FMI Testimonial

FMI Testimonial
Emily Zaler
“2010 Fitness Talent of The Year”

To say that Fitness Model International has changed my life would be an understatement. I have never been part of a more supportive group of individuals that have truly become a family to me. Coming from an athletic background where I have been part of two different division one soccer programs, that is truly saying something. I had thought that during my soccer days my teammates and coaches were my “family”. The relationships I have developed not only with other FMI alumni but with the co-founders of the organization has truly been life changing.

Twelve months ago I heard about the Fitness Model International conference that was taking place in LA. At the time, I was living in Scottsdale Arizona. I debated back and forth whether to go or not. I questioned whether it was going to be worth the cost? Between the price of the conference, the airfare, the hotel, the photo shoot outfits, the food, the spray tan, transportation, and makeup etc, it seemed questionable whether there would be a return on investment. Deep down I had an intuition that I needed to be there, so I decided to take a risk and go. It would be the way I would decide whether I wanted to pursue a career in the fitness industry, or simply find out if it wasn’t for me. Looking back, it turns out that attending the 2009 Fitness Model International was one of the best decisions of my life.

I had no idea going in to the conference what I was about to get out of it. I was nervous and extremely shy. I was very intimidated by all of the beautiful models I was surrounded with and even more intimidated when I first met Clark Bartram, Gary Warren, Elisabetta Rogiani, Jeremy Williamson, and all of the photographers etc. I was an athlete with no modeling experience, but with a huge heart. I had been in front of the camera one time before attending FMI, and was intimidated to say the least when I found out I was among models who had already landed jobs with Under Armor, Nike, had full magazine layouts, covers, etc. This is what they did. I was just a young 21 year old kid still in school who thought it would be fun to go to LA for the weekend and see what this “fitness modeling” was all about.

In the first five minutes of the opening presentation I remember Clark Bartram asking, “ Who here would like to be in a magazine?” I remember shooting my hand in the air thinking, “Yes! I would LOVE it! Doubt it will happen, but that would be so cool!” Those initial thoughts only lasted for about 30 minutes. As Clark got deeper in to his presentation I realized that there is MORE than just being in a magazine! In order to be successful in the fitness industry, you have to become a brand, not just a model. Being a fitness entrepreneur is how to become successful in the fitness industry. I listened to every word Clark spoke and knew deep down that I had what it takes to be successful. I knew that I had the drive and determination to go after this with everything I had. I wanted to become a fitness entrepreneur. I wanted to not only model, but also to write, become a fitness personality, and develop my own brand.

As Clark spoke about aspiring fitness models he had mentored in the past, he explained that 90% of people don’t actually follow through with what they say they are going to do. I remember sitting in my chair committing to myself “ I will be someone who follows through, stays consistent, and treats myself like a business.” I was determined to prove to him that I had what it takes. As he spoke about Obi Obidike and how successful he had become by doing these things, I made another commitment “ I want to be the female version of Obi. I want Clark to be using my name as an example in a years time”.

The rest of the conference last year was an amazing experience. It was during those four days that I realized what type of people Gary, Clark, Jmiah, and Ray Austin really were. They truly do want to help people achieve their goals, and are not some fitness modeling scam trying to steal your money. The price of the conference does not even do justice to what you get out of attending. I try to explain to people that attending the conference is priceless- but it is until you actually attend that you can see how FMI Events are CHANGING LIVES.

At the conference I continued to develop close relationships with other attendees, and came home to AZ with all sorts of excitement about the fitness industry. However, it was not until post conference that I realized how much of an impact FMI, Gary Warren, and Clark Bartram would have on my life over the next twelve months.

Clark and Gary have been my rock over the past twelve months. They are hands down the two most giving and selfless people I have ever met in my life. It’s funny, because at first I honestly thought Clark hated me. I was painfully shy and he knew that was not going to get me anywhere in the industry. As time went on and he noticed that I was persistent, hard working, and could be more than just a pretty face, I noticed his attitude towards me start to change. Over the past twelve months I have contacted both Clark and Gary on a weekly basis with any questions I may have on endorsements, writing for magazines, how to land jobs, building my brand, etc. Gary is so giving that he will literally spend hours on the phone with you. He wants to see you succeed and is willing to help in any way that he can.

One experience that sticks out in my mind is time spent with Clark and Gary in Clark’s Garage after FMI San Diego this past April. I wanted to submit for a big time TV show as the fitness expert. Clark wanted to make sure that if I was going to submit, it was something I could be proud of to send in. Being in front of the video camera is the biggest area I have to improve upon, and the patience that both Clark and Gary demonstrated with me is something that I still amazed at. They spent hours with me in a hot garage filming take after take after take. Not to mention I was training Gary during this video. He did rep after rep after rep, because he was willing to help me. No, I was not paying them for their time; they did this because they sincerely love helping others succeed. Clark could have easily charged me a couple hundred dollars for this experience. One on one coaching in front of the video camera with the industry’s best is something that I will never forget and is truly priceless to me. They could have told me I was terrible, and to just give it up after the 100th take. Instead, they encouraged me that I could do it, and said I could do as many takes as I wanted. If it wasn’t for a flight I had to catch back to Arizona, I have a feeling I would have been in that garage all night and they would have been right there with me. It is the feeling of having that kind of support system that really sets Fitness Model International apart.

All of the success I have had in the last twelve months I accredit to applying what I learned while attending Fitness Model International. It was there that I learned the type of drive, determination, and hustle it takes to make things happen for yourself in the industry. It is unbelievable for me that last October I had never been published let alone been in front of a camera. I am honored to say that I now have not only been published both nationally and internationally as a fitness model, I have my own column in multiple published magazines worldwide. I have developed my brand and business The EZ Whey LLC, and have earned multiple endorsements and sponsorships. I have learned how to “make something out of nothing” and apply that in every aspect of my life. I have realized that there is far more than being published in a magazine as a model as I once thought twelve months ago.

Attending Fitness Model International this year (October 2010) was another life changing experience for me. To look back and see everything that has happened over the past year literally brought me to tears. As I sat in my chair during Clark Bartram’s opening presentation and hear my name used as an example literally brought tears to my eyes. I looked back on the goals I had set a year prior and could not believe that I was actually hearing Clark use my name as the example to follow. As the weekend went on I became more and more appreciative to be a part of the Fitness Model International family. There is no group of people who are more supportive of one another, and want each and every person to succeed. It is not a competition, because each and every person has something different they can offer.

Fitness Model International has jump-started the careers of many people in the industry this past year! Cover Models, DVD and TV hosts, World Champion fitness models, etc etc. I could go on forever. The point is that Clark Bartram and Gary Warren want to help out as many people as they possibly can become successful in all aspects of life, not just in front of a camera.

This past weekend at FMI Los Angeles 2010 as I was named 2010 FMI “Fitness Talent of the Year” I was brought to tears. Not only was I brought to tears, but so were Clark, Gary, and as I looked around, most of the rest of the room of about 100 people. You DON’T get that ANYWHERE else than at FITNESS MODEL INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.