The Women’s Bodybuilding champion defended her physique and the division after Priest argued that runner-up Paula Ranta should have won
Anastasia Korableva is defending her victory at the 2026 Romania Muscle Fest Pro after bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest questioned the judges’ decision. Korableva defeated rising star Paula Ranta to capture the Women’s Bodybuilding title, but Priest believes the result sends the wrong message about the future of the division.
Korableva responded directly to Priest on social media, defending the standards of Women’s Bodybuilding and arguing that muscular development should not be criticized simply because it exceeds what some fans consider acceptable.
The exchange has sparked a familiar debate about size, conditioning, and the direction of female bodybuilding.
Lee Priest Says Paula Ranta Should Have Won
The controversy began after Priest weighed in on the results of the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, where Korableva took first place ahead of Ranta.
Ranta has attracted considerable attention since transitioning to Women’s Bodybuilding, quickly becoming a popular figure in the division. Her runner-up finish in Romania continued that momentum.
However, Priest believed she deserved the victory.
“This is why female bodybuilding goes backwards. Paula should’ve won,” Priest wrote on Instagram.
He went further, questioning whether rewarding physiques like Korableva’s would encourage more women to enter the sport.
“You’re not gonna get women into the sport if they have to look like that to win.”
He also sarcastically suggested creating another division to give judges additional criteria to evaluate.
His comments quickly caught Korableva’s attention.
Anastasia Korableva Responds: ‘This Is Women’s Bodybuilding’
Korableva addressed Priest directly in a lengthy Instagram response, initially acknowledging her respect for the former professional bodybuilder.
“I respect you so much but you know this can only be said about women,” she wrote.
Korableva argued that similar criticism would be considered inappropriate if directed at male competitors. She referenced several legendary bodybuilders, including Ronnie Coleman, Markus Rühl, Dorian Yates, and Samson Dauda.
Her point was that male competitors are rarely told they have become too muscular for their own division.
“Guys, I am in my category. This is women’s bodybuilding. It’s the biggest and most extreme category there is.”
She also rejected the suggestion that her physique could discourage participation.
Korableva said she knows numerous women who were inspired to pursue bodybuilding because of the muscular development displayed by competitors like herself.
“I already know a huge number of girls who, thanks to me, finally got into bodybuilding because they wanted to have big mass and are inspired by what’s happening.”
She insisted that there are enough women interested in competing at the highest levels of muscular development to sustain the division.
Korableva Questions Criticism of Paula Ranta’s Transition
Korableva also addressed Ranta’s recent move into Women’s Bodybuilding.
Without attacking her fellow competitor, she questioned why someone who recently switched divisions should automatically be favored over athletes who have spent years developing physiques specifically for Women’s Bodybuilding.
“If a person switched from another category just three months ago and you seriously think that someone who came from a category meant for people with less muscle mass should have been given the win over me, that’s absurd.”
Korableva emphasized that her physique was developed for the division in which she competes.
The exchange highlights a continuing disagreement over the direction of Women’s Bodybuilding. While some favor a more streamlined appearance, others believe the division should continue rewarding the extreme muscularity that separates it from categories such as Women’s Physique.
For Korableva, the distinction is clear. She believes her victory represents exactly what Women’s Bodybuilding is intended to showcase.
And after her latest victory in Romania, she has made it clear that she has no intention of apologizing for her muscular development.
Image embed via Instagram @romania_muscle_fest_pro
