First Bikini Competition Timeline

Your first competition feels easier when you know what needs to happen and when. Use this timeline to plan your division, custom suit, measurements, posing, tan, glam, registration, and final show-day checks without waiting until the last minute.

16+ Weeks Out: Choose Your Division and Show

  • Choose your division: bikini, wellness, figure, fit model, or another category.
  • Pick a target show date and confirm the federation, class options, registration deadline, and location.
  • Start researching coaches if you want support.
  • Start exploring suit colors, cuts, crystal coverage, and budget.

First-time competitor tip: Choose your division before ordering. Bikini, wellness, figure, and fit model suits are designed and styled differently.

12 Weeks Out: Start Your Suit Plan

  • Register for your show if you are committed.
  • Start posing practice.
  • Choose whether you need a custom suit or a quick-ship suit.
  • Review the Measuring Guide before ordering.
  • Book your tan, hair, makeup, hotel, and travel if needed.

When should you order? For a custom suit, earlier is safer. Ordering around 12 weeks out gives you time for design decisions, production, delivery, a complete try-on, and any questions before show week. If your show is closer, contact Saleyla before ordering to confirm the available timeline.

8 Weeks Out: Order and Finalize the Design

  • Order your competition suit if you have not already.
  • Finalize the suit color, connectors, cut, and crystal direction.
  • Practice posing in your heels.
  • Confirm your tan, hair, makeup, and show-day schedule.
  • Start your show-day packing list.

Use Virtual Try-On when you want to preview suit colors and design direction on your own photo. Use the Bikini Color Recommender when you need help narrowing down flattering stage-color ideas.

How to Measure for Your Competition Suit

  • Follow the Saleyla Measuring Guide and use a soft measuring tape.
  • Measure over light, close-fitting clothing or undergarments—not bulky clothing.
  • Keep the tape level and comfortably snug, without pulling it tight.
  • Ask someone to help when possible and double-check every measurement before submitting it.

If your measurements change significantly during prep, contact Saleyla instead of guessing which numbers to use.

4 Weeks Out: Complete Your Full Try-On

  • Try on your suit as soon as it arrives.
  • Check the fit, connectors, coverage, and comfort.
  • Practice walking, quarter turns, and transitions in your complete stage look.
  • Confirm your jewelry, heels, tan, and glam appointments.
  • Ask your coach or posing coach for final presentation feedback.

Do not save your first full try-on for show week. You want enough time to notice anything that needs attention.

Show Week: Finalize Before Check-In

  • Pack your suit, heels, jewelry, robe, food, water, documents, and backup items.
  • Confirm check-in time, tanning time, hair and makeup appointments, and the show schedule.
  • Keep your suit protected, clean, and away from tanning products.
  • Avoid testing unfamiliar products immediately before the show.
  • Rest, follow your coach's plan, and keep the schedule simple.

Choose the Right Suit Path

If your show date is already set, work backward from show day: choose your division, review the measuring guide, confirm the order timeline, and start your suit design.