Not That There’s Anything Wrong With Model Searches

Readers who saw my November 4 entry regarding the NPC’s projected embrace of bikini competition—now a reality—may have gotten the mistaken impression that I’m not a fan of model searches. Not so, and in case I didn’t make myself clear: I’m a fan of any physique contest that offers a real prize. That’s why I’m so excited about a very special model search that’s going on right now.

IRON MAN presents the Bodybuilding.com BodySpace Spokesmodel Search offers the ultimate prize—the chance to appear on the cover of IRON MAN. Yeah, I know. That’s not all the winners get: The top male and female contestants of this online competition, to be chosen from 10 finalists during IRON MAN Pro/Los Angeles Fitness Expo Weekend, January 24 and 25, 2009, at the L.A. Convention Center, will also appear in a national advertising campaign for Bodybuilding.com, present an award at the ’09 IM Pro finals and receive trips to the ’09 Arnold Expo in Columbus, Ohio, and the ’09 Olympia Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they’ll appear as spokesmodels for Bodybuilding.com and the BodySpace community—in addition to an IM cover shoot. All that’s terrific for someone looking to make inroads into the industry—the Bodybuilding.com booth is among the most happening spots at all the big expos—but a cover is forever, baby. And the cover of IM? It doesn’t get any better than that, in the opinion of this totally biased senior editor. Plus, the two winners will appear inside the mag in a feature on the model search competition.

As I mentioned, IRON MAN presents the Bodybuilding.com BodySpace Spokesmodel Search has already begun. Two preliminary rounds have taken place, but there’s more where that came from and still time for one and all to submit photos and video for round 3 per the rules and regulations.

At the end of each preliminary round, the top five men and top five women, as determined by a vote of visitors to Bodybuilding.com, will move on to the semifinals, with the 10 finalists being chosen by a panel of judges representing IRON MAN and Bodybuilding.com. The contestants entered so far in round 3 run the gamut from total newbies to the overall winner of an ’08 NPC national figure competition, and it will be fascinating to see who makes it to the next level.

For complete information, including entry form, rules and regs, early-round winners and galleries of current contestants—or to cast your vote—click here.