ANBF Wellness Division Guidelines | Natural Bodybuilding Criteria

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The ANBF Wellness Division is for female competitors with an athletic physique who want to showcase greater development in the glutes, thighs, hips, and calves. Wellness is the ANBF women’s division designed to reward intentional lower-body dominance. The upper body should be developed, but it should not match the level of development in the lower body.

Wellness competitors are judged in two-piece competition suits and clear high heels. Suits may be any color, pattern, and style. Straps should not be crisscrossed and hooked into the suit bottoms. Suits must be tasteful; no thong or T-back bottoms are permitted. ANBF officials reserve the right to require suit correction or disqualify a competitor from a specific show if the suit is deemed inappropriate. Jewelry and hair adornments are allowed during all rounds of judging when appropriate and not distracting from the physique.

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Division Overview

The ANBF Wellness Division is tailored for competitors who display an athletic, feminine physique with greater lower-body development than Bikini. Wellness competitors should present full, round glutes, developed thighs, hips, hamstrings, quads, and calves, while keeping the upper body developed but controlled.

Wellness is not judged the same way as Figure. The goal is not equal upper- and lower-body development. Judges are looking for intentional lower-body dominance that still flows well with the athlete’s waistline, shoulders, shape, and overall presentation.

Competitors should show healthy muscle tone, visible abdominal and leg definition, full glutes, and athletic separation without deep cuts, heavy striations, or an overly dieted appearance. The overall look should be fit, natural, feminine, confident, and aesthetically balanced while clearly representing the Wellness standard.

Judging Criteria

Muscularity: Wellness competitors should show moderate muscularity with a clear emphasis on lower-body development. The glutes, thighs, hips, hamstrings, quads, and calves should be more developed than in Bikini. The upper body should be developed but controlled, without overpowering the lower body or moving the athlete toward Figure or Women’s Physique.
Conditioning: Wellness competitors should display a healthy, fit level of conditioning with visible abdominal and leg definition. The glutes should appear full and round, with a smooth connection into the hamstrings. Conditioning should show athletic separation without excessive hardness, deep cuts, visible striations, an overly lean look, or an emaciated appearance.
Symmetry and Proportion: Judges evaluate proportion, shape, and flow while recognizing that Wellness is intentionally lower-body dominant. The lower body should be more developed than the upper body, but the overall physique should still look controlled, aesthetic, and balanced. The lower-body emphasis should enhance the Wellness look, not create a distorted or severely imbalanced appearance.
Stage Presence: Presentation is critical. Competitors are judged on confidence, poise, control, polish, and the ability to present their physique in a flattering and professional way. Wellness presentation should be athletic, feminine, graceful, and confident.
Posing and Walk: Competitors should pose and walk in a smooth, controlled, and flattering manner. Transitions should not be stiff, jerky, military-style, or overly suggestive. Competitors should be able to showcase their lower-body shape, conditioning, and stage presence while maintaining professionalism.
Competition Attire and Aesthetics: The suit should be well-fitting, flattering, tasteful, and appropriate for the Wellness division. Suit color and style should complement the athlete’s skin tone and physique. Jewelry and hair adornments are allowed when they enhance the overall presentation without distracting from the physique.
Makeup and Hair: Professional, stage-appropriate makeup and hair are important. These should enhance your natural features without overpowering your overall look.
Tanning: A smooth, even competition tan is crucial to highlight muscle definition and stage presence.

Group Comparisons

After the individual presentation for each competitor are complete, the class is brought to front center stage and is guided through quarter turns to display physiques from the front, left, back, and right. Quarter turn transitions should be fluid with no stiff, jerky, military-style, or overly suggestive movements.

Front Pose

Front Stance & Lower Body: Competitors face forward with one leg slightly ahead, knee softly bent to emphasize quad and glute shape. The hip can be slightly twisted for better presentation.
Upper Body & Arm Positioning: One hand rests on the hip, while the other arm remains relaxed and straight down.
Presentation & Posture: Maintain an upright posture with a confident smile, showcasing symmetry, conditioning, and stage presence.
Bending of the free-hanging arm at the elbow and wrist (teacup pose) is not permitted.

Side Poses

Competitors should stand slightly turned towards the judges, with both feet pointing towards the side of the stage they are facing.
The right hand should be placed on the hip, while the left arm hangs relaxed at the side.
The right leg should be bent at the knee, creating a pose similar to a twisted Bikini side pose.
Bending of the free-hanging left arm at the elbow and wrist (teacup pose) is not permitted.

Back Pose

Individual Presentations

ANBF will implement a 10ft wide box or rectangle on stage for all presentations, routines, and walks.
This restriction ensures optimal lighting, efficient use of time, and better photos and videos.
The promoter decides the length of each routine, walk, or presentation.
Some promoters may opt to have Stage Presentation Walks before the group comparisons for divisions that do not require a full routine.

Music for Routines and Presentations:

Bodybuilding and Classic Physique athletes must submit their own music for routines. If they do not, they will pose to house music or music chosen by the promoter.
All other divisions will perform their walks and routines to house music or music selected by the promoter unless specified by the promoter. Some ANBF events will request all athletes in all divisions to submit music for presentation/routines/walks.

Note: If a competitor has already performed a stage walk or routine in a previous class, they will not do the stage walk or routine a second time. If the competitor has crossed over to another division, Figure to Women’s Physique for instance, the competitor may perform their walk/routine in subsequent class.