Rachel Crocker, Fitness Editor

Aside from a couple of hiccups – three days off from the gym to recover from the flu, a weekend trip to Niagara Falls (packed my own cooler, and still made it to the gym twice, though!) – my preparations for my first competition in April have been progressing at a comfortable speed. I’m getting used to my contest heels (that’s them to the right in all of their plastic glory), practicing the perfect stage smile (less “female version of The Joker” and more “I’m so happy to be here, and not scared at all!”) and I have secured one of the outfits I’ll be wearing (thanks for lending me your prize-winning suit, Jessica!).

But there are still moments where I wonder if I am absolutely crazy for even trying this. Judging from the reactions that I’m getting from family and friends, that assessment might not be so far off. I’ve gotten used to filling pregnant pauses after explaining my goal with such gems as, “’Cause you know how much I love other people judging me!” and “Asparagus-scented pee is a really great conversation starter!” Cue the stares of judgment.

It’s those glimmers of doubt that send me right back to the conversations that I’ve had with Cathy Savage, and when I pour over her words of counsel I feel just a little more confident. Here’s some more of the backbone-boosting insight that this generous pro shared with me recently:

1) A steal of a suit: Great news, penny pinchers: you don’t have to spend a fortune on a winning design.  “You can find a fabulous suit for half the price or less,” says Cathy, suggesting that you contact designers to see if they have extra or older suits that they could part with at a discount price. I’ve personally been browsing the boards on divaexchange.com, a classifieds site for competitors who want to rent or offload new and used suits. And when it comes to style: “Nowadays, anything goes,” Cathy says, but cautions that the most important thing to look at is the cut of the bottoms: having a v-cut in the front and back will help elongate your torso, which will make you look better on stage.

2) Use your tools: Worried about how to walk in heels or pose on stage? In this technological age, you have the resources right at your fingertips! “Do your homework if you are on a budget, and you can really develop your own style,” notes Cathy. Try searching YouTube for posing tutorials or videos from your show’s previous years [Oxygen has tips on the perfect competition walk from Lindsay Messina!], or find another local show, buy a ticket and watch how to “walk the walk” firsthand. (Or course, Cathy’s camps are a great place to learn too! Check out her site at

cathysavage.com for more info.)

3) Absorb it all: The number one thing Cathy stresses is that during your first show, your goal should be to learn from your experience. Open yourself up to the day, ask questions and absorb everything like a sponge. After all, this may the first of many walks across the stage for you!