If you are anybody looking to gain exposure inside the Health and Fitness industry, you should. 

TMC has decided to start doing feature articles on people we find fascinating inside the industry.

One of them is the beautiful Natalie Minh!

In a very cool and unique twist, we’ve decided to let our featured folks offer their personal story.

We believe this gives you a more personal feel rather than a canned write up.   Its refreshing to hear people explain how they’ve gotten to where they are inside the sport.

Here is Natalie’s story in her own words.

Personal Biography

It all started for me in late 2007 when I took an expatriate assignment to work in my company’s European Treasury Center in Brussels as a financial analyst.
Coming here from Detroit by myself, I was advised by my relocation agent to find a hobby in order to ride through the homesickness and culture shock.
I decided I was going to make it a goal to get into the best shape of my life and signed up for the 2008 FAME European Championships.

It was five months out from when I signed up.  Immediately I hired a personal trainer, studied books and websites extensively, and cleaned up my diet. My
goal was to get on stage and not look like a fool.  To my astonishment I won my category for Fitness Model, a modeling contract with the premier fitness
agency in Europe – W Models, and qualified for the World Championships five weeks later. I subsequently placed 3rd as Swimsuit Model and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.

As an international modeling career quickly grew as a result of these placings, I continued to compete in physique shows as it was the personal challenge that lit my fire.

My competition record is as follows:

Natalie Minh

• 2009 MuscleMania European Championships, 1st Place Ms. Bikini, 1st place
Model, 3rd Place Figure
• 2008 FAME World Championships, 3rd Place Swimsuit Model Short Division
• 2008 FAME European Championships, 1st Place Fitness Model, 2nd place Bikini
Model
• 2008 Muscle Mania/Fitness Universe Italy Championships, 1st Place Ms. Bikini

I’ve been a corporate girl all my working life and I’ve always loved the mental challenge of my job. In what many would consider a strange career move, I’ve given up the corp life to fully concentrate on my life passions: fitness and photography.

Thankfully I won’t be giving up finance completely because I’m involved in entrepreneurial projects in the health and fashion industry. A number of companies have asked me to represent their products in the capacity of a spokesmodel. When they realize I have an MBA and a Masters in Finance, they start talking to me in a different way. Instead of just being a face for their campaign, I can strategically be a brain behind it too, advising them on getting their products into the right markets.

Photography Biography

I also work professionally as a photographer. When I started working in the industry as a model in Europe and North America, I learned the craft from my
years in front of the lens. Over time this evolved into a career as a photographer where I trained under renowned fashion, glamour, and commercial photographers in Paris, Milan, and Belgium. Many of my images are being used by well-known modeling agencies throughout Europe and advertising campaigns in Australia.  I’m also an internationally published and contributing photographer to the following magazines: Muscular Development, Marathon Muscle and Ultra-Fit.

I’ve found that my modeling experience gives me an advantage in knowing how to talk to the models and how to get the best from them. I also enjoy the technical challenge of using a camera. Being able to work both sides of the lens has been fantastic.  I get to leverage my network of industry professionals, continue to implement all that I learned as a model, and enjoy the benefits of being an entrepreneur.

My Life Goals

My philosophy is to strive for excellence in fitness, intellect, family, and career. I have a very positive outlook on life and believe that there are
“no problems, only solutions”.  It is my motivation to inspire others by demonstrating an example of what hard work, consistency, and dedication can achieve.

I am now based in Los Angeles, and I’m available to not only commercial clients but models looking to develop their portfolio as well.

If you are an aspiring fitness model, athlete or competitor please contact me to find out how I can leverage my contacts to grow your name and brand quickly inside the Health and Fitness industry.

Please visit my site to find out how I can help advance your modeling career:

Natalie Minh

MIHWCS