What is the figure division?

In one line

The figure division is a women's division in which competitors wear a swimsuit and high heels to show a trained body that is evenly developed from top to bottom, with muscle borders slightly visible.

What is the figure division?
The women's division that shows more muscle than bikini
Bodybuilding shows include several women's divisions where competitors stand in a swimsuit and high heels. Among them, the one that shows more muscle than bikini is figure. Here is what body it looks for and how it differs from divisions with similar names.
In short
An evenly developed, trained body
Figure is a women's division in which competitors wear a swimsuit and high heels to show a trained body that is evenly developed from top to bottom, with muscle borders slightly visible. It carries more muscle than bikini but less than 'women's physique', which builds even more. Above all, judges look at the balance and symmetry of the whole body.
Two names
The IFBB calls it 'bodyfitness'
The US amateur body NPC and the professional IFBB Pro League call this division 'figure'. The International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) calls the division in the same place 'bodyfitness' and recognized it as an official division in 2002. Under both names, it sits between bikini and women's physique.
Attire
A two-piece swimsuit and high heels
Competitors (people who enter the show) wear a two-piece swimsuit, with separate top and bottom, and high heels. Both IFBB and IFBB Pro League rules say the bottom must cover at least half of the buttocks, and string styles are not allowed.
What happens on stage
Quarter turns, not flexing poses
The basic stance in figure is the 'quarter turn'. Standing in place, the competitor turns right a quarter (1/4) of a circle at a time, showing the front, side, back and other side in order. Judges call a few competitors at a time, line them up side by side, and compare them in these stances. The IFBB divides competitors into classes by height, not body weight.
What judges look for 1
Shoulders, back and thighs developed evenly
NPC rules list rounded shoulders, front thigh muscles that curve outward, and a wide, thick back. These muscles should be spread evenly from top to bottom so the whole body looks balanced. IFBB rules also look first at even, symmetrical, athletic muscle development.
The V shape
From wide shoulders and back to a narrow waist
NPC rules say they want a nice 'V taper'. It means the shoulders and back are wide and narrow toward the waist, so the upper body looks like the letter V. The glutes should be firm, and the upper and lower body should be in balance.
Only a little separation
Borders just slightly visible
When the border between two muscles shows like a groove, it is called 'separation'. Figure wants a body with a little of this separation. Deep separation, or fine lines on the muscle surface (striations), is marked down. The standard is round, firm muscle with a small amount of fat left.
Between bikini and women's physique
More muscle, but less size and fewer veins
Bikini rules say not to show the full muscle and separation seen in figure. Figure rules say showing muscle as big as women's physique, sharp outlines, or visible veins is marked down. So figure sits in the middle of the two divisions.
A common misconception
Is it the same as the fitness division?
No. In the IFBB Pro League's 'fitness' division, competitors perform a routine of up to 2 minutes to music in the finals, including moves like push-ups, high kicks and side splits. Figure has no such routine; competitors show their bodies in quarter turns. The two are held as separate divisions, even at the same show.
Summary
Evenly developed, with borders just visible
Figure is a women's division in which competitors wear a swimsuit and high heels to show a trained body that is evenly developed, with muscle borders slightly visible. Unlike the similarly named fitness division, there is no routine of moves set to music. Related terms: bikini division, women's physique, V taper.