How to Make It As a Fitness Model!

So You Wanna Be a Fitness Model?

People that follow my stuff know I generally write about nutrition, supplements, training, and other topics that are more science based  than subjective topics, such as what is covered in this article. I decided to shuck my science geek persona, and write on a topic I  know will be helpful to thousands of would be and want to be  fitness models.

As well a known "hard core" science based no BS writer, why I am writing what some will perceive as a "fluff" article? Over the years I have gotten hundreds, perhaps thousands, of gals that ask me via  email, letters, or in person "how do I become a fitness model Will?  You have been in the business a long time, surly you of all people  should know." I get this from newbies and I get this from women that have been at it a while but have been unable to "break in"  effectively.

The fact is, I have been in the fitness, health, and bodybuilding biz a long time, and though I am known as a science and nutrition based  "guru" type, I have trained many a fitness athlete, and judged  fitness and figure/bikini shows for the NPC, Fitness America, Fitness  USA, and other federations as well as given marketing and business  advice to all sorts of athletes, including fitness models. So, it's not as far fetched as it might seem that I am going to use this space to  cover a non scientific topic, which is, how one goes about being a  fitness model.

This article will be useful to both experienced and novice types looking to "break in" to the biz. If you are already a professional and successful fitness model, I am sure you may still glean some useful  information from this article.

First the bad news, there is no one way to become a successful fitness model. There is no single path or magic secret. There are however some key things a person can do to greatly improve their  chances of "making it" in the fitness biz as a model, and perhaps  using that success as a launching pad to greater things, such as  movies, TV, etc.

Several of the top fitness models (Trish Stratus and Vicki Pratt come to mind but there are many others) have gone onto careers in  entertainment of all kinds. Bottom line, though there is no magic secret to being successful as a fitness model, this article will be  about as close to a blueprint for success as you will find.

"Do I need to compete?"

This is a question I get asked all the time and it's not an easy one to answer. In fact, the answer is (drum roll) yes and no. The person has to deicide why they are competing in the first place to answer that  question. For example, do you need to compete if your goal is to be a successful fitness model?

The answer is no. Many of today's well-known fitness models have never competed, or they competed in a few small shows and it was  clearly not part of their success as fitness models. However, competing does have its potential uses.

One of them is exposure. At the upper level shows, there will often be editors, publishers, photographers, supplement company  owners, and other business people. So, competing can improve your exposure. Also, competing can make sense if you are trying to build a business that is related to your competing or will benefit from you  winning a show.

For example, say you have a private training gym you are trying to build. Sure, having the title of say Ms Fitness America, or winning the NPC Nationals and being an IFBB pro, will help your reputation  and the notoriety of your business. There are many scenarios were it would help to have won a show for a business or other endeavors.

On the other hand, it must be realized that winning a show does not in any way guarantee success in the business end (and it really is a  business) of being a fitness model. The phone wont ring off the hook with big offers for contracts. Also, it's very important to realize that it's common that the 4th or 6th or 8th place finisher in a fitness  or figure show will get more press than the winner. Why? Though the winner might have what it took to win that show, it's often other  gals the editor, publishers, supplement companies etc, feel is more  marketable.

I have seen it many times where the winner was shocked to find she didn't get nearly the attention she expected and other girls who  placed lower have gotten attention in the form of photos shoots,  magazine coverage, etc. Something to keep in mind when you ask  yourself the important question "do I need to compete and if so,  why am I competing?" Answer that question, and you will know the answer to the heading of this section. Winning a title of some sort can be a stepping stone, but it is not in itself any guarantee of  success in the fitness industry. It's like a college degree; it's what you do with it.

Now. If you compete for the fun of it, then by all means go for it, but the above is focusing on competing as it relates to the business  aspect of being a fitness model.

Right body, wrong federation?

Ok, so after reading the above you have decided you are going to compete, or will compete again. If you don't plan to compete, you can skip this section. The biggest mistake I see here is so many gals have the right body for the wrong federation. Each federation has its own judging criteria and a competitor will do poorly simply  because they didn't bother to research which show would be best  suited for them.

