A competitor exercises as he waits backstage during the 2012 International Bodybuilding and Fitness Invitation Championship in Hong Kong on July 14. Participants, who darken their skin with tanning products and apply oils to increase shine, do a series of mandatory poses and display their best shaped muscles to a panel of judges who assign points based on their appearance.

A competitor gets tanning product applied during the 2012 International Bodybuilding and Fitness Invitation Championship in Hong Kong on July 13,.

A competitor exercises backstage during the 2012 International Bodybuilding and Fitness Invitation Championship in Hong Kong on July 13.

Competitors wait backstage during the 2012 International Bodybuilding and Fitness Invitation Championship in Hong Kong on July 15.

A young boy flexes his muscles during a regional bodybuilding competition in Kabul on April 30, 2012. Bodybuilding is one of the country's most popular sports, even permited during the 1996-2001 Taliban regime.

Afghan bodybuilders compete in the bantamweight classduring a regional bodybuilding competition in Kabul on April 30, 2012.

Participants take part in the "Iron League" bodybuilding and body fitness regional tournament in Russia's southern city of Stavropol Oct. 29.

Participants perform during the "Iron League" bodybuilding and body fitness regional tournament in Russia's southern city of Stavropol Oct. 29.

Female bodybuilders Sun Danyan of China, left, and Natalia Lukashevich of Singapore flex their muscles during the Asian and World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, Oct. 7.

Female bodybuilder Khanittha Makongsuk of Thailand flexes during the Asian and World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Bangkok.

South Koreans Kim Jae Wook, left, and Jang Hee Seong warm up ahead of the Asian and World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships.