I was recently standing backstage at a local competition watching the awards take place and I felt disappointed in the lack of sportsmanship some of the athletes showed on stage when they obviously didnít get the placing they wanted. To me the terrible looks on their faces and horrible body language said to me that their ego just took a good blow.

Everyone goes into a competition with the hopes and for some expectation of doing well. When you invest so much of your time, energy and money into being successful with your goals and you put so much into being your absolute best on this one day it can be very disheartening to feel that you got overlooked or ripped off on a placing you feel you deserved.

Unfortunately showing your true feelings of disappointment on a placing on stage can be a real disaster for your career. Your body language says it all and in some cases itís better to keep those feelings of disappointment to yourself. If you are upset then put on a big smile and go cry in the bathroom after the show. Training for a show can be insane at times and you are totally justified in being emotional after youíve worked that hard for something. If you look pissed off on stage and then you run away after the show, maybe stuff your face because your upset about your placing then chances are people wonít want to work with you and you may not snag a good opportunity to meet some great people or possibly set up a photo shoot when you are in your best shape.

The reality is that a lot of the perks and opportunities that come out of being in an event comes after the show is over.

No body can better understand the hard work, sacrifice, energy, money drive and determination that goes into competing then I can. I have 12 years of competing behind me, competing in over 30 shows. I have been an athlete that has done very well in shows and also done terrible in shows. I have been totally let down and disappointed and then surprisingly shocked and amazed. I have run big shows, helped many athletes prepare for shows as well as judged shows. I have seen every angle of the industry you can imagine. I want to share with you what I feel will save you some heartache.

So much of the magazine/ print work, endorsement contracts and future job offers are based on your overall performance, stage presence and ATTITUDE, benefits DO NOT JUST GO TO THE WINNERS.

 For anyone new to the industry that is reading this, think of the event as one big photo-shoot and every moment you are on stage you are being watched, critiqued, and photographed. It is all about leaving a good impression and getting that Kodak Moment!

I have seen many amazing athletes get over looked at shows. If I can I like to go back stage to give credit where it is due.  Often there is absolutely nothing more you could have done to prepare yourself for that day, you look amazing and still you donít get what you were hoping for. When you are happy with your own conditioning and presentation that is what matters because it will show on stage even if you place last. The audience can see what you have brought to the stage even if the judging SUCKS!

I once went in a show and for the first time ever I really felt like I was ready, my physique was the best it had ever been and I nailed my fitness routine just the way I planned it. In that show I got the worst placing of my entire career. I was told I was to lean and too muscular. When I didnít get called out in the top 10 I actually laughed a little bit on stage, not in a bitchy way but because I was so happy with myself for the work I had done that I didnít take the placing personally. I knew I put on a good performance, I brought a good physique to the stage and there was nothing more I could have done to be any better in my own eyes anyway. So I held my composure and went out into the expo after the show with a big smile on my face. I think I got more credit for placing so badly and not getting upset.  I got an offer to go guest pose in Mexico because the promoter of another show liked my look and personality. It didnít matter what place I got in the show it just mattered that I was there. Maybe a year later I saw my picture from that same competition on a poster for another future event. That was a bigger reward to me then a trophy.  

As a modeling scout for STATUS MAGAZINE I look for girls and guys that move well on stage, have a great attitude, look and energy.  When our STATUS staff team looks through photos from the events for coverage of the show and future model features we look for the best shots not who won the show.

The reward is not all in the placing but what may come from being in the right place at the right time with the right attitude!!!