until they reach their goal.
Every top athlete started from nothing, there is no need to make a baby division for people that are “apprehensive”.
It remains to be seen what the loyal NPC and Pro League hardcore bodybuilding pundits have to say about this new division.
NPC Fit Model Rules
NPC AND IFBB PRO LEAGUE CRITERIA FOR JUDGING FIT MODEL COMPETITORS
Criteria for Judging Fit Model Physiques:
Condition
Symmetry and Balance
Presentation (Posing)
Muscularity
Fit Model Competitors should display:
A foundation of muscle which gives shape to the female body however the amount of muscle should be less than seen in Bikini.
A. This means the amount of muscle in the legs, glutes, arms, and delts should be less than currently seen in the NPC and IFBB Pro League Bikini Division.
Full glutes with no visible tie-in area. However, the glutes should be firm when doing the model walk to the back of the stage or in transitions while posing.
Small amount of roundness to the delts but no capped delts.
A core that is in shape but not too conditioned or lean.
Overall conditioning that is less than the NPC and IFBB Pro League Bikini division but would be seen on a Mainstream Fitness Magazine Cover.
Hair, tan, makeup, and suit that all work together and enhance their presentation.
POSING:
The front pose is displayed above. One leg should be in front of the other with the hips slightly tilted.
The back pose is the same as the Bikini back pose.
What we are looking for with the posing:
Front Pose-
A balanced upper to lower body with a base of muscle. No body part should be overpowering another.
There should not be any separation showing in the shoulders, arms, or legs.
The core should be flat but not too detailed or separated.
Back Pose-
Overall balance between glutes and legs.
Glutes should be firm when moving or walking but there should not be any visible tie-in.
There should be no separation seen in the hamstrings.
*Note: The example photographs of Ashley Kaltwasser is the desired look we are going for.
FIT MODEL COMPETITOR RULES
Competition Suit Criteria:
Suit must be one plain color
No bling is allowed on the suit
Must have moderate coverage on bikini bottom. Styles like “pro cut, micro cut, Brazilian cuts, small cuts” will be strictly prohibited.
Competitors will compete in a two-piece suit.
The bottom of the suit must be v-shaped.
No Thongs are permitted.
Competitors can compete in an off the rack suit. All swimsuits must be in good taste. Athletes will be warned about improper suits and are advised to bring two (2) suits to check in. If the fronts of the suit(s) bottoms are too low and the judges deem them so at check-in’s, then the suit must be constructed higher, otherwise the Athletes will be scored down if the suit is not up to standard. If the judges deem your suit not to conform to the rules and inappropriate, then you will be directed to leave the stage and disqualified. NO EXCEPTIONS
Competitors must wear high heels.
Competitors may wear jewelry.
*Note: The NPC, NPC Worldwide and IFBB Professional League Have Not Authorized or Granted the license, authority or exclusivity to any competition suit company or designer to be their Official Suit Maker and to advertise their suits as an Official Cut or Approved Cut. There has never been an Official or Approved “Pro Cut Bikini” for Any Division! That term was erroneously created by suit makers.
BIKINI COMPETITION JUDGING
1. PRESENTATION
Competitors will walk onstage alone and perform their front and back poses.
The whole presentation will consist of the following:
Walk to the center of the stage, stop and do a front stance, then a full turn and do a back stance, then turn to the front again and face the judges as directed then proceed to the side of the stage. Do Not stop to hit a ‘transition pose’. That will not be judged. No lewd acts are permitted, i.e. touching of the body with your hands for example amongst other poses. Length of time allowed is 10 seconds. If you exceed the allotted time, you will be told “Time” and have to stop your routine at that time and exit the stage.
*We do not want see a “T-Walk” presentation. Once your name is called, walk directly to the outlined box in the center of the stage.
2. COMPARISON ROUND, TWO-PIECE SWIMSUIT
Competitors will be judged wearing a two-piece swimsuit and heels.
The competitors will be brought back out in a group and directed to do a full front and back stance.
Judges will have the opportunity to compare competitors against each other in the front pose and back pose.
Competitors may be asked as a group to do a model walk to the line at back of the stage during overall comparisons. Then stop. Then directed to face the front and walk back to the front comparison line. This will be at the discretion of the judging panel and may not occur at every contest.
3. SCORING
Judges will be scoring competitors using the following criteria:
Balance, Shape, Conditioning, Muscularity, and overall presentation
Overall physical appearance including complexion, skin tone, and poise.
4. CROSSOVERS
In NPC Competitions, you Can Not crossover from Bikini or any other Women’s division to Fit Model Division in the same contest. You can enter a contest in Bikini and in your next competition enter as Fit Model Division to find out what is best for you.
The only crossovers that will be permitted will be within the Fit Model division, for example a competitor can enter in all of the following Fit Model classes that would apply to them: True Novice, Novice, Junior, Masters, and Open.
5. HEIGHT CLASSES
Four Classes:
Class A – Up to and including 5’2”
Class B – Over 5’2” up to including 5’4”
Class C – Over 5’4” up to and including 5’6”
Class D – Over 5’6”
Six Classes:
Class A – Up to and including 5’1”
Class B – Over 5’1” and up to and including 5’2-1/2”
Class C – Over 5’2-1/2” and up to and including 5’4”
Class D – Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’5-1/2”
Class E – Over 5’5-1/2” and up to and including 5’7”
Class F – Over 5’7”
IFBB Fit Model Rules (No relation to NPC or Pro League)
