HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE
Welcome to 2026 with Hardcore FBB, as we step into the new year, it’s time to look back at what was an extraordinary 2025 competition season for female bodybuilding. Across the most prestigious stages in the world, we witnessed some of the strongest and deepest lineups ever seen in all three major female divisions: Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, and Women’s Figure.
Women’s Figure: The Standout Division of 2025
2025 clearly highlighted Women’s Figure as the most popular and competitive female division. Massive lineups, sometimes reaching 30 athletes on a single pro stage, proved just how strong and in-demand this division has become. That alone is a remarkable achievement for female bodybuilding.
The season also marked a historic moment with the crowning of a new Miss Olympia Figure after 10 years of dominance by U.S. legend Cydney Gillon. Rhea Gayle, a humble athlete from the UK, who migrated to Texas to pursue her bodybuilding dream, claimed the 2025 Miss Olympia Figure title and redefined the division. Her victory came ahead of two outstanding competitors: Canadian Lola Montez and 2025 Masters Olympia champion Jessica Reyes Padilla, making the win even more meaningful.
Women’s Physique: Growth, Depth, and an Iconic Olympia Battle
The Women’s Physique Division (WPD) delivered another incredible year in 2025. We saw a wave of new IFBB Pro League athletes, stacked lineups at major shows worldwide, and a level of competitiveness that continues to elevate the division.
Women’s Physique remains the perfect compromise between the elegance of Figure and the size and muscular presence of Women’s Bodybuilding, combined with hardcore conditioning. The talent pool keeps growing, and 2025 introduced us to several outstanding athletes.
The season culminated in one of the most memorable Olympia battles in history, between Brazilian powerhouse Natalia Coelho and four-time Miss Olympia Sarah Villegas. Natalia was crowned the new 2025 Miss Olympia Women’s Physique, shocking the industry with one of the most beautiful and complete WPD physiques ever seen.
While some controversy followed Sarah’s reaction on social media, at Hardcore FBB we don’t take sides. We focus on the sport itself. We celebrate Natalia as the new reigning Olympia champion, just as we celebrated Sarah in 2024.
Women’s Physique remains a strong and growing division, regardless of outside noise. Brazil has firmly established itself as a dominating country in WPD, not only with Natalia’s Olympia win, but also with:
- Zama Benta Olympia Top 3 and Tampa Pro winner
- Nana Silva Masters Olympia champion
- Jessica Macedo winner of the prestigious European show in Romania and Olympia 2026 qualifier in her pro debut
- Carol Alves Top 2 in Romania Muscle Fest and later winner of the MR Big Evolution Pro Masters in Portugal
Brazil is unquestionably on the map for the future of Women’s Physique.
Women’s Bodybuilding: Extreme, Elite, and Unapologetic
While Women’s Bodybuilding (WBB) features fewer athletes on stage, every show consistently showcases the most muscular, extreme, and elite physiques on the planet. Yes, some may call it “too extreme,” but this sport is called bodybuilding for a reason. The same fascination fans have with Men’s Open applies equally to Women’s Bodybuilding.
2025 once again confirmed the dominance of Andrea Shaw, who triumphed in the two biggest WBB events: the Rising Phoenix and, for the sixth consecutive time, the Miss Olympia title. Andrea continues to chase the historic record set by the legendary Iris Kyle.
The 2025 Olympia also brought attention to two exceptional athletes:
- Ashley Lynette Jones, who placed second and pushed Andrea until the very end, signaling the possibility of a future new Miss Olympia
- Leyvina Barros, the Brazilian superstar and, in our opinion, one of the most promising athletes in the world. Leyvina brings a rare combination of size, conditioning, symmetry, beauty, elegance, and femininity, making her a potential future Olympia champion and a true ambassador for the division
That said, Women’s Bodybuilding also faced challenges in 2025, particularly at the pro-qualifier level, with very low participation in many events. This makes progression harder for athletes grinding toward pro status unless special approvals are granted by the IFBB Pro League.
A bright spot came at the NPC National Championships in the U.S., which featured an impressive WBB lineup and crowned two new IFBB Pros:
- Taylor Smuck, Light-Heavyweight and Overall winner
- Kelli Larkins, Heavyweight winner
With 14 amateur WBB athletes competing, this gave hope that more talent is ready to step up and keep the division alive.
Looking Ahead to an Exciting 2026 Season
This was a brief recap of an unforgettable 2025. Now, all eyes turn to 2026. Most athletes are currently in their off-season, building the muscle they’ll refine for upcoming shows. The new season officially kicks off in April 2026 with the prestigious Triple O Dynasty in Mesa, Arizona, featuring Figure and Women’s Bodybuilding, promoted by two of the best in the world: Andrea Shaw and Cydney Gillon.
Check out the new 2026 full pro calendar available on our website!
Despite cancellations and politics, Hardcore FBB remains committed! We will continue to cover every major show with up-to-date lineups, results, photos, videos, and detailed reports. Claudio will be attending major European events on-site, providing exclusive interviews, candid footage, registrations, and full coverage, always with the mission of celebrating the athletes and the positive energy of this incredible sport.
A Message to the Community
Happy 2026 to all athletes, coaches, fans, promoters, everyone involved in the organization and preparation of bodybuilding shows, and to those who are just discovering competitive female bodybuilding and want to understand this world.
Thank you to everyone who follows and supports Hardcore FBB across all our platforms. The project keeps growing because of those who live this sport and those who admire these incredible athletes. Stay tuned, plenty of exciting new content is coming. Female bodybuilding will never die, and we will continue to deliver the highest-quality content you deserve.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram and TikTok, listen to our podcast, and visit hardcorefbb.com for the latest news, videos, blogs, and coverage from the world of female bodybuilding. All our content is free, but your support through subscriptions, likes, and shares makes a real difference.
CIAO,
Claudio
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