Female bodybuilders and figure/fitness competitors are not always in contest shape. This wouldn't be healthy, especially for female bodybuilders. So, they usually cycle their contest look with an off-season one. Many prefer the off-season look to the ripped look. It can have a powerful, Amazonian quality about it. The muscular woman in the off-season will appear smoother and less veiny. It is in the off-season when she actually builds the most muscle and is probably at her strongest and healthiest. Although, the off-season physique has more body fat, the woman herself is anything but fat. However, many of them tend to feel that they are. Her proportions are larger, but if done properly, she should not have extreme difficulty in reaching her contest weight. Photo of Sherry Smith courtesy of Women's Physique World.