Fitness bikini is deservedly called the most beautiful nomination of bodybuilding. This competition is a real celebration of youth, grace and charm. But girls planning to compete for the first time often face unexpected problems that can confuse any debutante. Such a problem can be the purchase of a special leotard designed for performance.
You can buy a ready-made leotard for competitions, or you can sew it to order.
Experienced athletes prefer the second option, which guarantees a perfect fit. You can sew either in a studio where costumes for sports and dances are made, or you can order online from those who specialize in this type of sports equipment.
What you need to know about special swimsuits?
Style features
On the one hand, the swimsuit must emphasize the beauty of the body, and on the other hand, it must meet the requirements of the competition organizers. As a rule, the bodice is made dense, but without voluminous stuffing (push-up), and therefore you need to carefully select the size of the cup: too large will ugly lag behind the body, and a small one will not allow you to appreciate the harmony of the female figure.
The requirements for swimming trunks are even stricter: unfortunately, you will have to forget about thongs, the back of the swimming trunks should cover the buttocks by at least one third, and in some competitions even half. In order for the bottoms to fit in the back to look aesthetically pleasing, they make a vertical assembly in the center. This way you can demonstrate perfect buttocks without violating the requirements for the suit. The front of the trunks should be high enough, without deep cuts. Do not confuse sports with striptease!
As a rule, swimsuits are made without wide strips of fabric on the back and hips. And, of course, there should be no frills and other details that cover the muscles of the abdomen or back.
Fabric choice
Now all fitness swimwear is sewn from supplex - a synthetic jersey consisting of a mixture of polyamide, polyester, lycra and elastane. Such a composition gives the material density, elasticity, the ability to stretch in any direction and not restrict movement. Sew from supplex sportswear and dance costumes, it drapes beautifully in soft folds, does not wrinkle and does not shine through. And the choice of colors is huge!
To date, the main producers of supplex are Italy and Korea. In Korea, they produce rather thin fabrics with a characteristic sheen, often even with a special shining coating, which are distinguished by a relatively low price. Italian supplex looks and costs much more: matte or with a slight overflow, dense, elastic, drapes beautifully, and is of high quality.
For sewing a swimsuit, one meter of fabric is enough, this amount is enough with a margin. Therefore, it is more expedient not to save money, but to purchase good material that will look decent.
Color and finish
Yes, this is exactly the moment when you can let your imagination run wild! The colors of the swimsuit are not regulated in any way, so you need to rely only on your own taste. It is better to give up too bright, eye-catching “acidic” shades: such a choice does not speak in favor of the contestant. It is necessary to take into account both the tone of your own skin and the overall color scheme of the image. It is better to choose a swimsuit (or material for it) in the same light as the one that will be on stage, that is, white, not yellow. The hue of the fabric can change dramatically if it is illuminated with a white fluorescent lamp.
And, of course, rhinestones! A shining swimsuit embroidered with rhinestones, beads and sequins will create a bright and cheerful look. At fitness competitions, sequins for the body cannot be used, so a bright swimsuit will become not just clothes, but a real decoration.
Nuances and subtleties
No matter how tough the requirements are, there is always room for maneuver. Girls use this to look perfect on stage, emphasizing their advantages and diverting attention from minor flaws.
For example, high-rise briefs visually lengthen the legs. This technique has long been known and is used for visual correction of the proportions of the figure - the ratio of the length of the torso to the length of the legs.
You can choose the shape of the bodice, which advantageously emphasizes the chest. Despite the strict requirements, there are small differences that put different emphasis. You need to look, try on and choose what suits you the most!
For girls participating in fitness competitions, every, even the smallest detail matters. And the swimsuit becomes not just clothes for going on stage. No, it can be compared with a setting for a luxurious diamond: it allows you to create an integral, harmonious image, sets off and emphasizes the beauty of the body. Attention to all the little things - that's what helps to come to victory!
Fitness bikini(officially: Women's Bikini Fitness) is a sports discipline for women, developed and popularized by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness, "IFBB"), which quickly gained popularity due to its high entertainment, primarily due to the fact that the main competitive elements are the presentation and defile of the participants of the beautiful physical form and model appearance in bikini swimsuits.
"Birthday" fitness bikini - November 7, 2010. It was on this day that the Executive Board of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness officially recognized Women’s Bikini Fitness as a new sports discipline within the framework of the IFBB Congress. The first competition took place in 2011.
