Bikini and Fitness Model Champion Nicole Costa
When an aspiring fitness model enters into the fitness industry, the most common goals are to do well in fitness competitions, get published in fitness magazines, sign with a quality sports nutrition company, and perhaps break into mainstream media advocating the importance of a healthy lifestyle. In order to achieve these goals, you need to be a very special, talented, and driven person. That is exactly who Status Fitness Magazine’s cover model is – Nicole Costa.
Nicole is the Miss Bikini Universe champion of 2004 and an NPC national-level physique competitor. She has graced numerous fitness magazine covers including Oxygen, and now Status Fitness Magazine.
“Nicole is one of the nicest people I have met in the fitness industry. She is always smiling and friendly regardless if she’s competing or not. When we had a chance to work together on this cover I knew it would be one of the easiest shoots I would do. You know how some models make every photographer look good? Nicole is definitely one of those models. The moment I opened up her photo set to select photos for submission to Status Fitness I realized something I had never before experienced. She didn’t need any editing. In fact, when Editor-in-Chief Rodney Jang contacted me with his final selection for cover, I opened the photo in PhotoShop, looked it over, and closed it. There was nothing I could do to make it look better. That hasn’t happened before or since. Awesome working with you Nicole. Thanks for making my life so easy.”
Status Fitness had the opportunity to catch up with the stunning and equally charming Nicole Costa.
Nicole, you are seen as one of the most beautiful fitness and bikini models in the industry today. To what do you attribute your success? Wow! Thanks, Rodney! I attribute the majority of my success to my determination. My motto as a fitness model and in life in general is: If you want something, don’t wish for it, work for it! I promised myself a long time ago that I wasn’t going to just talk about the things I wanted to do in life, but better yet adhere to my goals and try my absolute hardest to make them happen! I feel so blessed!
When did you start competing in fitness events? What do you enjoy most about competing?
I won my very first fitness modeling competition in April of 2005. I’ve been hooked ever since. What I think I love most about competing is all the people I have had the opportunity to meet from around the world and the common bond we all share as fellow competitors. Even if we don’t speak the same language, we understand each other simply through the recognition of what we’ve all been through to get on that stage! We have a lot of respect for each other and I love that!
I understand you just competed in the WBFF World Championship Fitness show. What was it like and how did you do it?
Haaahhahahaha!!!! Clearly, someone lied to me and told me I was Victoria’s Secret model on the runway that day. The kicker is that my mom was the first one to tell me and I didn’t believe her….until you made fun of me!!!! LOVE IT!!!
What drives you to continue to step on the competition stage?
Besides the fact that it’s a great way to stay motivated and in shape, I simply just have so much love and respect for the sport. Competing fulfills that part of me that loves a good challenge. When I’m sitting around my friends drinking iced water 3 weeks before a competition while they’re eating nachos and sipping on margaritas, the thought pops into my head “Why the heck am I doing this to myself?” That question always answers itself the second I step on that stage! There is no better feeling than knowing you’ve worked so hard and have made it to the finish line. It’s a testament to your dedication not only as a competitor but as a person. I guess you’ll never fully understand unless you’ve actually been through it! I learn something new about myself every time I train for a show!
When you are not on stage you work as a school teacher. What is that like? How do your colleagues and students react to you when you are preparing for a show? I imagine they become a little disappointed when a substitute teacher fills in for you!
I try to keep my personal life as private as possible when at school. Sometimes it’s hard to do, especially when a student goes to the grocery store and sees me on the cover of a magazine…LOL, but they do think it’s REALLY cool. I’ve actually had parents come in and ask me to autograph their magazines. The message that I hope I send out as a fitness model/competitor is that anyone can do this. You don’t have to be a supermodel to be healthy and in shape. I have a regular job just like most people. It’s all about choices, establishing a routine, preparing for the day ahead, and being consistent.
