In the beginning, bodybuilding competitions only showcased male athletes. Eventually, women arrived on the scene, starting in 1977. There were only two categories available for competitors at that time: Men’s bodybuilding and Women’s bodybuilding. As time went on, the sport grew and more divisions for both men and women were created to allow athletes to showcase their physique in different ways. The sport of bodybuilding has always been present to give those interested a chance to showcase their hard work and determination and compete against others who have chosen this lifestyle. With the introduction of more and more female categories, which favor a less “extreme” look than the women’s bodybuilding category, we have seen the decline in interest and attention to the category that paved the way for the other divisions to exist.

Now in 2026, the original category of women’s bodybuilding is facing scrutiny once again for the more “extreme” look, to the point where their opportunities to compete have been severely limited. Two of the biggest competitions for women’s bodybuilding in the United States have completely removed the category from the competition, leaving these women wondering where to go to pursue this passion of ours.

Tampa Pro and Chicago Pro are two of the biggest shows of the year, and both have removed the women’s bodybuilding category while leaving the remaining female categories and male categories untouched. The promoter cites financial difficulty in their inability to showcase the division of female bodybuilding at their bodybuilding competition. For the women that were preparing and excited for these shows, this is gut-wrenching and tragic. For women who have felt out of place everywhere else, we are now being pushed out of the one place we felt where we finally belonged.

We are asking for donations to pay for these categories to once again be showcased at these two prestigious shows. For the women that have spent decades to be competitive in this sport we have found a home in, the ability to compete locally rather than go overseas means everything to us.