As the men’s fashion world is expanding and becoming more and more visible, so is the male model scene. If 10 years ago there were barely any male models renowned worldwide, whereas female models were quite popular around the world, today there are some guys who are true celebrities that represent the male models world.
Many people are polarized when it comes to male models or just to models in general. Some find it that it is extremely hard to break into such a tough industry, while others believe that posing can’t be called work. Anyway you put it; there are a few men out there who really make something out of being models. There are just a handful of people in the world who make a living from actually being models.
We have selected 10 male models we think you should know and some fun trivia about each of them:
Gabriel Aubry
Gabriel Aubry for Boss Black
Born in Canada in 1975, Gabriel Aubry has worked in the industry for about 10 years and counting. Aubry was in fact the first male model to appear on the cover of Uomo Vogue. He was featured in numerous campaigns and has used his fame to release albums and open restaurants.
Gabriel Aubry for Gap
He weighs 180 lbs / 81.5 kg, is 6 ft 2 in / 1,88 m tall, has blond hair and green eyes. He has a 38 inch / 97 cm chest, a 32 inch / 81 cm waist and 37 in / 94 cm hips.
These features have helped him model for Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Valentino. Moreover, in 2009, Gabriel was featured on People Magazine’s list of Most Beautiful People.
A a fun fact about Gabriel is that he is one out of nine brothers and sisters.
Noah Mills
Just like Gabriel Aubry, Noah comes from a large family, having four older siblings.
Ben Hill
Ben Hill is an American model who has worked with various brands from around the world. No surprise, given he is represented by seven agencies worldwide. Hill was the face of the autumn – winter 2011 campaigns for Hugo Boss Black, Jimmy Choo and Coach.
Ben is originally from Sugarhill, Georgia. He has brown hair, blue eyes and is is 6 ft 2 in / 1,88 m tall.
Sean O’Pry
Sean O’Pry in Man of the World magazine
Since then, Sean has appeared in campaigns for almost every major brand, including Versace, Lacoste, Bottega Veneta, Diesel, Gap, JOOP! and many more. He also appeared in numerous fashion shows for brands such as Moschino, Yves Saint Laurent and Salvatore Ferragamo.
O’Pry is 6 ft 1 in / 1,88 m tall, has brown hair and blue eyes (he is a true winter), and has a 30 in / 76,2 cm waist.
Sean is the most successful model in the world, ranking number one on Models.com’s list of the most paid models. According to TheRichest.org, his net worth is $6.5 Million.
David Gandy
David Gandy
Born in 1980, in Essex, England, David James Gandy launched his modeling career after winning a televised contest. Since then, he was featured many times in Dolce and Gabbana campaigns as well as in other campaigns of world-famous brands, such as Hugo Boss, Zara and H&M.
Gandy is 6 ft 3 in / 1.91 m tall, has dark brown hair and blue eyes, a 33 in / 84 cm waist, and an 11 (USA) / 44.5 (EU) shoe size.
Besides his modeling career, he has designed his own underwear and lounge wear collection for Marks and Spencer, he began writing a blog for Vogue, lifestyle articles for Telegraph Men and car reviews for GQ. He is also involved in charity work and has raised awareness for various causes.
Tyson Beckford
Tyson Beckford for Polo
The 6 ft / 1,83 New Yorker has black hair and brown eyes. During the 90s, he has been named one of one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World”. This was a 180 degree turn from his childhood, when he was often teased in school for his looks.
Tyson has worked with a series of charity organizations and continues to do so today too. He has also appeared in films, including the very funny “Zoolander”, a movie that puts a comical spin on the world of male models.
Brad Kroenig
Brad Kroenig for Naturaleza Selvagem
Brad Kroenig was originally an Abercrombie & Fitch model until Karl Lagerfeld discovered him in 2003. Lagerfeld booked him to appear in a Fendi shoot and since then he has walked down a Chanel runway countless times.
Brad Kroenig
Lagerfeld was so fascinated by Brad that he even produced a book about him. The book is called “Metamorphoses of an American”.
Kroenig, who was born in 1970, is currently one of the leading men in the male models industry, having worked with a series of designers and brands, besides Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld, such as DKNY, Roberto Cavalli and Gap.
He has a son who was born in 2008, who appeard along with him at a Chanel fashion show.
Baptiste Giabiconi
Baptiste Giabiconi in Numero Homme
Baptiste Giabiconi for Dior Homme
Baptiste Giabiconi is a French model born in 1989 and is also one of Karl Lagerfelds muses. At one point, he was the world’s best paid model. Giabiconi has worked for brands such as Chanel and Fendi.
He is 6 ft 1 in / 1.85 m tall, has black hair, brown eyes and a 31 in / 78,74 cm waist.
In 2010, Baptiste launched his first single, which was called “Showtime”, which was the starting point of a brief, but successful music career.
Simon Nessman
Simon Nessman in Antiodote Magazine
Simon Nessman is a model originally from British Columbia, Canada. He began modeling in his teens, when he was about 15 and continues to model today. Currently, he is the face of Giorgio Armani (the brand, not the person). His other works include features in campaigns from brands such as Versace, Calvin Klein and Yves Saint Laurent.
Simon Nessman for Printemps
Nessman is 6 ft 2 in / 1.88 m tall, has brown hair and brown eyes and a 31 in / 78,74 cm waist.
Simon has appeared in a Madonna video. In 2012, he was featured in her “Girl Gone Wild” video.
As of September 2011, he is the second best paid male model in the world, according to Models.com.
Mark Vanderloo
Mark Vanderloo
Mark Vanderloo is a Dutch model born in 1968 in Waddinxveen. He has worked with brands like Banana Republic, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan, but is mostly known for his Hugo Boss black and white prints on which he has been working since 2005. As of 2012, he is ranked number four in Models.com’s “Top Icons Men” list.
Mark Vanderloo in Numero Homme China
As a fun trivia, Vanderloo’s name, along with fellow model’s Johnny Zander served for the creation of the name “Zoolander”, used in the movie with the same name.
These ten guys are the top 10 representatives of the male fashion world. As you can see, one of the main differences between female models and male models is that men can actually work longer than their female peers. Most male models get to work until their 30s, even though young men are preferred in the business as well.
It’s rare to see men making a living from posing and walking down the runway, so in a way, we can say that these 10 guys are pioneers of a booming industry.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading: A Fashion Editorial: Male Models
P.S. Who is your favorite model? What do you make of these guys? Share your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!
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