Ever wonder how we choose the women who model our workouts? The process begins with our bookings editor, David Baratta, who works with top modeling agencies to find women who are beautiful and fit (never super skinny!) He calls in dozens of ladies for a casting call, and then his favorites meet with either our deputy editor or me, and they’re put through a Shape fitness test. Prospective models crank out push-ups, squats, lunges, and V-sits—heck, I’ve even had them hold complicated balances. It’s all a warm-up for the work a model does on set, where she might have to hold a position for a minute or more (while smiling, of course!

If you think you have what it takes to be a fitness model, check out the Wilhelmina Hot Body Model Search. One woman will win a five-year contract with the agency and get to do a photo shoot with Shape. Go to wilhelminamodelsearch.com for details. Who knows? Maybe I'll be working with you one day soon.