Bodybuilding as a sport was developed in the late 1940s thanks to the Weider brothers. In 1946, they founded the International Federation of Bodybuilders which organizes annual championships for amateurs and professionals. Initially, it was a typically male discipline, but after some time it was also adopted by women. Since the 1970s, women have become full participants in competitions.
I decided to make a documentary about women competing in the Polish Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, which took place in Kielce at the end of April 2018. The film is an impression of difficult and beautiful moments associated with this discipline. The movie tries to answer the question what is so fascinating about this sport, why women are attracted to it as much as men, why they decide to work with their own bodies, how many sacrifices and work with themselves it costs them. Bikiniara is a common name of a participant competing in the Bikini Fitness category. It can be read as a universal symbol of a modern woman – strong, independent, determined, tenacious, fighting against her weaknesses. Physical exercise builds not only the body but also the fortitude of the mind. Competitors strive for a non-existent ideal because they are always unsatisfied with something in their bodies. They are guided by the philosophy of continuous self-improvement. Despite the objective approach to the body in this very exotic environment, a short performance on a stage is extremely empowering for the players and changes their lives.