NPC Bikini competitor and experienced model, Melanie Tillbrook is back with a helpful tip regarding water and how she prepares for a big photo shoot.

Melanie’s Tip:
The week before a big shoot, I drink a lot of water. You should always be drinking water but it’s extra important before a photo shoot. Typically, I’m having 4-5 liters of water a day  and this helps flush out the toxins in my skin and keeps me fully hydrated. The last couple days before a shoot I taper off the water. The day before a shoot I will typically drink 1 liter and not much the morning of a shoot. After the shoot is over, I’m back to drinking water as usual. Staying hydrated helps to avoid wrinkles, clogged skin and overeating.

HARDBODY Insight: Melanie’s tip is helpful for models wanting to look their best. One thing as a photographer I will note, please do NOT deplete yourself to the point of looking unhealthy. I’ve had models show up on shoots looking like they are getting ready for a bodybuilding contest and are so dehydrated they cramp up and can’t move. This is NOT a good look and one that isn’t healthy. You have nothing to gain by taking diuretics or going to the extremes. Follow Melanie’s tip and remember to stay hydrated!

Melanie will be competing in a couple of weeks at the NPC USA contest in Las Vegas. Follow her on twitter @msmelaniet as she looks to earn her IFBB pro card in the NPC bikini division. She’s also been doing a number of runway projects. See what it’s like to be a model on the runway!

Ms. Melanie provides a great reminder to the hardbody women who are doing photo shoots. This one is VERY important and one that you should be following, unless you’re a female bodybuilder.

The week before a big shoot, I’ll drink a lot of water the days leading up to a shoot. When I’m  4-7 days out I’m having 4-5 liters of water a day flushing out the toxins in my skin and keeping myself fully hydrated. I won’t have quite that much the day before a shoot but it’s important to stay hydrated with water to avoid wrinkles, clogged skin and it helps you as to not overeat.

I also watch how much caffeine I’m drinking closer to the shoot date, sometimes coffee causes unwanted bloating and water in the tummy area. You don’t want to cover up those pretty abs you’ve worked so hard for.

Thanks for reading!

Melanie Tillbrook
www.MsMelanie.com
twitter.com/MsMelanieT

Melanie is keeping herself busy with runway jobs, modeling assignments and spokesmodel gigs across the globe. Follow her on twitter to see where she’ll be next.

Melanie Tillbrook is a NPC Bikini competitor and rising star in the modeling world. She checks in with a tip for models related to being pressured. Remember, no one forces you to do anything. Communicate open and honestly with the photographer, the client hiring you for the job or your manager about the shoot.

Don’t jeopardize your beliefs. A number of girls early on in their career get pressured by crappy photographers to take off their clothes and pushed because they are new to the industry. I’ve learn to never let anyone pressure you into doing something you are not comfortable with. Nudity is NOT required. It’s better to speak up than to regret photos years from now. Do what you feel comfortable with and what fits with YOUR beliefs. Remember sexy can still be classy.

XO
Melanie Tillbrook
www.MsMelanie.com
twitter.com/MsMelanieT

Welcome NPC competitor and full-time professional model, Melanie Tillbrook to Team Hardbody. Melanie is an accomplished model with exotic good looks and will be sharing insight from the modeling world. Melanie’s resume continues to grow and it’s in large part to how she conducts herself. She’s a professional and that means more than just looking beautiful.

I have a 6A.M. wake up time, hit my morning cardio, emails on the stair master, home for a shake and off to the airport for my next destination. I’ve got my cooler of food that I prepped the night before and I’m off to my next adventure. There’s a unique balance involved in being a full time professional model, businesswoman, and fitness competitor. It takes planning, persistence, & tough skin to keep it up day to day. I am not complaining though this is the path that I chose and I truly love what I do. Everyday is different and a always a new setting to work in with new circumstances.

I’ve spent the better part of the past 6 years, working in my field as a Spokesmodel/Print model. I never thought that I would be doing what I’m doing now. I attended FSU and obtained my degree in Marketing and Economics. After I graduated I found that the jobs appealing to me were not in abundance and somehow I fell into the “modeling” world. I have been very blessed to have the career I have had thus far appearing in 7 music videos, numerous TV shows, magazine covers, and working as a spokesperson. I thank my lucky stars for everyday and feel truly lucky to be living out my dreams.

Out of college I started working as a fitness model for BSN and was with them for 5 years. While working the Olympia Expo and Arnold Classic each year, I was amazed by the physiques that I saw on stage. The figure competitors looked absolutely stunning. These women weren’t frail and weak looking like a lot of the models I work with in NYC and Miami. They were super fit and strong. After working these events I wanted to compete.

When the Bikini Division was started in the NPC I knew that I wanted to take a chance and get in there but with my work travel schedule it has been pretty difficult to diet down & train as hard as I want to all the time. I feel like my body turns soft when I’m on the road too long. Especially when I don’t have good weights to train with so that has become an obstacle. But I gave it a chance and finally did compete and I was so excited to bring home a trophy and qualify for Nationals. I had no idea what I was doing, I was just going for it. I’m looking forward to competing in another competition soon.

I’ll be sharing some tips here on hardbody in the weeks ahead. If you have any questions tweet me or email me through my website. You can meet me at the Arnold Sports Expo this weekend, I’ll be working the Team MuscleTech® booth.

XO
Melanie Tillbrook
www.MsMelanie.com
twitter.com/MsMelanieT

 

Check back as Melanie has some great tips we’ll be sharing soon.

Photo by: Lift Studios