5 Tips To Model A Swimsuit
5 Steps on How to Model a Swimsuit
1. Create the swimsuit of your dreams. Pageant swimsuit shopping is definitely a challenge. I find it nearly impossible to find the perfect swimsuit already made. While you could opt for a custom piece with a designer such as Jamie Shaw, you could save money by altering an existing piece.
You could add an extra lining if needed (good lining is a must under the bright stage lights), create a higher cut on the bottom to showcase your legs, add a few rhinestones, etc.
When shopping for a swimsuit, you should strive for a bold color that suits your personality – such as glamorous red, cobalt blue, royal purple, teal, energetic orange, hot pink, etc. Your color selection will send a distinct message and the judges will perceive you accordingly.
Mastering the Swimsuit Walk
2. Practice your swimsuit walk around your house. While this may sound silly, strutting around in the comfort of your own home will make you feel more at ease in a swimsuit. Sometimes a contestant will only wear her swimsuit when she tried it on while she was shopping and in alterations… then it sits around in a drawer or closet until she puts it on again for the preliminary competition.
If you wear your swimsuit enough before the pageant, it should feel as natural as your own skin.
Model a Swimsuit at the Beach
3. Go to the beach. Do not wear your competition swimsuit anywhere but in your home and in a pageant. Wearing your competition swimsuit at the beach or in the pool will ruin it! However, taking a trip to the beach and prancing around in a bikini like you are Victoria’s Secret model posing for the swimsuit catalog will definitely skyrocket your confidence.
Take a look at the models and see how naturally gorgeous and comfortable they appear in their photographs – strive to feel and look as good as they do.
Go out on the beach and have fun – it is summer after all! Play in the water, roll in the sand, lounge on the rocks, laugh and smile, etc. You will create the mental association of wearing a swimsuit with having a good time and feeling comfortable in your own body.
Bring a few friends along and pose for ferocious pictures as if you were Victoria’s Secret Angels too! Remember to wear sunscreen – you don’t want to create unwanted tan lines or risk acquiring skin cancer.
Model a Swimsuit with Confidence
4. Strut YOUR stuff. Not every pageant contestant has a 5’10 frame and hourglass figure. That means that your modeling routine should be catered according to your body frame and features. If you have long legs, rock a confident power stance with your hands on your hips. If you have beautiful curves and strong hips, cross one foot in front of the other in a catwalk.
Learn what shows off your beauty best by working with a modeling coach instead of doing a standard routine like everyone else. The judges will love to see a contestant who stands out and showcases her individual beauty instead of indulging in pageant cliches. Even if the pageant has a standard routine they want the contestants to do, there is always a moment where you can put your own spin on the walk with a signature pose or expression.
Swimsuit Model Makeup Tips
5. Get glamorous! I believe that the right hair and makeup will make a contestant feel beautiful and more confident. If you have ever watched the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, you will see appropriate beauty trends for the swimsuit competition.
First of all, the models all have voluminous waves with lots of movement that are achieved with Velcro rollers, mousse, extensions for extra body, a curling iron for touch-ups, and light hold hairspray.
The models also love to wear shimmer along with bronze and gold tone makeup. I love to see shimmery metallic eyes with black eyeliner and false lashes. The face should have a touch of bronzer on the forehead, bridge of the nose, cheekbones, chin, and jawline.
I adore LORAC’s TANtalizer Baked Bronzer because of the reflective highlighter powder swirled with a shimmery bronze color for glowing skin. You can add a shimmery blush in a peach color for a pop of color as well.
The lips should be defined by a lipliner that outlines the lips. I recommend using a color that is one shade darker than your natural lip color. You can add a sparkling gloss in a nude, gold, bronze, pink, bright berry, or red color – depending upon your swimsuit choice.
Last but not least, a touch of body shimmer on the collarbone, tops of your shoulders, down the center of your arms, and down the center of your shins really makes the skin glow. You will want to use a shimmer instead of a glitter so the particles are finer and not as obvious.
I also have applied shimmer on hair for a little extra shine. Use a light hand to achieve the effect without going overboard. For contestants with blonde hair or highlights, I highly recommend the heavenly Oribe 24-Karat Gold Pomade. Other hair colors can simply apply a shimmer powder directly on the hair.
These five tips will make you more comfortable and confident in your swimsuit at your next pageant competition! You will feel like a natural supermodel if you customize your swimsuit and modeling, get comfortable with wearing a swimsuit overall, and use the right beauty products.