You are clearly making an impact in the fitness competitions, evident by all your magazine covers and spokesmodel endorsements. What does it mean for you to sign with and represent a sports nutrition supplement leader like ALLMAX?
I can’t say enough about ALLMAX. I couldn’t handpick a better nutrition company to represent. I think it’s funny when spokes models claim to live by their nutrition company’s products but in reality, do not even use them. They just take the pictures for the money or exposure. I feel so lucky because when you see me in those ads for ALLMAX, the smile is real, people! I truly do use so many of their products and I kid you not when I say they are the best of the best! Not only are the products great but the people behind the brand are some of the greatest people I have had the opportunity to meet!
What products do you take personally that help create and maintain your world-renowned, amazingly fit physique?
What don’t I take is the question…LOL. Most of the products I take can be found at allmaxnutrition.com Trust me when I tell you it’s worth every penny: RAPIDCUTS FEMME, the new AMINCORE (I love LEUTOR but the stick pack is delicious!), Glutamine, ISOFEMME, and ISOFLEX protein powder, CLA90, BCAA, fiber, vitamin C, ground flaxseed, and lecithin are some of the products I take during competition season or even afterward. Oh and Chocolate Chip Cookies. No? Okay fine! ☺
Let’s switch over to training. I’m sure our readers are very interested in your training regime. You have a great balance of lean muscle mass and curvy sex appeal! What does a typical training week look like for you?
Well, training during competition season is a lot more intense, to say the least. I have to give A LOT of credit to my amazing trainer and fellow Allmax brother Andre Rzazewski. He is brilliant! I am currently in the best shape I have ever been in thanks to him! Andre has me doing everything from full-body circuit workouts to yoga, plyometrics, isolation movements, cardio, and everything in between. He even makes me walk backward on a treadmill. Haha! Gotta love it! If you’re looking for a great trainer, do contact him!
You did an exclusive photoshoot for Status with David Ford. What was it like to shoot with David? What advice do you give to up-and-coming fitness models when looking to shoot with photographers?
David Ford! What can I say, the man is brilliant. Remarkable, both as a photographer and as a person to say the least! He made me feel so comfortable. It was like I had known him for years! He is so humble and down to earth…I’m a big fan! Advice that I would give to up-and-coming fitness models is to first decide what magazines you would like to be published in, find out who the major photographers are for those particular mags, and try to contact them. The worst that can happen is that they say no! If that’s the case, keep trying until they say YES! The industry is not going to come to you. You have to put yourself out there and make yourself seen.
Status is producing its Super Fitness Model calendar with TC Chang. You recently shot with TC for the Calendar. What do you think of the Calendar and what does it mean to you to be selected to be featured in it?
The one word I think of when I think of TC Chang and the Status Fitness Model Calendar is “Colossal.” It’s a BIG deal. I sort of comparing it to a beauty pageant contestant being chosen to represent her country in the Miss Universe Pageant. It’s the best of the best condensed into the greatest calendar that the fitness industry has EVER seen. What an honor!
What does it mean for you to grace the cover of Status Fitness Magazine?
No words can really describe this for me. It serves as proof that your dreams and goals in life really can come true if you work hard enough. As corny as that sounds, I never thought in a million years I would be where I am today. It’s times like this where I wish my vocabulary and ability to express my thoughts were greater. Thankful, blessed, and accomplished are words that only begin to express what this means to me. All I can say is THANK YOU!
Please share any last thoughts for your fans and the Status Fitness Magazine readers.
I can’t say it enough. You only have one life. Be productive, be the best YOU can be. Stay focused, positive, and driven for success. I do want to thank my family, husband, friends, and fans for always supporting me. I would be nothing without them!
Who taught you your famous “horse walk” when competing on stage? JK LOL.
Haaahhahahaha!!!! Clearly, someone lied to me and told me I was Victoria’s Secret model on the runway that day. The kicker is that my mom was the first one to tell me and I didn’t believe her….until you made fun of me!!!! LOVE IT!!!