Interesting fact: "Women's Bikini Fitness" is the correct official name. In Russia, most often this species sport is called "fitness bikini" (and simply "bikini"), and in English-speaking countries both options are used: "bikini fitness" and "fitness bikini" (and also simply "bikini", if it is clear that we are talking about sports competitions)
2. The most athletic and beautiful
Any man in Russia knows how reverently and attentively our girls treat their appearance. And now it is known not only to us, but to the whole world. And, before arguing with this statement, just look at the IFBB 2017 Bikini Fitness Elite summary rating as of December 2017: 5 of the Top 10 athletes represent Russia, and the Top 100 includes 22 Russian bikini athletes
And although at the end of 2018 we were slightly pushed aside in the ranking, it cannot be said that we are still not the most athletic and beautiful:
3. Appearance requirements for participation in competitions
For competitors fitness bikini The IFFB has formulated a number of requirements for the appearance of bikinstocks in sufficient detail and, at the same time, without strict detail, relating to a swimsuit, shoes, make-up and other elements of the image of an athlete. Below we consider each of them in detail.
All information below is based on the requirements of Article 6 ( "Article 6 - Prejudging and Finals: Attire for All Rounds") of the officially published IFBB Rules for Bikini Fitness Competitions in the 2017 edition, which were in force in 2018 and are still relevant for 2019 (“IFBB RULES SECTION 7: WOMEN’S BIKINI FITNESS 2017 EDITION”). We tried to present all the requirements for the appearance of the participants as clearly as possible, allowing some stylistic liberties in the presentation, but conveying their essence as accurately as possible.
Section 6.1. Appearance requirements (dress code) for all rounds
1. The swimsuit must be opaque and two-piece (i.e. separate)
2. The color, material, texture, embellishment and style of the leotard, as well as the color and style of the high-heeled shoes, are at the discretion of the competitors, except as noted below.
3. Maximum allowable thickness soles of high-heeled shoes - 1 cm, and the maximum length of the stiletto heel is 12 cm. Platform shoes are not allowed.
4. Briefs in a swimsuit must cover at least 1/3 of the gluteal region and the entire frontal region. The swimsuit must be in good taste. Thong swimwear is strictly prohibited
5. The appearance will be checked (for compliance with the specified requirements) during the official registration of participants
Section 6.2. Hair styling allowed
This is such a simple statement. And by the way, few of the contestants were really able to take advantage of styling 100%, although, reading the rules, we will find a clear indication for the evaluation procedure of the judges: ... ". Great opportunity, ask the coach 😉
Section 6.3. Jewelry is not allowed, with the exception of a wedding ring, bracelets and earrings. Competitors must not wear glasses, wristwatches, wigs, or any form of body-shaping devices, with the exception of breast implants. Implants or fluid injections that may alter the natural shape of any other body part or muscle are strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification of the competitor.
Section 6.4. The use of self-tanning makeup and bronzers, which can be easily rubbed off, is strictly prohibited. If the makeup comes off on the first attempt to remove it, the contestant will not be allowed to enter the stage. Faux-skin dyes or self-applying tints are only allowed if applied at least 24 hours before the start of the competition. Professional methods of applying self-tanning products (manually, with sprayers or using automated make-up booths) can be applied provided they are applied by specialized companies and qualified personnel. Sequins of all kinds, "gold" coloring or applying rhinestones to the body are prohibited, regardless of who applied them to the participant's body, and regardless of the method of application (separately or as part of a tinting lotion or cream).
Of course, the de facto standard is Jan Tana makeup, but Pro Tan has also updated its product line and has an official sponsorship contract with the IFBB since 2015.
Section 6.5 Excessive application of oil to the body is strictly prohibited; however, moisturizers and body oils can be used in moderation
Section 6.6. The Chief Judge of the IFBB at the competition (or a representative appointed by him) has the right to decide on the conformity of the appearance of the participant with the requirements of the rules and generally accepted aesthetic standards. In case of non-compliance, the participant may be disqualified
4. Instead of an afterword
We hope that this article will help you understand a little about what a fitness bikini is and what are the requirements for participants. Much has been left behind the scenes, but we will still try to supplement this article. If you have any comments or ideas,
write to us at [email protected] website. And of course, victories to you, our most athletic and beautiful!
The team of the online store "Bikinyashka.ru"
Full or partial use of this material is allowed if you specify an active indexed hyperlink to this material
Anna Turkish
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Girls involved in sports have more than once thought about participating in a fitness bikini contest. However, many believe that this competition is just a demonstration of their physical form. This is an erroneous judgment. This is also a demonstration of your taste, as well as the ability to stay on stage. One of the most important evaluation criteria is a swimsuit.
So, what should be a fitness bikini swimsuit, and how to impress the judges with your choice?
