Let's talk about Bikini Shows Part two...the cost of competing $$$

Competing in these type of shows can be expensive.

Here's the lowdown on what you will pay.  

1. My favorite part was choosing the bikini itself....the itsy bitty teeny weeny sparkly bikini. I have seen many on etsy for $125 but they can go wayyyy up from there....in the thousands! My advice find one you love but don't break the bank. I love mine...but honestly I wish I had known that lilac would show up as silver on stage. *note to self very bright lights wash everything out on stage*

2. The competition tan is a must! You have to have the super darkest tan you can imagine and please don't go to a walk in tanning place the day before your show....find out who the "official" tanner for the show is and use them. Expect to pay $125-150. 

3. Acrylic super tall 4-5 inch heels....I bought mine on etsy...paid around $40. 

4. Competition makeup....I paid an amazing makeup artist $50 to do my makeup. The makeup can be tricky because it has to match your tan..... you can look super weird...lighter face and darker body or vice versa. To me this was a must! 

5. Hair...well I've done hair both ways. Paid someone $50 to do it for me...which is awesome and very low stress...and this past show I did it myself. I'm decent with hair...and I think it turned out pretty good. I first let it dry naturally...while it was still damp I twisted it and pin curled it all over my head. I took those out a few hours later and the next morning curled it with a curling iron then pinned each piece up until it was show time. 

6. Entry fees...depending on how many classes/categories you plan to enter...expect to pay approximately $80 per class. Plus for the type of shows I do you have to buy a yearly NPC card as well..they are $120 per year. 

7. The first show was only 45 minutes away so I drove back and forth. Second show I stayed in a hotel...$130. 

8. Nails and toes...my advice do them yourself. First time I got gel put on and a pedicure....second show I had a gift card and had acrylics put on and a pedi but now that it's been weeks later and the acrylics have fallen off...my nails are a mess! So I suggest doing your own nails. $50 or more if you don't. 

9. My husband has been in fitness industry for 20 years. He's uber smart and educated so I am super lucky that I don't have to pay a trainer...trainers can range from $50 an hour and up. Same goes for nutrition....I did my own diet...being that I have a horrible ibs sitch. Read more about that....Here. 

10. Posing posing posing! One of the most important parts of shows! Hire a coach! Hire a professional to help you! I can't tell you how important posing is! $20 and up per hour. 

Just know if you want to compete it can be very addictive. 

Let talk about Bikini Shows part one

Now that I have two bikini shows under my belt...I am an expert. 

Ha! Not hardly!! 

But here is what I have learned thus far.

1. Just because I worked out 6 days a week...doesn't mean I am going place. Everyone there worked just as hard and everyone looks amazing! EVERYONE! So mentally it can be difficult to deal with...I trained for the first show for a full year...I went in to that show with very low expectations...just happy to be there. The second show...I truly wanted to place in the Open and I did not. That messed with me for a few days. 

2. You are in a room with a ton of beautiful and super fit women and men...but that being said we all have flaws...no one is perfect... My upper body is genetically very narrow...I also have cellulite...yep I sure do...so I have flaws. I am not perfect. And when I lean out the last few weeks my upper body becomes even smaller. 

3. People may be mean. Fortunately I have only had one person make a rude comment to me...she told me that my arms were so tiny that she could fit her fingers around them. Yep she said that to me at a show where I am being judged on having a proportionate body that is well conditioned. Oh well...moving on...people can be mean...we all know this. 

4. You will see other girls completely naked when you get your competition tan. Be prepared. The end.

5. You do a lot of waiting. The pre judging is typically in the morning say around 8:30/9:00...I was finished by noon with this part of the show.  Then there is a long break and then the night show usually begins around 6:30. But my class didn't go back on stage until 10:30 or so...so bring reading material, make friends with other girls, chill, hang out....relax. 

6. They can be very costly. From the bikini...to the shoes...tan...makeup...hair...nails...entry fees..NPC card...hotel...it all adds up quick. I tried to save some money on my second show...I had a gift card that I hadnt used for nails...and I did my own hair...but it was out of town so I had to get a hotel. 

I don't know if I'll do another show this year...time will tell...actually money is more accurate.