We are two years in, but for all purposes. The Men’s and Women’s Physique divisions have been a magnificent success for the NPC/IFBB. This year, both divisions crowned their first Olympia champions. Mark Anthony Wingson won the Men’s Physique Olympia title. While, Dana Linn Bailey claimed the Women’s Physique Olympia title. However, while Women’s Physique has become a welcomed addition to the NPC/IFBB Family. Men’s Physique is still looking for an identity and respect by old school followers. Who, for some reason, can’t see what the interest in MP is all about. To those who disdain MP, it’s a disgrace. But, to its supporters. They say its the new era of bodybuilding. MP’s critics are long and furious. But, The numbers are clearly with MP’s supporters.

To its critics, MP is nothing but a damn twink fest. That lowers the standard of true bodybuilding. It’s just a showcase for beach boys to catwalk on stage. While wearing ridiculous looking board shorts. That allows them to cover their legs. Thus, not having to worry about training them. Which makes MP detractors cry that it is bodybuilding without legs.

That probably doesn’t matter anyway. Since, it seems the guy who wins most MP competitions are usually the ones with the best hair and prettiest face. Which makes MP competitions look more like a model search contest than a bodybuilding contest. Some critics have gone as far to call Men’s Physique, “Men’s Bikini”.

Another thing that makes MP’s attackers blood boil is the time MP competitors add to shows that are already long thanks to Bikini. With Bikini and now MP, already dehydrated bodybuilders have to wait longer to get on stage. Bodybuilders usually go last during most competition events. These bodybuilders now have to wait for hours to show their wares. While having to endure tens of Figure, MP, and Bikini competitors. As, they go on stage before them. Which means the bodybuilding side of things doesn’t get decided until well after 12am or later.

MP’s supporters, of course, see it differently. They see MP as a new cash cow for the NPC/IFBB. Who have been searching for a fitness division that will spring into the mainstream for decades. MP’s biggest backers are bodybuilding promoters. who are making decent profits. Thanks to the large number of participants competing in MP. In some shows, MP competitors are outnumbering bodybuilders. In some cases, there are twice as many MP competitors than bodybuilders. The big participation in MP is not only during national events. But, for local and regional events, as well. Add the MP competitor’s girlfriend/boyfriend, family, and friends going to the show. Promoters are making money not only from entries but, from the ticket office as well.

2013 Mr. Physique Olympia Champion, Mark Anthony Wingson

Another large proponent of MP are the competitors themselves. Who are bodybuilders at heart. But, are not interested in pushing the envelope or trying to get big for big sake. MP has given them a chance to compete on stage. For some guys, they can’t achieve the mass that is needed to compete in bodybuilding contests. They see MP as the middle ground that allows them to successfully compete. While not having to go to the extreme.

Another factor that is on MP’s side are the supplement companies. Who are now signing MP competitors to help pimp their products to consumers. Companies are literally falling over themselves to get the next big MP athlete. Resulting in them no longer seeking bodybuilders to promote their products. MP critics see this as MP taking money away bodybuilders. Which they say will make more men want to become MP competitors instead of bodybuilders.

Here’s how I see it. Both sides of the MP debate have good points. But, let’s be frank. Bodybuilding contests are beauty pageants. How can bodybuilders who compete while dipped in oil and wearing thongs call anything a disgrace. Bodybuilders seem to love to rant about how society treats them. Yet, they are first in line to moan about other people’s lives and choices. It seems because of how society treats them, bodybuilders need to reflect some deep seeded insecurity upon the rest of us. So, they can get some necessary ego boost.

That being said, I can see myself saying the same thing about MP competitors in a few years. With their large numbers of participation and seemingly growing popularity, MP will claim to be bigger than bodybuilding. Then, MP competitors will demand that they be the main attraction during the Olympia. MP competitors will demand higher prize money. Which, in turn, the MP competitor will take the place of the bodybuilder as the insecure misfit needing an ego boost.

No matter what the future holds for both bodybuilding and Men’s Physique. It seems that neither will be dropping off the map anytime soon. So, both will have to learn to coexist, live together, and let destiny decide which one best showcases how muscle men are suppose to be.

It made all of us at MuscleWeek sit back and wonder if we were witnessing a seismic shift in the marketing strategies of the supplement companies, and made us ask the question:

Do the relatively new Men’s Fitness Model and Physique Competitions signal the end of the line for Bodybuilding?

Now before we jump on the latest bandwagon of prematurely announcing the death of bodybuilding, let’s look at a few facts:

– Most guys get into bodybuilding to improve their muscularity
– Most guys look up to Pro Bodybuilders because they get the magazine covers and attract the most attention
– Most competitive bodybuilders mention getting their Pro card as one of the reasons they continue to compete
– The perceived benefit of having a Pro card is to obtain sponsorship from an apparel, supplement, or beverage company.

And when one looks at the above facts, one quickly realizes that all of the above can be attained by competing and being successful in the Men’s Fitness Model Competition. Better yet, instead of having a grotesquely large and unhealthy body that is ogled by 90% men and 10% emotionally stunted women (figure, bikini and fitness competitors), a winning men’s fitness model competitor will have a body that 99% of women crave and 1% of men ridicule as being ‘twinks’.

Gregg Plitt is a fitness model who has been sponsored by Met-Rx for the past 3 years. THREE YEARS! That’s an eternity in bodybuilding, where guys typically jump ship every 1-2 years by virtue of their perceived value either rising or falling in the eyes of their sponsor.

If you ask the hardcore bodybuilder to drop weight to compete in Men’s Physique, he might look at you like you’ve gone mad. But that’s his Hulk-smashing ego fronting for him. A quick look at today’s trend in sponsorships reveals that even guys with average physiques like Isaac Hinds are landing contracts (Muscletech) and the guys landing the covers of previously bodybuilder-dominated magazines like Muscle & Fitness are more likely to resemble a physique competitor (i.e. an MMA fighter) than a Mr. Olympia winner.

The numbers show us that magazines like Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness routinely outsell bodybuilding publications by a 10:1 or even 20:1 margin. The main reason you don’t see Muscletech Advertorials and BSN ads (along with the smaller companies) plastered everywhere in those magazines is because their advertising rates are astronomically higher than what you’d find in a bodybuilding rag.

But what does Men’s Physique really mean to most of us?

It means:

– Significantly less drugs (out with the ridiculously high levels of androgens).
– Less food (no more 6000 calorie/day diets).
– More cardio (with less reliance on gh).
– A more attainable physique to sell most guys on how they really want to look.
– A more fit physique capable of walking two flights of stairs without requiring oxygen.
– A body that is much closer to a woman’s idea of manly perfection.
– That Hugh Jackman can walk off a movie set and become a Pro Men’s Physique Champion overnight.

As much as the hardcore bodybuilding fan base has ridiculed the introduction of the Men’s Physique category, the supplement companies that run bodybuilding have clearly thrown their support behind this new division, and if there’s one thing we all know: We’d all rather look 27,583% BETTER than be 27,584% STRONGER.

Congratulations to our good friend Isaac Hinds for the Muscletech sponsorship. Isaac is also the mind behind our sister site Hardbody.