It is a follow-up to Butler's 1977 documentary Pumping Iron, which centered on a male bodybuilding competition, and notably introduced Arnold Schwarzenegger to a wide audience.

The film centers on four female bodybuilders competing in the 1983 Caesars World Cup, held at the Caesars Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas: The film begins in the weeks leading up to the competition, observing the women as they train and discuss the contest with their coaches, families, and friends.

The camera captures the reactions of the competitors and their supporters to the results, ending with a scene in the hotel room of Bev Francis.

[2][3] The film avoids devices typical of the documentary genre such as direct-to-camera interviews or narration, instead adopting a more dramatic style.

[7] A scene in which Bev Francis and Rachel McLish perform duelling poses in front of the judges was contrived by the filmmakers to play up the apparent rivalry between the two women.

Francis had been eliminated from the competition before the "pose down" phase, but the filmmakers convinced the judges to allow her to participate for the sake of the film's narrative.