Skip to main content

Body Talk


For you young, aspiring models out there, please don't be so fascinated by the air-brushing and Photoshop techniques that are so obvious. In terms of health and fitness, it's easy to say, "Hey, I want to have a body like Giselle!" But that's easier said than done.

First off, please realize that using supermodels as examples of body types you want to have is pretty unrealistic and setting too high of a standard for yourself.

Start off slowly with getting fit and trying to get a hard, toned body. Know that it won't happen overnight and you have to be disciplined and dedicated to whatever exercise and diet plan you are on.

Sure, we'd all like to have bodies like the ones found on the inside of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition but you also have to keep in mind:

1) More than likely, these women were born naturally thin. Because of their genetics, they inherited their body types and their height. If such genetics don't run in your family, then realize that this makes it very hard for you to attain the same body type.

2) For a majority of these women, they model full-time and get paid well to do their job. This allows them access to the highest profile fitness resources that most of us couldn't afford if we started saving money at the age of 2.

3) They are required to maintain their height and weight at all times, and live a life centered around a healthy lifestyle. Unlike us, they hardly have to worry about going to school, working a boring 9-5 and dealing with common, everyday stresses. This gives them all the time to focus on their bodies and health.

4) These women have expert trainers who aren't cheap and have them committed to daily, if not weekly, workout sessions.

5) With the money they make, these models are able to afford the best chefs or health foods around. And they have access to these types of healthy meals 24/7 and have the money to maintain their unique eating habits for as long as they need to.

Now with keeping all those factors in mind, it should be easy to see why it is unrealistic to use them as examples of how your body should look. If you're not over 5'8", chances are you will never look like them in the first place, no matter how hard you try.

Please don't think I'm discouraging anyone. I just want you young girls to realize the reality of the situation and with that in mind, I will tell you this: be healthy, exercise regularly, eat a balanced and well-portioned diet. Don't compare yourself to someone who has an entirely different body type than you. Do exercises that fit you and suit your lifestyle and stick to it.

By all means, be healthy because that is an important step in having a healthy mind going into the modeling world. But in order to be good at it, you have to believe in your body image and the way that you were made. Don't let anybody else--the media, the latest "it" model, other girls, etc.--dictate how you should look and how you should improve yourself. Do it because you want to and pick a celeb or someone who has a simliar body type as you and work to achieve that level of fitness and results. It can only help you in the long run.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Modeling and Weight

One of the first things I hear potential models ask is what the weight requirement for modeling is. Sometimes that is the main issue they worry about when it comes to pursuing modeling. Let me tell you right now that weight should NOT be one of those concerns. Obviously, the height requirement reigns supreme when measuring up to the modeling standards sought out by agencies. If you meet the height requirements--whether it's for fashion and runway or commercial/print--that is the first step towards starting on the path to modeling. How much you weigh shouldn't be your biggest fear. It is rare that anyone can look at someone and say, "Oh, my gosh, he/she looks like they are 5 pounds over our weight requirement!" It just isn't realistic. If you look at many modeling agency websites, they clearly list the age and height requirements--rarely, if at all do they list any weight restrictions. The general rule of thumb when it comes to weight is that for models who

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It

What Are Male Models Supposed to Look Like?

The modeling world is filled with women. That's never been a secret and sadly, that often means male models fall by the wayside. There are successful male models in all categories across the industry but the fact that the modeling business revolves around women can make it challenging for newbies to figure out how to pursue their goals of male modeling. It is important to know that because there are different types of modeling categories out there, that means there are also different types of male models. They aren't all supposed to look alike and what ends up being in demand does change every year. Let's break down the common attributes that come with male modeling in various popular categories, shall we? THE MALE FASHION/RUNWAY/EDITORIAL MODEL These are the typical types of models most of us tend to think of when it comes to men in modeling. What is important to know and understand if you're an aspiring male model is that agencies have all different looks