Caitlyn Bellamy

Caitlyn Bellamy is a fitness model I saw recently in a print advertisement for a fat burner. I don’t think she has ever needed any kind of fat burner. Just look at her. Wow, she is ripped. Women’s fitness is unique in that it can be difficult for women to drop below a certain bodyfat level. Doing so sometimes makes the woman look stringy, not hot. Fitness models (and competitors) have a tough time with this as they have to judge what the audience (or judges) are looking for, and adjust their fitness nutrition accordingly.

Caitlyn is from Canada in British Columbia. She is 5’9″ tall and weighs 127 lbs. Her measurements are a heavenly 36D-24-35. Not too long ago, Caitlyn was a mother and wife who smoked 1/2 pack of cigarettes a day and had little or no muscle. Well look at her now! She says her abs are her favorite bodypart to train.

2010 Arnold Fitness International

Here are the top seven ladies from the 2010 Arnold Fitness International. Some of the routines were nuts. The looks and the athleticism this year seem to be that much better than last year’s. Something about Ohio seems to bring out the best in these girls, and the Arnold is pretty prestigious so you know the best are in the contest.

1) Adela Garcia
2) Julie Palmer
3) Tanji Johnson
4) Trish Warren
5) Oksana Grishina
6) Carmala Rodriguez
7) Tina Durkin

2010 Arnold Figure International

Okay, here are the results of the 2010 Arnold Figure International contest. The top ten ladies are below. I’ll link ladies we’ve posted before and work to fill the “gaps.” Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were present to hand out awards and congratulate the winners.
7/4/10 Edit: Added link to Nicole Wilkins Lee

1) Nicole Wilkins-Lee
2) Erin Stern
3) Heather Mae French
4) Mindi Smith
5) Felicia Romero
6) Larissa Reis
7) Monica Brant
8) Kristi Tauti
9) Andrea Watson
10) Rosa-Maria Romero

Nicole Costa

Nicole Costa was just recently on the cover of Oxygen Magazine. This is sort of a big deal, one of the ultimate achievements for a fitness model. Nicole has always been athletic, and was a cheerleading captain for five years. When she won her first fitness competition in Boston, she became one of the youngest pro fitness models ever. She is been in Oxygen (an other magazines) several times since she started her journey in 2005. Nicole is 5’7″ tall, weighs 117 lbs, and measures 36-25-35.

2010 Womens Figure Competitions

Well Tina wrote in to say we have to give fair and equal coverage to the 2010 Women’s Figure Competitions. Well excuuuuse me! So here it goes, these are the remaining IFBB shows:
New York Pro Figure Jul 9-10 New York, New York
Europa Battle of Champions Jul 23-25 Hartford, Connecticut
Jacksonville Pro Figure Classic Aug 7 Jacksonville, Florida
Europa Super Show Aug 13-14 Dallas, Texas
Houston Pro Figure TBA Houston, Texas
Figure Olympia Sep 24-25 Las Vegas, Nevada
Fort Lauderdale Pro Figure Classic Oct 9 Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Border States Pro Figure Oct 30 San Diego, California
Sacramento Pro Figure Nov (TBA) Sacramento, California
Kentucky Pro Muscle Figure Nov (TBA) Louisville, Kentucky

2010 Womens Fitness Competitions

Okay, here are the remaining 2010 Women’s Fitness Competitions through the IFBB:
Europa Super Show Aug 13-14 Dallas, Texas
Fitness Olympia Sep 24-25 Las Vegas, Nevada
Fort Lauderdale Pro Fitness Oct 9 Fort Lauderdale, Florida

We’ll try to cover these shows to see who is there, who has a strong showing, and who wins. If you have a strong opinion, feel free to comment or you can contact us.

Fitness Olympia Winners

Let’s go over the winners of the prestigious Fitness Olympia contest for the past few years:

1995 Mia Finnegan
1996 Saryn Muldrow
1997 Carol Semple-Marzetta
1998 Monica Brant
1999 Mary Yockey
2000-2003 Susie Curry
2004 Adela Garcia
2005 Jen Hendershott
2006-2007 Adela Garcia
2008 Jen Hendershott
2009 Adela Garcia

Obviously, the last decade has been dominated by Curry, Garcia, and Hendershott. Adela and Jen have traded podiums back and forth for several years. The dedication these ladies have demonstrated to stay at the top of their game in what is a more and more competitive field is significant.

Jen Hendershott Wins

Jen Hendershott (aka Jenny) is known for being quite the winner. She won the Ms. Fitness International in 2005 and 2009, and she also won the Ms Olympia Fitness in 2005 and 2009. Have I mentioned that the Ms Fitness International and the Ms Fitness Olympia are two of the most prestigious fitness competitions in North America (or maybe the entire world)? This blonde haired, blue eyed beauty is also known for being pretty well educated. She has a Bachelors Degree of Science in Education and a Bachelors Plus degree in Elementary Education. She owns her own fitness consulting company, which seems to keep her extraordinarily busy. How she finds time to compete (and win) is a mystery.

How to Become a Fitness Model

We frequently get emails from women all over the country (or sometimes the world) wanting to know if we can offer advice on becoming a fitness model. These ladies come from all walks of life. Maybe they’ve been involved in sports for a long time, are proud of their physique, and want to get into the business either to show off their body or earn a little fame or fortune. Maybe they’ve never been terribly athletic, but have been spending more and more time in the gym, and have “that look.” Age doesn’t seem to matter, but I do think more middle-aged and older women take fitness more seriously than girls in their teens and early 20’s.

