Niki Taylor: Back and Better Than Ever

A New Chapter

FITNESS: Tell us about your new TV show, Make Me a Supermodel.

Niki: There's a lot of travel between the studio in New York and my home in Tennessee. But I'm loving being a host -- I get to be positive and encouraging to the kids (both girls and guys), who are aspiring models, without having to choose who stays and who goes. It's like being Mama Bear.

FITNESS: After a lifetime in front of the camera, are there any confidence secrets you share with the contestants?

Niki: It comes down to knowing your own body. I used to practice posing in front of a mirror. Modeling is like acting without words -- you have to learn how to move in a way that says something. When I'm nervous, I think about my husband, and that gives me confidence. Being secure in how you look comes from never taking yourself too seriously. It's as much about an attitude as it is your size and shape. Have a good time, and your confidence will come through.

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, May 2008.