How to Become a Male Fitness Model

You’ve read the fitness magazines, you’ve seen the guys that look like fitness models at the gym, and you think you have what it takes to make it in a career as a male fitness model. With a lot of dedication to diet and exercise, marketing yourself, and persistence to land your first shoot, you may just be right!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Building Your Brand and Marketing Yourself

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    Find a photographer who specializes in male fitness models. It is best to select a photographer who has already had their work appear online or in fitness publications to take your first photos. They will be able to guide you in your shoot and help make the body you worked so hard for shine![1]
    • Avoid amateur photographers, a professional fitness photographer will know how to communicate with you and get you involved in the shoot.[2]
    • Spend some time looking at fitness photography poses and expressions and practicing them in a mirror so that you are ready for your first photo shoot.[3]
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    Get professional headshots and full body shots. Once you’ve found a good photographer and are comfortable with some fitness poses and facial expressions, it’s time for your first shoot! You will need headshots to showcase your face and full body shots to show off all those muscles.[4]
    • It is also a good idea to get some shots that focus on individual muscle groups.[5]
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    Create a portfolio of your photos and personal details. Include all of your professional fitness snapshots as well as details like your age, weight, height, and body measurements. You will keep adding to this portfolio throughout your career as you complete shoots and continue to perfect your body.[6]
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    Develop your social media presence. Begin by creating profiles for your personal brand on all the major social networks including Instagram, Facebook, and even LinkedIn. Each network has its own strengths and features that you can use to your advantage.
    • Many models get scouted by agencies and brands through social media.[7]
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    Create a world-class Instagram page with eye-catching photography. These days, a lot of careers have taken off through Instagram, so if you are going to pick just one social network to focus on, make it that one. It is purely photography-based and thus perfect for sharing your look and lifestyle with the world.
    • Begin by looking at popular accounts of models or fitness professionals to get any idea of what kinds of photos they are uploading and what hashtags they use.
    • Upload only professional-looking photos of yourself and your fitness lifestyle and be sure to include relevant and popular hashtags to appear in searches and attract followers.
    • Having a large Instagram following can lead to other opportunities such as sponsorships by brands or invitations to exclusive events.
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    Take your portfolio to modeling agencies or hire an agent. Research reputable modeling agencies and agents. A good agent can get you into some of the more profitable shoots.
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    Don’t be afraid of getting rejected. Keep submitting your photos, networking, and working to improve your body and fitness. Even if you get rejected 9 times out of 10, all you need is that one shoot to break into the male fitness modeling world.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Following a Healthy Diet

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    Eat a balanced diet of healthy fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. The first step to achieving the physique of a male fitness model is supplying your body with lots of nutrition. Find a diet plan online to match your fitness goals or consult with a dietician or personal trainer to develop a plan that works for you.[10]
    • Without consistently eating a healthy and balanced diet, all the work you do in the gym will mean nothing, start with diet and build from there.
    • Avoid sugary and processed foods containing preservatives, the more natural the better.
    • Olive oil is a great source of healthy fat. Consuming just 2 US tbsp (30 mL) a day can help protect against heart disease and promote fitness.[11]
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    Consume 1 oz (28 g) of protein for every 1 lb (0.45 kg) of body weight a day. Concentrate on eating lots of lean protein from foods like lean cuts of beef, chicken, fish, egg whites, and legumes. Supplement your protein intake with whey protein shakes.[12]
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    Drink 1 L (0.26 US gal) of water for every 50 lb (23 kg) of body weight a day. Avoid drinking your calories and stick to drinking lots of water. Cutting out high-calorie beverages is the easiest way to shed a layer of unwanted fat.[13]
    • Cut out all sugary drinks such as soda and processed fruit juices that contain empty calories.
    • If you want to make your plain water more tasty you can easily slice up some lemons, limes, cucumbers, or other fruits to give it some flavor without the calories.
    • Avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol as they can cause bloating. [14]
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    Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are essential for healthy skin and hair, and contain lots of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. Consult your diet plan to determine the most nutritious fruits and vegetables for your goals.[15]
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    Get in the habit of eating healthy snacks. Skip the sugary or saturated-fat-drenched snacks like cookies and potato chips. Instead go for snacks like nuts, berries, low-fat greek yogurt, eggs, or veggies.[16]
    • Make sure to still snack in moderation so you don’t go overboard with your calorie intake.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Sticking to an Exercise Regime

