What exactly is Figure anyways?
What is the stipulations that one is figure and not Bodybuilding? I never could find an answer.
The NPC has some loose "standards" for figure...
Then the quarter turns will be directed so the judges can make any final comparisons they wish. Again the judges will be assessing the overall physique for degree of athleticism, proportion and skin tone and scoring the degree of athleticism by assessing the degree of firmness, symmetry, proportion and the overall physical appearance including complexion, poise and overall presentation.
NPC / IFBB FIGURE GUIDELINES
PHYSIQUE:
Small degree of muscularity with separation no visible striations
-Overall muscle toneness with shapely lines, overall firmness and no excessive leanness.
-Full general assessment
-Healthy appearance
-Face
-Makeup
-Skin tone
NO EXCESSIVE OVERALL MUSCULARITY
I've been told that capped shoulders are frowned upon, as well as visible leg separation.

Figure is all over the place these days...it's a total wild card depending on what kind of physique the judges are looking for. At some competitions, the only difference between the figure competitor and the LW BB is the posing. At other competitions, you may wonder if the figure competitor even works out.
Figure and BB are in transition, and both are trying to move towards a more "Marketable" look, whatever that is.
