The Journey of Competing at the National Level and How to Gain Recognition and Promote yourself as a Competitor
By Traci Redding

As we all know half of the battle is just getting recognized!  You can train hard and look fabulous, but when you get on stage next to 50 other amazing woman it is an entirely different ballgame.  I can remember my first national show like it was yesterday.  It was the Team Universe in 2003 and I had just won the Texas State in Figure Tall division 3 weeks earlier.  I thought I looked good enough to go to the nationals, so I went.  Looking back maybe I did, but the reality was that when I got on that stage with over 50 other woman most of which had been on that stage before, I was just "another girl in a suit and heels".  I must admit to go from 1st place to last call out was very difficult and hard to deal with. 

So after picking myself up off the ground and brushing myself off I decided I needed to approach things differently.  So after doing some research on the girls placing in the top 10, I discovered that most if not all of them had websites and were all over the internet and magazines.  So by the following Spring I had a website up and running with a bio and some pictures.  This was a great way for me to get exposure and market myself.  I would link my page with fellow competitors and they would link my website to theirs.  Over several months I started getting e-mails from photographer’s and other fitness websites, this really helped me gain exposure and strengthen my portfolio.

The following year is what I would call my first year at the National level.  I competed in the Jr. Nationals 2004 and at that time was just starting to understand what I needed to do to get name recognition.  I started contacting photographers so that I could gather a portfolio that would help me gain some exposure.  I was featured in write up about Jr. Nationals on Bodybuilding.com.  This started to open up doors and contacts for me.  After Jr. Nationals, I did not place in the top 15 so it was time for me to approach the judges and find out what I could do differently.  After talking with the judges I was able to meet them and get to know them and understand what it was they were looking for.  Going up and introducing yourself can make a world of difference.

So now that I had met the judges, had a website, developed a strong portfolio, and let us not forget made some drastic changes in my physique I was ready for the following year in which I competed at Jr. Nationals 2005, USA's and Team Universe.  Finally I was noticed and I placed 6th at USA's and 8th at Team Universe.  Even after placing 6th and 8th I went back up to the judges to see what I needed to improve on and really listened to what they had to say. 

With all of that said it is important to do your research and find out what the girls at the higher level are doing and see what you can do for yourself to progress.  Getting sponsorships, getting write-ups, improving your portfolio are all things that will help promote you as a competitor.  Having a website is so very important and I am so lucky to have JC from Hardfitness managing my site!

Last, I want to remind you to always remember that you are being watched and that it is very important to maintain your image, the image that you want to portray.  Please don't forget that people look up to you and respect you and you are constantly setting an example. 

Most importantly, I am hoping that we can be recognized as beautiful woman with impressive physiques which represent hard work and dedication, not as a sex symbol.  I would recommend really sitting down and thinking about what kind of image you want to present, because once you are out there that is what you will be remembered for.  Good luck to you and even in times when it gets challenging and you want to give up, remember why you do this and stay passionate and dedicated and you will reach your goal!

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