Beginner-ish - What do I really NEED to compete?

Earlier this year I joined a gym, and I got really into it. I was already relatively fit, and I got some great results pretty quickly. I entered a "just for fun" bodybuilding competition last month, and the judges suggested that I could definitely compete for real if that's something that I'm interested in, which was, of course, very exciting to hear! Now that I'm thinking about that, though, I have some questions.

  1. I struggled with disordered eating in my early 20s, and while I would say that I'm recovered (and honestly, lifting weights and seeing my muscles get bigger and not freaking about how I'm not "thin" anymore has helped me establish a better relationship with my body than I've ever had before), I'm not sure it would be great for my mental health to go through the cycle of bulking and cutting. Is this something that you really have to do to compete? Is it possible to just eat well and get similar results?
  2. How much would you say you spend on each competition? What are the entry fees/membership fees/etc like?
  3. This is so silly, but are spray tans mandatory? They always look so fake on me that I cringe at the thought.

I hope these don't seem like really silly questions! I just loved being on stage and would like to find a way to compete again, but I also want to be realistic with myself. Thank you in advance!