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    Train for strength with big compound exercises. Instead of doing exercises that focus on sculpting just one muscle, go for those that hit multiple muscle groups and force them to work together. Working as many different muscles at once will burn calories faster and sculpt your whole body.[17]
    • Effective compound workouts include squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, bench presses, and dips.
    • In general a higher number of reps at a lower weight will help you slim down and get sculpted, while a lower number of reps at a higher weight will help you bulk up and gain muscle mass.[18]
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    Focus on form and don’t cheat in the gym. Doing exercises with proper form is far more important than how much weight you can lift. Focus on the muscles that the workout is supposed to train and lift a weight that you are comfortable with, slowly increasing with time as you get stronger.[19]
    • If you are lifting too heavy, your body will try to employ other muscles to help and you won’t achieve the desired results and could end up with an injury.
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    Avoid excessive cardio and focus on lifting weights. Research has shown that weight training is much more effective for burning calories and adding muscle. When doing cardio, stick to short, high-intensity sessions.[20]
    • Running or doing other steady-state cardio exercises for hours on end can end up being counterproductive because the body will start to burn muscle as well as fat.
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    Get a personal trainer or training partner. Having a training partner or personal trainer with you in the gym will help you focus on the correct exercises and on doing them well so that you can get the cover-model physique you’re going for.[21]
    • Many personal trainers may have experience with fitness modeling as well, so can be a great asset to have on your journey.
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    Be persistent and don’t give up. Changing your body drastically takes a lot of time and effort. You need to maintain and constantly work on your physique which means getting up and heading to the gym even when you don’t feel like it, maybe even 7 days a week.[22]
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What are agencies looking for in a model?
    Melynda Choothesa
    Melynda Choothesa
    Professional Stylist & Fashion Designer
    Melynda Choothesa is a Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Art Director with over 10 years of fashion consulting experience. She has worked on creative direction for fashion shows, costume design, and personal wardrobe styling, both in Los Angeles, California and internationally for clients such as Akon, Kathy Ireland, and Aisha Tyler. She has an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design from Santa Monica College.
    Melynda Choothesa
    Melynda Choothesa
    Professional Stylist & Fashion Designer
    Expert Answer
    Besides appearances, agents want to work with someone who is professional, able to take direction, and easy-going.
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References

  1. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  2. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/photography/tips/how-to-specialise-in-fitness-photography/
  3. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  4. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  5. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  6. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  7. ↑ https://www.fashionbeans.com/article/how-to-become-a-male-model/
  8. ↑ Melynda Choothesa. Professional Stylist & Fashion Designer. Expert Interview. 17 April 2019.
  9. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  1. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  2. ↑ https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/tips/why-non-fat-isnt-the-answer/
  3. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  4. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11342141/Ten-body-shaping-secrets-from-male-cover-models.html
  5. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  6. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  7. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11342141/Ten-body-shaping-secrets-from-male-cover-models.html
  8. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11342141/Ten-body-shaping-secrets-from-male-cover-models.html
  9. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/model-diet-exercise-secre_n_4273097.html
  10. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11342141/Ten-body-shaping-secrets-from-male-cover-models.html
  11. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/11342141/Ten-body-shaping-secrets-from-male-cover-models.html
  12. ↑ https://careertrend.com/become-male-fitness-model-8119.html
  13. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/model-diet-exercise-secre_n_4273097.html

About This Article

Melynda Choothesa
Co-authored by:
Melynda Choothesa
Professional Stylist & Fashion Designer
This article was co-authored by Melynda Choothesa. Melynda Choothesa is a Costume Designer, Wardrobe Stylist, and Art Director with over 10 years of fashion consulting experience. She has worked on creative direction for fashion shows, costume design, and personal wardrobe styling, both in Los Angeles, California and internationally for clients such as Akon, Kathy Ireland, and Aisha Tyler. She has an Associate of Arts in Fashion Design from Santa Monica College. This article has been viewed 21,801 times.
10 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: September 15, 2021
Views: 21,801
Categories: Modeling Careers
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