Two Piece Swimsuit:  The judges will be scoring by assessing balance, shape and overall physical appearance including complexion, skin tone, poise, and overall presentation.

Each competitor must be currently registered with the NPC and to meet this requirement, he/she must present his/her current NPC card, current NPC receipt, or purchase an NPC card at the competition ($120).  Each competitor must be an amateur in good standing with the NPC. 

OPEN DIVISIONS: Open to all NPC Eligible competitors regardless of

MASTER'S CLASSES (35+):  Each competitor in these divisions must have reached the age of the class entered by the date of the competition (i.e. their 35th birthday, and must present proof of age with birth certificate, driver's license or state ID.

TRUE NOVICE CLASSES: True Novice divisions and classes are open only to competitor who have not previously competed in a physique sport competition.  Any competitor found to have previously competed will be disqualified.  Class breakdowns will be based upon number of registered competitors in each division.

Suits must be cut according to NPC rules, minimum of 50% glute coverage and not too low in front, athletes can face disqualification if an inappropriate suit is worn, alternative suit suggested.  Jewelry may be worn.

The contestants will present front and back poses with hand on hip, as a group finishing facing the judges, then return to the stage for their individual routine of 10-15 seconds and group comparisons/ half turns, wearing a two-piece swimsuit according to NPC rules (50% minimum glute coverage, no thongs permitted) and high heels.  Jewelry is allowed.  No lewd acts permitted on stage.

Evening/Finals:  Same as pre-juding (typically goes a lot faster)

Here is my personal take on selecting a suit--it's much like selecting your prom or wedding dress.  I don't take suit selection lightly, and neither should you. A great suit will help you shine like the star you are! The Bikini Athlete with the best or tightest physique doesn’t always win the competition.  One must bring the total package to the stage, and the perfect suit can give the necessary edge.

Below I will lay out some basics and fundamentals to keep in mind and help guide you, but please be sure that the final suit selection is individualized and all your own.  Have fun!!!

Your suit color should enhance your overall look, more specifically your skin tone, eye color and hair color.

Regardless of who you are, I typically believe a hue in one of these colors below will look great, it’s simply choosing the right one for the winning look.  Most everyone will look amazing in more than one color, BUT it is my honest belief that there is always one or two colors that look the absolute best.

Blue
Red
Yellow
Green
Purple
Black

Cut refers to the shape of your bikini top and bottom. 

Tops

5 styles of tops. Most popular are triangle and halter style.

1.  Triangle style: strings ties neck and back. Hook can be added by request.
2.  Halter style: hook behind neck, thicker strap; it offers more support.
3.  Underwire style: made of molded bra cup with underwire support.
4.  Butterfly style top: string ties neck and back.
5.  Front criss-cross top: string ties behind neck, hook behind back.

Basics to look for and know from your suit designer

• top is fully lined with built-in inside pocket for padding (if desired, recommended for most). Most suit designers provide free padding. 
• Tops for bikini competitors are typically cut smaller and narrower to show more cleavage.  If you want more coverage, you may need to specify this.

Bottoms

4 style of bottoms.

1. Moderate:  This is the style chosen by many first time competitors in the NPC
2. Rio/Brazilian: This style has a little less coverage than the moderate.  Opt for this style if you are very confident in your glute development and want to showcase it
3. Full Coverage:  It isn't popular, but if you need this, then it's doable
4. Pro Cut:  This is the style recommended for National and Pro level competitors - least amount of coverage

Basics to look for and know from your suit designer

• Bottoms are lined at the front and they are scrunch back bottoms.
• Be sure your bikini is made by regulations for the organization you're competing in  (NPC, IFBB, FAME, Bikini Universe, etc.)
• Bikini suits are low-rise, they sit lower on the hip than say a  figure suit.  Be sure that your bottom doesn't sit too low or too high.

No matter which you choose, just be sure that they are flattering to your physique and compliment the rest of your suit.  My only main suggestion is that if you are petite or have shorter legs, to be careful getting the long dangle connectors.  Some shorter Bikini A and B women can pull this off look without a problem. 

Tips
Connectors are about the easiest thing to change on a bikini, so in the long run if you're not pleased, you can always switch them out--so don't stress!  Even the most expensive pair of connectors won't cost more than $35 per connector.  Some connectors are as low as $2-4 bucks.  No one wants to waste money, but with time you may find it fun to see the different looks simply switching connectors can offer.

Honestly, at the NPC level you do not need crystals or an overpriced suit.  My first suit cost me $550.00 (fully encrusted), while my second suit was crystal-less and under $200.  Believe it or not, but I loved my $200 suit better. 

Tips

• Choose Crystals to stand out on stage over rhinestones and glitter. Crystals add so much more sparkle and sass to the bikini. The more the better. Crystals come in so many colors.  The crystals can also come in Crystal AB and Sapphire AB, adding a different element and flare to the bikini. 
• If getting a crystallized bikini is out of your budget I recommend getting a sequin fabric.  Sequin can have just as much pizzazz as a crystallized bikini if executed properly
• A hologram or metallic fabric also plays well in the light, if having crystals added to your suit is out of budget
• You can always opt to have crystals added on later (I've done this)
• At the National level I would stay away from lace and glitter. 

Keep it classy—use them to enhance your look.  Too much bling will look tacky and distracting.

Tips:

• 1-3 bracelets
• 1-2 rings
• Pair of hoop, hanging, or chandelier earrings

I cannot stress the importance of posing.  Posing is just as important as completing all your workouts, eating clean, and selecting the perfect suit.  There is nothing more disappointing then to see a woman who has worked her butt off in the gym, brings a rocking package to the stage only to flounder due to lack of preparation and practice of her posing routine.  It is my genuine belief that my posing alone has helped me win competitions.  I’ve beat out some of my fiercest competitors by only a point, and I know it wasn’t my physique, but my presentation—my posing. 

Judges in order to separate the greatest from the pack of the best, it can literally down to posing -- down to the centimeter—the most minute of details.  Don’t let your posing routine be your downfall—let it make you SHINE! 

In the NPC and IFBB, it is standard to wear a 5 inch clear platform heel.  More and more women are opting for the 6 inch to add the illusion of more length to the legs and overall physique.  The shoes come with either an ankle strap or a slipper (strapless).   I prefer the slipper style for several reasons and I’ll explain the Pros and Cons of both below.  Each woman should pick the shoe that she feels most comfortable and confident in.

NOTE: Links are provided to my 'go to' place for shoes.  Simply click '5 inch heel' or '6 inch heel' with the corresponding picture. 

1.  This is the most popular style.  Most women feel confident in this heel because of the added ankle support and stability offered by the strap.  They feel more confident that they won’t slip, fall, lose a shoe, or twist an ankle.  I began with this pair and suggest many others to do the same.

5 inch heel                                                                                                                   6 inch heel

2.  I 'graduated' to this style for my second competition.  I prefer this style over the platform with strap because:

• it allows for more ankle movement, which I feel allows me to move more smoothly through my posing routine, especially when it comes to pivoting and turning.
  
• they're much easier to take on and off which is a bonus when it come to being in the pump room, practicing your posing, and getting on stage competition day.  Many women keep their shoes on all day once they're on, and I prefer to be able to easily slip them on and off.
• I also prefer this style because although the strap is clear, I still love the elongated look the 'slipper' offers because there is no clear distinction from the ankle and the rest of the leg.