Diary of a Model

Lily spends her days as a model, rushing from shoot to show and on to yet another casting. On Amayzine, she tells you everything about what her life is really like. Under a different name, that is true, but that means she can share all the juicy details. This week: Lily's shape.

There are a few words that can give almost any model a heart attack: measuring tape, bikini polaroids, measurements, and shape. When an agent combines these words in an email, it looks something like this: ‘Hey love, how are you? Could you come in to the agency for bikini polaroids and measurements? Just want to check your shape. XX.’

Aaah, palpitations, sweating, panic, and instant regret from a weekend filled with wine and pizza.

If you're thinking: what are measurements and what is your shape? Let me explain. Your measurements are the circumferences of your bust, waist, and hips. These are measured to check if you are still in your model shape. Ideally, your hips should be under 90 centimeters in circumference, but preferably 89 or actually 88 centimeters, or if possible 87. With a waist of 63 centimeters, you just get by, but ideally, you should aim for 60 or well, 59, maybe 58 centimeters if you really ‘try your best’. When you walk into the agency, you often see the measuring tape already laid out. Tuck in your stomach, squeeze your butt, and hope that you fall within the right measurements. I've been in the industry long enough that I know every half centimeter of my body and exactly what I can and cannot do to stay (or get back) in shape. Every body is of course different, but I will take you through my workout routine. Walk walk walk walk.

Since I've played a lot of hockey, I build explosive muscles in my thighs faster (read: hockey legs). That's why I never do things like squats, burpees, or lunges. Instead, I take long endless walks, often while enjoying an almond milk cappuccino. I do have a bike, but I actually rarely use it. I've made it a habit to walk everywhere.

Stretch!.

To create long, thin muscles, I try to stretch every evening. Besides feeling like I'm literally making my muscles thinner and longer (no idea if that's ever been proven), it promotes blood circulation. Waste products and fat cells can be more easily removed, I've been told once. I've also heard that it increases your metabolism. I used to barely be able to touch the ground with straight legs, but now I can easily do a split if I want to.

It's great for blowing off mental steam, but also a super good workout for your arms and abs. Additionally, it's of course a hardcore cardio exercise that gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat like an otter in a sauna. Because I don't want to build too much muscle, I do this a maximum of once a week.

Boxing

Yoga and Pilates.

The perfect counterbalances to boxing. Mental calmness, lots of stretching, and fantastic for your core. I've discovered and learned to train muscles I didn't even know I had. Trust me: from yoga or pilates, you can really have days of muscle soreness.

In the gym, I do my own workout routine. I get inspired by exercises from videos on Instagram from Dogpound, Pvolve, and Justin Gelband. Worth checking out! The exercises mainly focus on balance, and the idea is to perform the movements as slowly as possible for the ultimate burn.

Elastics

I believe that exercising and eating healthy is very good for everyone to do, but I find it terrible to see what some people do and don't do to fit into a size 34/36. Therefore, I think it's very important to say that you should primarily exercise for your enjoyment. Group classes, walking, or going to the gym: these are all activities you can do with friends, and before you know it, the hour has flown by. Of course, I have to fit into certain clothes for my work and therefore meet certain sizes, but I naturally have a slim build and can do this in a healthy way. So, that was the serious Lily coming out because there is always so much fuss about this topic. As I said: you exercise for your enjoyment, but also to look good naked.

diary of a model two models looking at the camera backstage.

XX Kisses from Lily