A bodybuilder has faced backlash after her performance on the prestigious Ms Olympia stage went viral online, with thousands weighing in on her controversial poses.
Brazilian bodybuilder Zama Benta, who recently competed at the world’s premier physique event in Las Vegas, found herself at the centre of online debate following her latest appearance.
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While the event showcases elite physical conditioning and athleticism in professional bodybuilding, a specific section of Benta’s routine has divided viewers, with critics branding one of her moves “unacceptable” while others jumped to her defence.
During the competition, Benta, who has won four pro titles between 2021 and 2026, performed a routine designed to highlight her muscles and extreme lower-body conditioning.
Photos and footage showed the athlete dropping to her knees on stage, bending forward with her back turned directly to the audience and cameras for her opening pose.
Benta is seen wearing a shimmering purple, high-cut bikini with a tiny G-string back.
While the pose fully exposed her glutes and lower-back, the ultra-revealing cut of the swimsuit left little to the imagination, prompting a massive wave of shock and backlash across X and Instagram.
“Lmao, that is diabolical,” one user wrote.
“Her whole labia majora is literally outside of the swimsuit,” another user posted.
Others questioned whether the move was even part of standard bodybuilding criteria, asking if judges were now inspecting parts of the body that are usually kept covered.
“Do they judge your butthole in these competitions?” one confused viewer chimed in, while another joked that they must have to “judge the sphincter as well!!”
“I don’t see where it’s necessary, or why any competitor would want to push out their private parts for strangers to compare,” another wrote.
Another observer noted that the move was likely part of her individual routine rather than a mandatory requirement, writing: “This is on her and WTF was she thinking? That has nothing to do with the mandatory poses. This is her routine where the competitor creates an individual routine to perform to music while displaying their physique.”
However, some fitness enthusiasts and defenders quickly stepped in to push back against the judgement.
“It’s not the whole thing, just the border,” one user pointed out in defence of the outfit.
Another spectator declared: “Why don’t all you just mind your own business?”
“This is seriously impressive, why are y’all hating?” a third wrote.
The controversy comes amid ongoing debate within the fitness world over stage attire, posing, and presentation standards.
Official division criteria require judges to evaluate athletes based on a delicate balance of muscularity, low body fat, symmetry, and overall stage presentation.
While competitors are judged through a series of mandatory poses – such as the front double biceps, side chest, and abdominals and thigh – individual routines allow athletes to choreograph their own moves to display their hard work.