Modeling in general can be a tough industry to break into, and fitness modeling is no easier. In fact, one could argue that fitness models have a more difficult time since the standards for their physique are frequently set even higher than a normal model’s. There is definitely no single method that can guarantee success, so let’s go over some tips, pointers, and comments.

1) First of all, you don’t have to compete. Being a fitness or bikini competitor is not a prerequisite for being a fitness model. There are pros and cons to competing. Cons: It is possible that it could distract you from your main goal of modeling. Also competing can be hard on your body. In some cases you have to drop weight, dehydrate yourself, tan excessively, or arrange your diet in a very unusual and/or unhealthy manner (cutting out carbs or more importantly fruits and vegetables as you go for a more ripped, competitive look). It’s also important not to develop too much of a mental dependence on winning a contest. You don’t want to come in 6th place out of 8 people, get down on yourself, and develop a loser’s mentality. Ya’ don’t have to win the contest to achieve your goals, remember?! On the Pro side: It can be good exposure. What better way to get yourself out there and talked about than to climb on a stage and show off your assets? And as we’ll discuss later, it’s a great opportunity to meet people in the industry and network. If you win, you may even get mentioned in a newspaper or website, or be invited to guest pose or speak at an event. Also, competing may give you that extra little kick to develop your fitness level and your physique. Nothing like a good competition to push you to new heights.

2) You define success. What is your goal? How hard are you willing to work? Are you willing to live a certain lifestyle or give up or trade off certain things in your life to be successful? Is your goal money or notoriety? Or a mixture of both? How frequently would you have to work, or how many people would have to know your name, or how much money would you have to make before you feel successful as a fitness model? I’ve found it’s best if you actually write down your goals, whether they are fitness goals or career goals. It’s okay to change your goals as you move through life and find new things that you like. But don’t be too easily influenced, stick to your guns and re-evaluate periodically.

3) Regarding success and goals, have realistic expectations. It’s okay to be ambitions and set lofty goals for yourself. Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t make it a habit to say “I’ll never be competitive and being a movie star is unlikely.” Orville and Wilbur Wright didn’t listen to people who said “Mankind will never be capable of sustained flight.” When I say realistic, I mean don’t expect offers to fall from the sky in droves. Don’t expect to have a perfect body or face 52 wks per year. Don’t expect to be on the cover of a famous fitness magazine 2 weeks after you start your fitness modeling career.

4) Consider it a business. Whether your goals are consistent only with a hobby or part-time effort, or require an all-out herculean miracle, don’t take things personally. Editors, photographers, and others are searching for a certain look. Maybe you have it, maybe you don’t. Maybe this just isn’t your job/time/outlet. The very best salesmen out there, the ones who sell stuff for a living, know they have to embrace rejection. Even if they start out with yes’s, they know they haven’t gone far enough until they hear a no. And as you market yourself and seek modeling opportunities, you are basically a salesman – selling yourself. When it’s your body, your face, in some cases your personality you are trying to sell, it’s hard not to take things personally. But again, no “commodity” is perfect, as a person you have advantages and disadvantages over another model, try to treat it like a business.

5) It’s important to network. Photographers, other models, other fitness models, other athletes, marketing people, agents. Trade shows, fitness competitions, internet websites and forums, after-event parties. Market yourself by networking, handing out business cards, portfolios, tear sheets. Develop your own website. In 50-90% of the cases, the difference between a successful fitness model and a frustrated one is her marketing efforts.

6) Learn everything you can about the fitness industry. If you are really serious about this as a career, you should try to learn constantly. Learn about nutrition, physiology, exercise science, sports psychology. Learn about contest prep, contest rules, contest times and locations. Pick up the more popular and well-respected magazines and go through them page by page. Learn about the fitness babes profiled inside. Scope out the companies advertising in the magazine. Memorize the publishes, editors, photographers. Learn who sponsors local, national, and even international shows on a regular basis. Work to better understand photography, wardrobe, hair and makeup.

7) Find photos of a fitness model you really love. Find out who the fitness model is, and who the photographer is. Contact them – ask them questions about opportunities, methods, tips/tricks. Send them photos or your portfolio/resume.

8_) Look great. I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, but if you are pudgy or not very attractive, being a fitness model may be an unrealistic goal. I do think there is room in the modeling industry for just about everybody, regardless of body type or classical beauty. So do your best. When you go out to the grocery store looking like something the cat dragged in, your are pretty much eliminating the possibility the guy/gal behind you in line (who may be a photographer, web developer, publisher, etc) is going to notice you and make you some kind of offer. Also, looking great takes practice. If the only time you are fit or spruce up a bit is when you have a shoot, you are making a career off an exception rather than a rule. Do do your best to present yourself at your best all or most of the time.

Julie Coram

25 year old Julie Coram (aka Julie Bonnett) is a fitness babe who knows how to kick some booty in competitions. She won 6th place in the 2009 WBFF World Pro Diva Fitness Model competition. She has been competing since 2006. She is 5’4″ tall and weighs 112 lbs. She is from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. Julie went through some kind of steroid flap with FAME, but was apparently exonerated. It’s a shame when professional athletes get dragged through the mud. Note the vascular abs, wow. She has come a long way since she started weight training at 17 years of age.