Are you a fitness enthusiast who is 100% committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle? Do you love taking photos and videos of your workouts? If the answer to the above questions is yes, then you have what it takes to become an Instagram fitness model or a brand ambassador on Instagram.
Besides earning money to settle your bills, you will be doing something that you love when you become a professional fitness model. And according to recent surveys, the industry for Instagram fitness models and fitness brand ambassadors is growing rapidly.
However, becoming a successful Instagram fitness influencer or a renowned ambassador for fitness companies may appear hard at first – especially if you have no one to guide you or you don’t know where to start. But it’s achievable.
In this guide, we will provide you with actionable tips on how to become a fitness brand ambassador on Instagram and how to make money in fitness modeling. And by the time you finish reading this article, you will have all the information you need on how to get into fitness modeling.
1. Adopt the Right Mindset
Like everything else in life, you will need to adopt the right mindset if you are to establish a successful career as a fitness model on Instagram. Your mindset will form the basis of everything else. So, why do you need to adopt the right mindset?
First, you will encounter lots of competition along the way. While the fitness modeling Instagram industry is projected to keep growing, the number of aspiring figure fitness models and Instagram fitness influencers is also increasing by the day. So, the bar is quite high. So, if you have a weak mindset, there’s a high chance you will give up if you start feeling as if you can’t compete with everyone else.
Second, some people will discourage you along the way, telling you that fitness modeling is only a reserve of people with certain types of bodies. They may be your friends, family, or work colleagues. And if you have a frail mindset, there’s a high chance they will dissuade you from your dream of becoming a professional fitness model or an ambassador for fitness companies. On the other hand, if you have already adopted a strong mindset, no one will discourage you from pursuing your dream job.
Third, becoming a successful Instagram brand ambassador may take approximately one to three years. And if you have a weak mindset, you will likely let go after the first few months, meaning you won’t accomplish your dream of becoming a brand ambassador on Instagram.
Simply put, your mindset will lay the groundwork for everything else that you need to do to succeed as an Instagram fitness influencer. Adopting a positive mindset will help you to keep working out, adopt a healthy diet, and market your fitness modeling business.
2. Get Your Body Where it Needs to Be
Fitness modeling revolves around being in tip-top physical shape. Therefore, you will need to maintain a fit physical appearance all through. And to do this, you will need to hit the gym consistently and follow a healthy diet – at all times. Let’s take a closer look at each of these two aspects.
2.1 Working Out
You must be ready to sweat a lot if you aspire to become a fitness model on Instagram or a fitness brand ambassador. The type of workout that you choose will depend on your target audience. For instance, if you want to build muscle, then weightlifting exercises will be the best choice. On the other hand, cardio exercises like running, cycling, or rope jumping will be ideal if you want to maintain a slim physique.
2.2 Healthy Diet
While working out only may provide you with some decent results, it may not be enough to get your body where it needs to be. Therefore, you will need to combine your workout sessions with a proper diet. Again, the choice of food will depend on the type of workouts that you will be doing. If you are aiming to cut weight, then you should reduce the calories you are consuming gradually. But don’t starve yourself! On the other hand, if you are looking to build lean muscle, then you should aim to increase your daily calorie consumption. Many fitness models are also turning to alternative protein companies to supplement their diet with plant-based or lab-grown protein.
3. Learn How to Sell Your Features
Your journey to become a fitness ambassador doesn’t end with attaining your desired physique. You will also need to go a step further and sell your features. It doesn’t matter how sculptured your body is or how fit you are.
You will only make it in this industry if you are willing to put yourself out there, establish your fitness brand and attract the public. After all, your target audience and potential brands will only notice you if you have an online presence.
3.1 Create a Unique Online Presence
If you want to become a renowned fitness Instagram influencer, you must create a unique online presence. And to do this, you will need to identify your target audience and your goals. You will also need to create a unique selling proposition.
Instagram has thousands of fitness accounts and pages. Therefore, you will need to come up with a unique selling proposition. Setting up an ordinary or a general fitness Instagram brand like everyone else may prove a disappointment.
For example, instead of creating content for every fitness enthusiast out there, you can instead focus on people recovering from a certain injury. While it may take longer to establish a sizeable following, you will have a unique fitness brand, which a specific subset of Instagram users can relate with. And with hard work and consistency, you will eventually establish yourself as an expert in that niche.
3.2 Build a Strong Portfolio on Instagram
After identifying your fitness niche, you should then proceed to create a great portfolio. Creating an attractive portfolio is one of the most important steps in becoming a muscle and fitness Instagram model. Fortunately, building a robust portfolio is not as hard as it appears.
You simply need to get into the habit of posting gym photos and videos, showing your before and after transformations. Apart from workouts, you can also post your diet routines, among others.
If you opt to post workouts, make sure you choose different backgrounds like a hilltop, in the gym, in your backyard or even during different times such as sunset or sunrise.
Making your photos attractive and diverse will help to increase the level of engagement, thus boosting your following. Also, ensure you update your socials regularly and interact with your audience at every opportunity.
3.3 Approach Modeling Agencies
At this point, you already have an Instagram account with a sizeable following and a strong portfolio. You now need to get out there and approach modeling agencies that offer fitness ambassador jobs.
Most fitness modeling agencies have close connections with fitness magazines, advertisers, photographers and other similar agencies. So, positioning yourself in front of these agencies will help to boost your brand’s popularity and give you a competitive edge.
Ensure you research the various agencies in your niche and check their requirements. You can then reach out to an agency that aligns best with the type of fitness modeling that you want to do.
If possible, make sure you choose agencies that operate within your specific sub-niche. Working with an agency that understands your sub-niche will be 100 times better compared to those that handle all types of niches.
3.4 Participate in Modeling Competitions and Auditions
Apart from approaching agencies, you should also consider participating in modeling competitions and auditions. Such events will help you attract some of the leading companies, magazines, advertisers, photographers and modeling agencies.
Also, scouts will always be present in such events, looking for potential figure fitness models. So, ensure you frequently lookout for such events. While you may not win, they will give you some much-needed exposure.
3.5 Network With Industry Professionals
Whether you are looking to become a yoga brand ambassador, a muscle and fitness Instagram model or a fitness clothing brand ambassador, it’s important to network with other professionals in the industry.
Networking with industry professionals like make-up artists, photographers, and fashion stylists can also help to give your career a boost.
For instance, make-up artists have the experience of working with various fitness models. They know how to contour and highlight various parts of the body and accentuate them.
At the same time, fitness photographers may advise you on which poses can work best with your physique. And as for fitness stylists, they will dress you accordingly, thus helping to project your image to your target audience.
4. Closing Remarks
Becoming a fitness brand ambassador or an Instagram fitness influencer will not be an easy one. But, you shouldn’t give up. Some lucky individuals may find work immediately after starting, while others will have to wait for months before they land their first client. The most important thing is to be consistent, persistent and patient. And with the right approach and a proper mindset, becoming a fitness model on Instagram is definitely within your reach.