BODYBUILDING is no longer a male-dominated sport.
International Natural Bodybuilding Association state president Sam Attrill said just as many women as men were competing in the sport.
"It would certainly be 50 per cent, if not more towards the women,'' she said.
"It's certainly a growing sport. I think it has got to the point where a lot of people want to get fit and healthy now and the next step on would be to compete and to take your fitness on to the stage.
Ms Attrill said the popularity of competition categories that offered more mainstream looks, such as the sports model and figure categories, were responsible for the rise in female bodybuilders.
"A sports model basically has to look like she works out, with the difference being that she will carry a bit of body fat over her muscles you won't see a lot of definition,'' she said.