After a four-year tour of duty in the Israeli Army, which included participation in Desert Storm, Sagi resumed his weightlifting and bodybuilding interests, capturing two "Mr. Israel" titles in the process. He also began his college education, which culminated with a degree in physical education and a minor in nutrition from the University of Central Florida.He says in an interview.

In 1996, while living in California, Sagi started modeling after he was discovered at a local gym. He landed in the hands of American photographer Martin Ryter who put him on the cover of Men's Workout magazine and inside several other bodybuilding-fitness publications. He also made guest appearances on Baywatch and The Young and the Restless television series.

Sagi's modeling aspirations got another major boost the same year when Spencer Gifts, one of the largest retail gift store chains in the U.S., signed a four-year contract with him as their spokes model. In fact, Sagi's distinctive images are still marketed by Spencer Gifts in the form of greeting cards, gift bags and key chains.

His last bodybuilding competitions were local shows in 1998 and 1999 in Texas, where he won the middleweight class at the 1998 NPC Southwest USA Bodybuilding Championships and the light-heavyweight title at the '99 NPC Lone Star Bodybuilding Classic. Sagi decided to get back into physique modeling in the spring of 2003. Since that time, modeling offers have come in quickly, including a contract with Impact Nutrition and Lifewave as a representative and spokesperson for the companies. Sagi is now prominently featured in Impact and Lifewave advertisements, in Iron Man Magazine, and for the Red Dragon bodybuilding supplements. In addition he has appeared on four Muscle & Fitness covers in 2003-2004 as well as covers of Hardcore Muscle, Iron Man and Men's Workout.

Sagi Kalev is managed by Jerre Gibbs, President and CEO of Success Entertainment