Timmon...Physique came in after my time. ( I know it's hard here in limited space) What is the criteria?. For Jana, for example....what would have to be different for her to be up to winning speed in the physique category?
Alison, the actual IFBB guidelines are here
http://www.ifbb.com/pdf/Women_Physique_Rules_150712.pdfPhysique was introduced in 2011 by the IFBB, as a sort of catch up for NABBA's Figure category, that they had for years before the IFBB realised they needed it.
My description is that it is a sort of next stage up from IFBB / NCP Figure ie it is Figure only flexing.
The physique is assessed in round one, much like it is in Figure with rotating poses. But like FBB, there is a flexing round for comparisons and posing routines. Bicep shots are made with outstretched fingers instead of a fist, so it is supposed to be a more feminine flex!
Athletes are not supposed to be as ripped, and the physique is supposed to be softer than FBB, and complexion , facially and skin tone of the body is taken into consideration, and general grooming etc. More control over posing suits, but they have not gone as far as the wearing of high heels, as some federations did.
What does Jana have to do to win Physique? I'd have to be a head judge to get that one right!
My guess is that Jana, not being as massive as the USA pro's, is in a good state already to convert to Physique. She would need to lose a lot more mass, be less cut, and possibly lose some of her V shape, and lots off her thighs.
However, Physique is still evolving, and the judging is as erratic as the rest of the sport! For example, Olga Belyakova won the FBB title at the Worlds, beating the previous multi time winner Jana into 2nd place. Olga was less cut and smaller than Jana, another crowd shocker.
Despite this success, 3 weeks later, a downsized Olga entered a Physique contest, and didn't place! So if World FBB champ Olga, smaller than Jana, bombs out in Physique (why did she do it?. Stay in FBB if you are on a roll!), who knows what Jana will have to do!
Fact is, the Physique girls of today, are much more ripped and defined, and bigger, than the girls who won the first contest.
For me, the great thing about Physique is that FBB's have come out of retirement to enter this category so we see many old faces again, plus FBB's who would have retired, now have a category they can try, thus we see them around for longer. The greatest success is for Figure and Fitness who want to try a flexing contest, without taking the massive leap to full blown FBB. So Physique really does fill a gap very well. But if you enter for high placings, probably a better bet for those going up from Fitness and Figure, rather than down from FBB!