How the Stars Get Red-Carpet Ready

For an A-list celebrity, awards season isn't just the chance to get wined and dined and wear pretty dresses. It's a weeks-long gauntlet of intense personal improvement, all intended to culminate in one picture-perfect moment when they step out onto the red carpet at the Academy Awards. And aesthetic perfection doesn't come easy—or cheap. Contrary to what they’d have you believe, stars don't just roll out of bed looking perfect; the process of getting as smooth, fit, shiny, and svelte as they can possibly can starts weeks in advance. Want to rock the red carpet like they do? The Oscars are only a month away—better get started now.

By DivineCaroline

Get it Tight(er)

Most celeb trainers start clients on a pre-awards show regimen about six weeks before the event—even if the celeb is super-skinny to begin with. According to trainer Valerie Waters, “Those first three or four weeks: full body workouts. We want to burn tons of calories, we want to get that metabolism going, and we want to feel strong and fit.” Stars do tons of cardio—way more than the usual “hiking” or “yoga” that they claim keeps them slim. As the big day approaches, once a female client knows what dress she’ll be wearing, a trainer may add in special weight-training exercises to target and highlight certain areas. If the client is wearing a strapless dress, she’ll do extra rows or presses to define her shoulders; if her dress is backless, she’ll do extra toning exercises to firm up that area.