Show Day Tips

There are so many things I wish I would have known before my first show, so I figured I should spread the love and share some of these things.

1. BRING DIXIE CUPS! After getting your spray tan sitting on a toilet seat is not an option. Even in worse case scenario when you have to go number 2. There is a reason you did all those squats. I would prep your dixie cups for the night before, and the day of the show. All you have to do is cut the bottom out, so it makes a funnel to pee out of so you don't get the nasty pee streaks. Yes the tan will come all the way off with any kind of moisture, so don't forget your cups!

2. Bring lose, and comfortable clothes! After your spray tan you want to be in baggy clothes. No bands on sweats at all. A band will create a line in your tan after sleeping on it all night. I usually wear an oversized t-shirt, and black over sized sweat pants. Also bring comfortable clothes!! At all four shows i've been to no one has been dressed up for the athlete meeting. It's not worth it trust me. You are so tired, and carb deprived you won't have the energy to get all dolled up anyway.

3. Don't change anything drastically for your peak week. This has been my downfall for every single show. I would feel shredded a day out from the show, and then I would cut water and carb load. This made me look soft on stage. Your body will go into survival mode storing more water on the outside of your muscle instead of the inside where you want it. You want to do prep healthy, and not put your body in such a distressed state all for 15 minutes on stage.

4. Over practice posing. Make sure you have your routine etched into your mind. Practice. Practice. Practice. Most of the time you have 10 seconds for your presentation on stage, which feel like 5 minutes when your adrenaline is going on stage. Practice holding your poses for longer then you normally would, since people tend to rush their routine when they are nervous. Remember when you step on stage that it is your time to showcase your hard work. Have fun with it!

5. Get ready to wait for hours! Some shows run fast, but a majority of them run slow. I would suggest bringing your phone charger, so you have some form of entertainment while waiting. I always get to my shows so early, because I'm always nervous I'll miss my class. Just be prepared to wait since bikini is almost always the last class to go on!!

6. Never let the placing get you down. This one has always been tough for me. For my first three shows I was devastated after stepping off stage for finals, because I was not happy about my placing. This all goes back to remember why you started your journey. It was to better yourself not because of a stupid plastic trophy. You trained so hard for this day, so make sure to enjoy it loves.