Some athletes discovered their standard fitness photos were repurposed and featured on pornography sites without their knowledge or permission. 2. Bodybuilding as "Perverted" Performance Art
Female athletes reported being pressured to pose for these sexualized photos under the threat that their contest scores or professional advancement would suffer if they refused. ifbb PRO AthletI make art in a perverted wayLIF...
The concept of creating art in a "perverted" or exploitative manner stems from significant investigative reports and historical controversies within the sport . While bodybuilding is often framed as a "living statue" art form, systemic issues have led to its characterization as a space for exploitation and fetishization. 1. Systematic Sexual Exploitation Some athletes discovered their standard fitness photos were
A major 2022 investigation by revealed a long-standing history of sexual exploitation within the IFBB Pro League and the National Physique Committee (NPC) . The concept of creating art in a "perverted"
J.M. Manion, son of league president Jim Manion, allegedly operated websites like "Fitness Divas" that featured over 30,000 images of female competitors, often in graphic or nude poses.
Critiques of modern bodybuilding often focus on the extreme distortion of the human form, which some view as a "perversion" of natural health and aesthetics.