I will give you a perfect real world example of this. Recently I judged a show whose criteria for the figure round was the women  should be more on the curvy softer side with some tone, vs. being  more muscular and athletic with less bodyfat that other federations  might allow. At this show one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen came out. She was very proportional, great muscle tone, lean, and athletically shaped with narrow hips and waist and wider  shoulders. How did she do at this show? She didn't even place in the top ten!

Why? Because she was not what we were instructed to look for and didn't fit the criteria. After the show I informed her that she looked great, but this may not the federation for her. I told her she had much more of an NPC type body, where a little more muscle,  athletic build, and less bodyfat is rewarded.

The following week I was judging an NPC fitness, figure, and bodybuilding show and there she was. How did she do? She won the entire show with all judges voting her number one unanimously.

Conversely, if your body type tends to be more rounded and toned, but with a little more bodyfat, wider (but not fat!) hips, you may be  better off competing in say the Fitness America Pageants. If you are going to compete:

(1) find out exactly what the judging criteria is for that federation and

(2) go see those shows as a spectator for several different federations and see which one your physique, style, etc will fit into  best.

(3) You have to decide if you truly have the athletic abilities to compete in a fitness competition (which requires a routine) or a  figure/bikini competition.

I often see women who would do well in a figure show but really don't have the athletic abilities do the routines required to be  competitive with other athletes in the show. Some shows will allow you to do both competitions and some wont.

Networking 101: dos and don'ts...

In so many respects, this is the area that will make or break you in any business, and yet, people in the fitness industry do an  amazingly poor job at it. If you don't network and market yourself properly, you can pretty much forget about having any real success  as a fitness model, or a success in virtually any business. For the sake of space, we will stick to fitness.

When I first started out, I was a self marketing machine. I could be found at every show I thought might be an opportunity, walking the  isles of trade shows, bodybuilding, shows, fitness show, and others. I gave out a zillion cards and I took a million home with me, and followed up on each and every one. I went to as many industry related meetings, outings, parties, etc. as I could get into. I now have the reputation and experience in the industry discover more  that I don't have  to go to such a show unless I feel like it, or have meetings, but they  were quite helpful in the beginning.

I am always amazed at the number of fitness models who contact me who have never even been to the Arnold Classic Fitness  Weekend, or the Mr. Olympia, or the trade shows like the NNFA Expo  West and others. If you want to make it in the fitness business you sure as hell had better treat it like a business.

I have seen many a pretty girl who wants to be a fitness model who thinks if they stand there looking pretty long enough, someone is  going to offer to put their face on the cover of a magazine. News flash, there are millions of beautiful women out there and to be  noticed, you have to hussle to get that business like everyone else  by networking your butt off, or having a good agent (if you can  afford such a thing) who is doing it for you.

Pick a few major industry shows to attend (some of which were mentioned above) and go to them every year. Have a plan of attack of exactly how you plan to market yourself and network. Many fitness models, bodybuilders, etc see a show as one big party. If that's you, then have fun at the party, but don't think you are really  marketing yourself as a serous business person or athlete.

Another thing that always amazes me is the number of fitness models who either have no business cards, or have some cards they  printed up on their bubble jet printer at home! They ask me to help them or what ever and I say "give me your card" and they look at  me like "I am so pretty I should not need a card you fool." This attitude turns off editors, photographers, writers, and industry  people faster then if they found out you were really a transvestite. Don't do it. For every pretty girl out there who thinks the world owes them a favor, there are 100 who are ready to act like professionals.

Ever wonder why some fitness model you know is doing better than you are even though you know you are prettier than her? That may be why...never ever go to a show to network without good cards,  bios, and professionally done head and body shots you can give to  said editors, publishers, photographers, industry types, etc. Don't  stand around looking pretty assuming they will find you, find them  first and introduce yourself. And of course it should go without saying you should be in good condition and have something of a tan  to look your best.

You want to go to the shows and party? Fine, but do it in private after the work is done and don't make a fool out of yourself at some  industry sponsored get together. Hell, I was virtually poured into a cab at last years Arnold Classic after going to a sushi place with  some well know industry types and companies owners (you know  who you are!) but at least no one saw me! We had our own little private get together after the show to let loose.