Metal dumbbell barbells on the floor, weight lifting body building equipments for healthy fitness gym xkwx training weight gym fitness barbell luxury weightlifting set activity chrome background white accessories exercise lifting workout steel strength floor health sports black metal bar body iron muscle bodybuilding equipment physical power dumbbells weights strong fit top heavy top view dumbbell interior club modern rack view lifestyle healthy leisure recreational dumbells
Metal dumbbell barbells on the floor, weight lifting body building equipments for healthy fitness gym xkwx training weight gym fitness barbell luxury weightlifting set activity chrome background white accessories exercise lifting workout steel strength floor health sports black metal bar body iron muscle bodybuilding equipment physical power dumbbells weights strong fit top heavy top view dumbbell interior club modern rack view lifestyle healthy leisure recreational dumbells
Sep 6, 2026, 10:30 AM CUT
Ranking Top 6 Female Bodybuilders In Figure Category Ahead of 2026 Ms. Olympia
The Figure division continues to be one of the most closely watched categories in professional bodybuilding, and with the 2026 Ms. Olympia on the horizon, the competition for a top spot has rarely felt this open.
This season alone has produced plenty of movement in the division. A win here, an upset there, and suddenly the names people expected to dominate aren't the only ones in the conversation anymore.
Picking just six out of such a stacked field means some strong cases are getting left off the list. Still, based on results on stage and how these athletes have performed against each other, six clear standouts have emerged.
With that in mind, here's a look at the top six female bodybuilders in the Figure category ahead of the 2026 Ms. Olympia, according to the list put out by Olympiastats on their Instagram account on September 5th.
Young woman with perfect body trains with a dumbbell while lying on a bench. Strong body, bodybuilding and fitness model released
Young woman with perfect body trains with a dumbbell while lying on a bench. Strong body, bodybuilding and fitness model released
1. Rhea Gayle
Rhea Gayle earned her spot after winning the 2025 Figure Olympia, her first career title, edging out Lola Montez in second and Jessica Reyes Padilla in third.
The win came right after eight-time champion Cydney Gillon's retirement, leaving the division open for the first time since 2016.
Gayle first competed at the Ms Olympia in 2019, placing 13th, and has entered every edition since. Her path to the title included wins at the Rising Phoenix Arizona Pro (2023), the Tupelo Pro (2024), and the Texas Pro (2025).
2. Lola Montez
Lola Montez has built a strong case through consistency, placing on the Figure Olympia podium four years running, third in 2022, 2023, and 2024, before moving up to second in 2025 behind Rhea Gayle.
She's yet to win an Ms Olympia title, but her steady climb up the standings shows a career still trending upward.
Montez picked up the Pittsburgh Pro title in May 2025 heading into that runner-up finish, adding to a resume that already included wins at the Arnold Classic UK and Boston Pro in 2022, and the Toronto Pro Supershow in 2023.
3. Jessica Padilla
Jessica Reyes Padilla has been remarkably consistent, finishing runner-up at the Figure Olympia three years straight from 2022 to 2024, then third in 2025 behind Gayle and Montez. She's also dominated at the Masters level, winning the Masters Figure Olympia title in both 2023 and 2025.
Beyond Ms Olympia, Padilla stayed active on the pro circuit, picking up wins at the Gomeisa Ultimate Battle Pro and Texas State Pro in 2025.
4. Denise Zwinger-Tynek
Denise Zwinger-Tynek made an immediate impact in her Ms Olympia debut, finishing fourth in the 2025 Figure division behind Gayle, Montez, and Padilla, an impressive result for a first-time competitor in such a stacked field.
She entered the contest on a hot streak, winning three straight pro shows earlier in the year at the Empro Classic, Mr Big Evolution Portugal Pro, and Euro Muscle Pro Show.
Zwinger-Tynek kept that momentum going after Ms Olympia, adding another win at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro in November 2025, signaling she could be a bigger threat in the division moving forward.
5. Lena Ramsteiner
Lena Ramsteiner rounded out her 2025 season on a high note, finishing seventh at the Figure Olympia before capping the year with a win at the Mexico Pro, a result that also punched her ticket to the 2026 Ms. Olympia. It was a step up from her Ms Olympia debut in 2024, when she placed eighth.
She's been prolific on the pro circuit throughout, picking up multiple wins across 2024 and 2025, including the New York Pro, Tampa Pro, EVLS Prague Pro, and Ms Big Evolution Portugal Pro.
6. Natalia Soltero
Natalia Soltero remains one of the most consistent names in the division, finishing sixth at the 2025 Figure Olympia after placing runner-up twice in 2020 and 2021 during her peak years. She's kept up a near-annual presence at Ms Olympia since her 2017 debut, finishing in the top six every year since.
Soltero has stayed sharp heading into 2026, already picking up wins at the Triple O Dynasty Pro and Pittsburgh Pro this season, adding to a résumé that includes past victories at the New York Pro, Northern California Pro, and Daytona Pro.
All six will get one more shot to make their case when the 2026 Ms. Olympia arrives.
Written by
Chionia Libania Colaco