General swimwear rules for
- Bathing suits are joint or separate. The choice is wide, however, in different federations, the requirements for swimsuits are different.
- The leotard must not be an "acid" color so as not to distract the attention of the judges from judging your body.
- It is forbidden to use brocade fabric and various padding of the swimsuit bodice (push-up). If this is discovered, the contestant will be immediately disqualified.
- Bikini clasps should be simple, without tying "10 knots".
- Bikini bottoms should hide 1/3 of the buttocks (no less). Sometimes it happens that the judges walk around with rulers and check the size of the trunks.
- The bodice should open the muscles of the back and the press.
- In the semi-finals and finals, the contestants can go out in different swimsuits - this is allowed by the rules, but the swimsuit must be separate.
- Many novice athletes make a huge mistake - they go out in beach swimsuits. This is unprofessional, and sometimes the judges deduct points for such an oversight. Even if you decorate an ordinary swimsuit with rhinestones and embroidery, the difference from a fitness swimsuit will be colossal.
- The leotard is evaluated by the judges in conjunction with makeup, so you need to remember that toning takes place 24 hours before the competition. This is done so that there are no stripes from the swimsuit on the body, otherwise, while changing clothes, you will simply smear the entire makeup, and it will look very ugly and even dirty.
- It is forbidden to use ruffles on the bodice or on swimming trunks if they cover the muscles.
Girls quite often come to the gym, having seen enough of the performing athletes (and I must say that I am extremely glad that at present it is bikini and fitness stars, and not catwalk models, winners of beauty contests and other “skins” that are currently motivating women and girls. yes bones). However, it is unlikely that anyone immediately sets themselves the goal of preparing and performing at competitions. If a girl is sufficiently consistent, purposeful and persistent, sooner or later the idea of performing on an amateur stage may quite naturally come to her mind. And here the most interesting begins, because in the absence of at least theoretical knowledge about how everything works, preparation for competitions (I'm not talking about the main, “physical” component, but about those small nuances that he hardly knows about , who have never participated in competitions) will be a very intricate quest that will cost you dearly in terms of both nerves and money. Therefore, without claiming to be original, I will nevertheless describe my small, but nevertheless, experience of preparing for performances with a description of small details, and not the summing up itself (especially since in the female categories of hemorrhoids with their own physical appearance - hairstyle, clothes , skin condition, etc. etc. - still more than in men's).
So you've decided to go to the competition. It is very good if such an idea came to you about 6 months before the next season. In this case, you will have time both to collect the missing meat in the right meats, and for normal drying. If such a thought hit your head in a month, then nothing good will come of such “preparation”, since it certainly takes at least a month for one full-fledged drying in a good way. Therefore, the first and most important thing is to correctly calculate the time and your own capabilities. Choose the season correctly - for the last month and a half before the competition, you will almost 100% spin like a squirrel in a wheel, so in case of seasonal loads, for example, at work, still choose a quieter time. Although, on the other hand, the same drying is much easier to tolerate if you are constantly busy with something and you simply do not have time to think about food and your own mood. Second, you will need money. Moreover, for sure, the initial budget that you plan for yourself will not be enough for you - unexpected expenses always arise. Therefore, plan your budget with a 25% margin. But this business is actually very costly, and if you don’t treat it as your hobby that requires investment, then you will be very surprised at the amount of money that you have to swell (of course, it all depends on your appetites). Let's try to calculate. Some points, of course, can be thrown away, when choosing to take a more or less economical option, but, as you understand, it is unlikely that you will be able to reach maximum heights with minimal investment. Everything is known in comparison in any case, and even in the case of an amazing physical form, “falling short” of the general level in other points can provide you with a complete flight. So what are your expenses?
(I will write about the IFBB, I don’t know anything about other federations). The minimum program is a swimsuit that matches your category and shoes. Swimwear in the vast majority of cases will have to be sewn to order. Firstly, because a swimsuit should fit you as best as possible, and taking into account the “non-standard” sports figure from the point of view of mass manufacturers, you will not find anything decent among store models. Secondly, because decorating a swimsuit with rhinestones is an absolutely essential procedure if you perform in a bikini or body fitness, otherwise you will look faded against the general background (this applies to more or less “big” competitions, for example, district ones. In urban , perhaps, a simpler swimsuit is also suitable.Although not a fact, it all depends on what the rest will come out in)). More or less budget options are two. The first is to have a seamstress friend who can handle the tailoring of the necessary swimsuit according to your description, knows how to work with the fabrics necessary for its tailoring and does not ask for 10-15 thousand for work. The second option is to contact a seamstress who is engaged in mass remote tailoring of swimsuits specifically for competing athletes (in this case, fittings are excluded, since the person will most likely not be in your city, the swimsuit will be sewn according to the standards, so it may turn out that you will have to customize it yourself). The first option is great if you can clearly describe to the person what you need (the height of the bottoms, the exact size of the cup, the presence or absence of certain seams, etc., as well as exactly how you want to decorate the swimsuit, down to the details of the pattern ). I prefer it. If you are lucky, then you will meet 5-7 thousand along with rhinestones (which are not cheap in themselves + payment for the work of attaching them). The second option is good because hundreds of competitive swimsuits have already passed through the hands of such people, and these people themselves already know both the requirements and the “universal” styles that look good on stage. The downside is that there are no fittings and the swimsuit will still not be unique, as it will be sewn according to some pattern. The decoration of such a swimsuit can again be either patterned, or you can try to agree on something individual. Another option, not the worst, is to decorate the swimsuit yourself. When ordering rhinestones in online stores, you can find pretty good prices, and sticking with rhinestone glue according to the instructions is not a complicated procedure if you have at least some needlework experience. Total budget options decent and decorated at the level of a swimsuit will cost you 5-7 thousand. If you are willing to sacrifice decoration, then just tailoring will cost 3-4 thousand of your fabric. A separate word about the fabric. Most often it is a supplex. To be able to roam, you need to take somewhere 1 meter (with a margin). A high-quality supplex will cost you at least 500 re, although this fabric can be found for 200-250 rubles, however, in this case it will be thin and is unlikely to please your eye with a pleasant shade (a couple of words about the shade separately - it is desirable that the shade be bright and at the same time it looked good on tanned skin. And most importantly, it suited you. Remember also that the lighting on the stage is not yellow, but white, and very bright. And the shade of the swimsuit will look completely different from the one in the store. My last , for example, in the store it looked more green than blue. Under the spotlight, the green color disappeared from it, like a ship at sea. If you want to get a more or less reliable idea, then consider the fabric under bright fluorescent lamps). A non-budget option is a seamstress who is engaged in sewing leotards specifically for competitions, but not “remotely”, but individually, or a dance costume tailoring studio. In this case, for one individual tailoring of a swimsuit (without decorations), you will pay from 6 thousand rubles. Decoration is paid separately, attaching one rhinestone (excluding its cost) will cost about 10 rubles apiece (taking into account the fact that on a “medium-decorated” swimsuit, rhinestones are clearly for 200-300 pieces, or even more, adding up the cost of attachment and buying rhinestones, we will get a very normal amount). In this version of tailoring, you can apply for high quality swimsuit and jewelry, but give it no less than 10 thousand, but rather around 15, if you want it to be richly and well decorated. It is very important to know that according to the IFBB rules, a swimsuit must cover at least 1/3 of the buttocks. If at regional competitions hardly anyone with
If you want to measure how much your swimsuit covers (although the thong will definitely not work and will be noticed), then in the Czech Republic, be sure that your “outfit” at registration will be checked, both swimsuit and shoes, for compliance with the rules of the federation. The second one is the shoes. The main requirement for which you can be wrapped with shoes is the height of the platform. In the IFBB, it has the right to be no more than 1 cm. And be sure that if this requirement is not met, there will be sanctions - either you will be asked to change your shoes right from the stage, or your points will be lowered. Therefore, take a ruler with you to the store and measure, the judges have a trained eye and the excess will be noticed. Most often, silicone sandals are used for performances, which are sold in striptease stores. They are good on several points at once - firstly, they fit any swimsuit and you do not have to change them every season. Secondly, they sit very tightly on the leg and are very stable. Choose a heel that is the maximum height you can stand and walk on. The price of the issue is about 3 thousand rubles, if you are lucky, you will find it cheaper. In total, it will take you from 6 thousand for uniforms. The upper limit has not been set.
In order to shine on the beach in a trendy and unique bikini, it is not necessary to shell out huge sums for branded swimwear. You can sew a swimsuit for a fitness bikini with your own hands from simple improvised materials, and then decorate it in accordance with the most fashionable trends and your own taste. Moreover, in this case, a fitness bikini swimsuit will sit on you better than a purchased one. When sewing with your own hands, it is possible to take into account the non-standard figure, your preferences for color, decorations, and the choice of fabric.
You can sew a stylish denim swimsuit or create a hand-made grunge-style bikini. To make a unique bikini, you can use an old T-shirt, tunic and even a dress that has already outlived its own, but can still get a second wind, turning into a unique swimsuit that will definitely become one of a kind.
