MFM has featured numerous fitness models in the past few years and this year, we are delving deeper, enabling our audience to discover the best of the best and to get to know their favorite fitness models even more. As the foremost authority on covering the world of fitness modeling and physique photography, we’ve been privileged to meet WBFF Pro James Alexander Ellis who gained widespread recognition last year at Brian Cannone’s Fitness Atlantic WBFF event last year in Connecticut, USA.

Enjoy reading this exclusive update from one of the best fitness models today.

JAMES ALEXANDER ELLIS, MARCH 19, 2013  

Last time I spoke to MFM, I had been very fortunate in winning WBFF Pro Status at the huge “Fitness Atlantic WBFF” event in Connecticut USA, just 2 weeks after winning at the Miami Pro, UK. It was a whirlwind few weeks! I then basically spent the next 4 months prepping for the WBFF World Championships, which were held on August 24th/25th in Missisigua, (Near Toronto) Canada.

This was to be the most prestigious WBFF Worlds in 5 years, as this event was streamed live on Internet HD Pay Per View to around 10,000 viewers. This was a first for the sport, and a sign of how dynamic and forward thinking the WBFF team are – in creating global exposure for their athletes and making a “show” as opposed to just a “competition”. There were live performers (including Karl Wolf) and the usual entertaining emceeing from Daryl Gazey during the evening. My fans, friends and family watched live from across the ocean thanks to the power of the internet!

Having taken the win as “Male Fitness Model” in Connecticut from a field of 26 non-pro athletes, in theory the competition level was going to be increased twenty-fold at the worlds, as the line up of 25 at the Worlds was all Pro athletes, all of whom had either won a similar WBFF Qualifier in the few months prior to the event, or were already WBFF pros competing for a 2nd or 3rd time. This was a daunting prospect, such a high level of competition, and so many people watching, and me on a winning streak! In theory, most of the athletes at the Worlds were on some kind of (soon to be ended) winning streak. Thus is the nature of the beast when competing at this level.

Another issue was that I spent some time trying to decide whether to enter as Fitness Model or a Muscle Model, but I decided that 4 months wasn’t enough time to fit a hypertrophy AND a cutting phase in, so I just under-trained my legs (as these had reached somewhat mammoth proportions by April 2012!) and worked on my posing and conditioning. I entered the contest as a fitness model. I managed to lose an inch off my quads and I think this helped me stand amongst the Top 10 Fitness Models during call-outs and not look out of place. After a couple of first round call outs, and a successful evening wear round, I was finally placed 7th, and I left with a medal as a Top 10 Worlds finalist. I was happy with this result – truth be told, I wasn’t on best form that day for many reasons. Congrats to my friend and long time idol Shaun Stafford who deservingly took the title that day.

So, as far as competing, my plan is to ONLY compete at the Worlds 2013 next August, which is to be held in Vegas (again a first for the WBFF, who have only done such shows in Canada). The CEO Paul Dillett is always looking for ways to make this growing sport more glamorous, more marketable and more recognised globally. I plan to compete as a Muscle Model this year, with some slight tweaks to my physique, though still at a similar weight, but a lower BF percentage.

I’m also now a sponsored athlete with Inner Armour (www.inner-armour.co.uk and www.innerarmour.com). They are a hugely popular supplement company in the USA, and their brand profile is growing fast now in the UK. I represent them as a Fitness Model, and they also sponsor a few MMA Athletes etc. I was fortunate enough to meet the UK CEO at Bodypower in May this year and I took away some of their products and was really impressed (and believe me I have tried virtually every brand of protein and pre-workout available!), so it’s great to be working with a brand that I believe in! I hope to be at Bodypower 2013 on their stall over the weekend of May 17-19th so come along and say hello if you are going! You can also find Inner Armour on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/innerarmourofficial (UK page) and http://www.facebook.com/InnerArmour (USA page).

As far as photoshoots, I have only shot with a couple of people pre & post Worlds, as it is time to relax a little and have an “off season”. I have done four competitions between Nov 2011 and Aug 2012 and it really wipes you out with the endless dieting and prepping. I shot with Chris Harper in the early summer, then the ever amazing Simon Barnes in July, and again with Chris Harper about 2 weeks after the worlds in September. I have also just done a small shoot for Miami Pro magazine, which is something that Angie Weston (promoter and owner of Miami Pro) releases quarterly, so that’ll be coming out in the new year.

The next event of real interest to me is the 2013 Miami Pro Championships held in St Albans, UK. I have been honoured with the opportunity to be one of 4 judges at this massive Fitness Modelling event, and I look forward to spotting some new talent and handing over my “Muscle Model” title to a new and worthy athlete! That event is on April 6th 2013, and there will around 150 competitors and probably 1000+ spectators! Check www.miamiproevents.co.uk for more info!

There you go, that’s the last 8 months or so in a nutshell….. more news soon! In the meantime, please keep up to date with me on my ever-growing Facebook Fitness Page, my Twitter Page and my own YouTube Channel – which I’m updating with new content on a regular basis: