THE Albert Hall’s main stage looked more like a scene from Baywatch yesterday as tanned, toned bodies in gleaming bikinis strutted and flexed for the International Natural Bodybuilding Association Tasmanian Championships.

The competition continues to grow, according to co-ordinator Steph Hapel, who said about 1600 people came to view event.

‘‘It’s by far the biggest event ever, for the past three or four years the venue for the show has had to grow,’’ Ms Hapel said.

‘‘The quality was high, it’s really good, especially in the bodybuilding male divisions — a couple of the teens there are fantastic.

‘‘Right across the board, the fitness and bikini models are as high as you find in the Australian finals, the sport is very big down here.’’

She said a team would soon be put together to send to the Australian titles in October.

‘‘They’re all in good condition now, but they’ll be dialling it in during the next couple of weeks,’’ Ms Hapel said.

‘‘You see Tasmanian names in a lot of the placings there, for such a small population – compared to Sydney or Melbourne — we have some real quality.’’

Hadspen mother Ursula McCulloch was beaming after winning the figure and open figure model sections, her first competition since 2010.

Ms Hapel said the event’s main attractions for competitors was its wide range of divisions and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority testing.