To sew a bikini, we need a T-shirt or a piece of material measuring a meter by a meter and decorative elements (rhinestones, sequins, beads, fringe) that can be bought at any sewing supply store.
For a swimsuit, you should choose T-shirts, which, in addition to cotton, contain synthetics. Such a swimsuit will not stretch and will not lose its shape.
Tie making
First, you need to remove the bottom seams from the selected item; they will not be needed in the manufacture of a swimsuit.
Secondly, cut off two strips from the source, each of which will be 5 cm wide and 1 meter long. Then we cut these strips lengthwise into two equal parts. The result should be four ribbons that will serve as ties. Two more such tapes are cut off next, one of which is divided in half, and the other remains the same length. But you can also buy ready-made braid.
In order to make the swimsuit more vivid and original, the material for the manufacture of strings can be made from things with active prints.
After that, it is necessary to fold the ribbons lengthwise in the manner of a “book cover”, so that the edges of the sections look inward at each other and sew with a simple stitch on a sewing machine. The ends of the ties are wrapped inside and secured with a few stitches. The ties are ready.
Upper part manufacturing
Then you will need the thing from which the base of the swimsuit will be made or the material you have chosen, folded twice. It is necessary to cut a wide strip of fabric in two layers (the length of which is equal to half the volume of your chest, it is necessary to measure by the level of the nipples). The layers of cut fabric must be sewn together. This is done so that the fabric, when wet, does not shine through when wet.
How to model a bikini pattern
For the next operation, you will need a full size bikini swimsuit pattern. Making it is easy enough. The bikini top consists of two triangles connected by ties. It is necessary to draw a triangle on the tracing paper, the height of which will be the length from the nipple to the point above it, which is at the level of the armpit, the length of the base is the lower half-girth of one breast.
When drawing up a pattern, it is necessary to add 1.5 - 2 cm to the bottom of the triangle for the fold of the fabric through which the ties will be inserted.
Then, according to the pattern, it is necessary to cut out two symmetrical triangles, the edges of which need to be processed. Now, to the tops of these triangles, sew the tie, the length of which is less than the others. And the longest tie is threaded through the bends at the bases of the triangles. The top of the swimsuit is in your hands.
For those young ladies who have small breasts, the top of the bikini can be slightly adjusted. IN upper part swimsuit for this, foam cups of the right size are inserted. The most important thing is not to forget to fasten them to the fabric by hand with a couple of stitches.
Making the bottom
For the bikini of this part, the pattern is a trapezoid. The height of the trapezoid should be equal to half the distance from the coccyx to a point parallel to the pelvic bones, the width of the lower part should be half the upper semicircumference of the thighs, the width of the upper part should be the distance between inside hips. Then, according to the pattern, we cut out the necessary details. Just like the top part of the swimsuit, the bottom part will need a piece of fabric folded in half and sewn together. We cut out necessary elements. Trapezoids must be sewn together so that the shape of the resulting piece of fabric is an "hourglass".
Keep in mind that, as with top swimsuit, a fold is needed at the bottom to insert the strings. Now it remains to insert the ties into the processed bends and tie them together. The swimsuit is ready.
Swimsuit decoration
When the base is ready, you can proceed to the most interesting part of the process - decorating the swimsuit.
Let's start with the fact that the strings of a swimsuit can be decorated with a variety of beads. A pair of plastic or wooden beads on the ties will give your bikini a special mood.
The swimsuit itself can be completely embroidered with sequins, or you can make a pattern out of them using bikini stencils. Rhinestones at the top of the swimsuit will also look good. There is also a huge number of figured stripes that can decorate both the upper part of the swimsuit and the bottom. We put stencils for bikini on the part of the swimsuit, coat with glue, sprinkle with glitter, remove the stencil. A beautiful picture is ready!
You can also use machine embroidery to decorate a swimsuit. It is enough to use contrasting threads to create an original pattern.
We sew a do-it-yourself bikini swimsuit master class
You can model a bikini swimsuit in the style of Lady Gaga: make high bottoms with interesting cutouts. The basic pattern in this case is the standard model of women's panties. Dimensions - by measurements. As an example - 44/46 size. 
We process the oval cutouts of the swimming trunks with turning, we sew with a double needle along the entire length of the seam. We grind the side seams, laying the allowances on the back half. Overlay the top and bottom edges. Then we grind the bottom seam of the panties. We take a gusset along the bottom. We tuck the allowances on the cutouts for the legs inward and sew with a double needle, while attaching the gusset. To ensure a tighter fit and prevent stretching of the neckline, you can put a thin elastic band in the collar. We tuck the upper edge, insert a thin elastic band and sew with a double needle.
