According to Brink, appearing at trade shows can be worth as much as $1,000 per day, but that's not how Ashley Lawrence began her career. Instead, she started out in a Hawaiian Tropic swimsuit contest, in which she won the local event and qualified for the big show in Las Vegas. Lawrence became one of 10 Met-Rx spokesmodels, earning a one-year contract and $1,000 in prize money. She subsequently launched her own website FemBomb.com.

The 60-year-old Ford modeling agency has launched a new venture -- video production. Costs are pretty low, with some vids only costing the company around $100. The company has cut revenue-sharing deals with a few online partners, and the models get around 30% of Ford's net income.

"It's really great," says Ford fitness model Kim Strother in Business Week. "I am not a still-life picture." She sometimes appears in workout videos with her Yorkshire terrier, Moose.

Who are the superstars?
Unless you're a complete musclehead, Frank Sepe isn't a household name. Even so, he is perhaps the most photographed bodybuilder of all time and in the last decade he has focused more on modeling than competitive bodybuilding. The 6'2", 230-pound specimen has been featured on more than 30 magazine covers worldwide.

Sepe adds to his take by writing columns in magazines such as MuscleMag and American Health & Fitness. He has published several books in this field, building a series based on The Truth, the first in the series. The revenue stream keeps flowing as Sepe has an endorsement deal with Met-Rx nutrition products.

Brenda Kelly is another example of a fitness model with a lot of ventures going on. Her resume includes being a cover model, an actress and a product spokesmodel for Muscle-Link supplements. In addition, she's a published writer for Natural Muscle Magazine and BodyBuilding.com. She competed in the National Physique Committee competition and in Fitness America, where she was chosen to be part of the first International Pro circuit in 2000.

Trish Stratus may be better-known for her wrestling than her modeling, as the former Canadian fitness model won the WWE Women's Championship seven times. Also, she's one of only four women to have held the WWE Hardcore belt. In her modeling days, she appeared on the cover of magazines such as MuscleMag, Flare and Total Women's Fitness. Stratus, and fellow model Stacey Lynn, released the "Dream Team" calendar, which quickly became one of Canada's top sellers.

Flex for the camera
For a lucky few, fitness modeling can be a viable career. It's worth noting that the superstars in the industry have fairly full plates in addition to posing for pictures. However, the average Joe or Jane in the field will be fortunate to have a string of decent paying gigs.

Question: Which former fitness model was selected to host a televised comedy show?

Answer: Trish Stratus was chosen as host of The Second City's Next Comedy Legend on CBC.

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