A Russian female bodybuilder has been slammed on social media after she posted pictures of herself in which she looked 'unrecognisable' after just a year of competing.

Aleksandra Rudenko, 24, released pictures prior to the start of the World Fitness Championship in Budapest showing off her sculpted body, but social media users were more interested in commenting on her mane of grey hair than her bulging muscles.

Instead, critics pointed out that she had aged dramatically in just a year and had 'destroyed her body'.

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Aleksandra Rudenko released pictures prior to the start of a recent competition which showed her with grey, fine hair and looking older than her years, right, in 2015 and previously in 2014, left

Aleksandra Rudenko has astounded many online with her transformation after one year of competing in bodybuilding competitions

Internet users openly criticised her new appearance, questioning whether fame and glory were actually worth 'ruining your body for'.

Pictures show that over the year, Alexksandra gained more muscle and definition but her most obvious change was from having long blonde locks to a shock of grey hair.

People commented that her tresses looked 'tacky' and 'wig-like,' while most were simply astounded by how quickly her appearance seems to have aged.

Internet users openly criticised her new appearance, questioning whether fame and glory were actually worth 'ruining your body for,' pictured before she began training as a bodybuilder

Aleksandra previously had a normal body for a young woman, pictured before she started her career as a bodybuilder taking a selfie

During her training progress, she took pictures of her change and appears to be bulking up but still looks healthy with a toned body

Posing in a green bikini, Aleksandra looks youthful and glowing during her training last year and also has healthy-looking hair

Aleksandra pictured this year before the championship in Budapest, Hungary, attracted criticism for her shape and was told by many on social media she'd took it too far

Rudenko, who is from the Russian city Novosibirsk, gracefully answered the question about her hairstyle.

She explained that the shot was done in the middle of the preparation to go on stage, and her hair is just 'as fine as it was before'.

As to her current shape, Rudenko commented that it had allowed her to win the 8th place at the World Fitness Championship in Budapest this month.

Critics said her hair looked 'tacky' and 'wig-like,' while most were simply astounded by how quickly she seems to have aged, pictured before her huge change from bodybuilding

The championship included more than 500 competitors from all over the world.

She wrote on Facebook on her placing: 'At least I could see myself in comparison with the world's strongest athletes.

'We all are good when looking in the mirror.

'But the real estimation of your form can only be made standing in one line with the best. I could see my mistakes in posing, style and carb-loading.'

Aleksandra during her bodybuilding training but before she began to look much older

Over the year, her body mass has increased dramatically, pictured in 2014 left, defining her muscles as never before, but her hair is growing grey and has made her look a lot older, right

One of Aleksandra's posts on the Russian social network VK hinted at another reason she hadn't been feeling her best this year.

She wrote that she had been preoccupied with 'continuous stress' in the first half of the year and mentioned having problems with her gastrointestinal tract which meant that she couldn't gain enough weight.

And she had some supporters online who were complimentary about Rudenko's physical appearance.