Meet the boys

15 June 2011

Name:

BB        

 

Campaigns

BB has been modelling for about seven months. He has worked with a variety of prestigious clients, including Marks and Spencer, GQ, James Tudor and B-Rude alongside Naomi Campbell Alek Wek and Omahyra Mota.

 

Background

BB was born in Zaire, Africa and spent his early years in Switzerland and Paris (French is his first language) before moving to England, where he grew up in and around Chelsea, London.

He was a dancer first and foremost and his first agent was none other than Mr Louis Spence of Pineapple Dance Studios. BB has worked with pop stars including Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Girls Aloud, Alexandra Burke, Justin Timberlake, the Black Eyed Peas, Nicole Scherzinger and was a principal dancer on X Factor. There is a great deal of speculation as to some of his past relationships involving the UK pop world's leading names, but his lips are sealed!

 

'Whilst rehearsing for the Will Young 04 tour, I was given the name BB by the dancers and Will. I was running around the studio in my underwear because they said my thigh muscles were like a horse's and I was making horse noises so they were like ‘ooo, you're Black Beauty.''

 

What are the perks of modelling?

‘It's the jobs, it's the locations, it's how you get treated, you fly around the world, and you do so many things. I don't want to be just another guy. I want to have great campaigns and I want to do well, especially in the black market which is very limited. I want to push boundaries.'

 

Do you get to keep the clothes?

‘I did a job for Mariah Carey and we were styled by Versace, it was for Monaco Fashion Rocks. We got to keep all of our clothes. But it's so rare, that doesn't normally happen at all. I've blagged underwear, Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein underwear but I'm never one of those people who is like ‘I'm in this and I'm in that, I want this free.'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘The fact that models don't work hard. Models work extremely hard. It's cut throat. It's so easy to be insecure of yourself and to not feel confident because on a day to day basis we walk around and go to these places and are judged on our looks and one hundred of them will say no and maybe ten of them will say yes. ‘

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘My favourite shoot was with Perou and it was in Iceland. I don't know what it was. There was just something in that moment, it just all clicked. I was out of my body looking down at the moment with the waves and the black sand, Deborah, Andy with the camera and Perou.'

 

Proudest achievement

‘Being signed to Storm and all the work I have achieved as a dancer, that has not been easy.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

 ‘I'm deeply insecure and have been thinking about having re constructive surgery.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...somewhere in the entertainment industry. I can't do a normal job. I'd want to do something that has some kind of impact. I want to be out there in that world. Entertaining.'

 

Name

Lord Rob Walters

 

Campaigns

Rob has been modelling for ten years and is a favourite with magazines like Men's Health and Men's Fitness. Rob has eight front covers under his belt including ECT magazine, Men's Fitness and Healthy for men. He has also starred in underwear campaigns for next and Kent and Curwin and currently writes and presents his own fitness show on TV.

 

Background

Rob grew up in North West London. The Lordship title has been passed down through generations and dates back to Henry VIII. ‘Growing up kids treated me differently because we had a private plane and posh cars. That was my normality and I got bullied for it.' As a result of this Rob kept the title a secret until he was 25 because he wanted to be treated as an equal at drama school.

‘I'm from a background of land and property. My parents are very socially minded so they weren't happy when I said I wanted to go into modelling.'

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

‘Financial freedom. Some people get up at 7am and work until 5pm. I can stay in bed for a week if I want. My travel is free. One day I could be doing an underwear shoot with eight girls. It's unpredictable, exciting and fun.'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘That models don't eat. Charlotte was stuffing her face the entire time. And it's not always glamorous, that's a myth.'

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘Heroes and villains with Perou as I would love to play a super hero in a film and I also love the outfits.'

 

Proudest achievement

‘Firstly, being included in an industry where ninety-nine percent of people don't make it and secondly, doing my first front cover for Men's Fitness. I used to dream of that as an awkward, skinny kid.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

‘I've been writing and performing comedy for six years. I write music and sing comedy songs (Dan and Rob TV on YouTube). I play Badminton and table tennis.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...a property developer and owner of a chain of health clubs. Or a comedian.

 

 

Name

Jesse

 

Campaigns

Jesse is the youngest model in the show and has been modelling for less than two years. He's shot editorials for GQ Style, Wonderland, Monocle, Tatler ‘Bright Young Things' and worked with clients including French Connection, Lacoste, and Jack Wills. He has also walked in shows all over Europe including: Elliott J Frieze, E.Tautz and Moschino. Modelling has led to Jesse being asked to work as a presenter and he was the lead Jack Wills presenter for 2010.  

 

Background

Jesse grew up in Cambridge and went to school and sixth form before becoming a model. He also tried his hand at acting when he was younger which resulted in cameo appearances in programmes such as Life Begins, Silent Witness and was also in an episode of Eastenders.

Jesse had intended to study economics at Birmingham University, but was scouted on The Kings Road in his gap year and his modelling career took off. The attention from girls made the decision not to go to university easier!

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

‘You get given some free clothes sometimes. I got sent three Barbour jackets from a PR once and was also sent boxes of Jack Wills stuff when I did their campaign.'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘People think that modelling is piss-easy, but it's a lot harder than it looks. It's actually quite strenuous and all the travelling can be quite physically draining.'

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘We do a shoot on this series in Iceland which was really fun. The environment was "ridonkulous"'

 

Proudest achievement

‘My friend called me up when he saw my face on the side of a bus once which was cool. But I think walking for Moschino in Milan was pretty sick.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

 ‘I'm in an indie soul band called Lux with two other guys, including Fin Kemp who is Sadie Frost and Gary Kemp's son. I also love a Cadbury's Cream Eggs - in and around my mouth!'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘...either singing in my band, playing the biggest crowd possible and changing the world with my music. Or I might just be at Uni studying Economics.'

 

 

Name

Jay

 

Campaigns

Jay has featured in many of the coolest magazines around including 125, Client, Vice, Carbon Copy, Disorder, Wonderland and Rollercoaster. He was shot campaigns for Schuh and Kirk Geiger for GQ and was recently shot for PUMA.

 

Background

Jay grew up in West Sussex before moving to London where he has modelled since July 2010. He still likes to head home to his Mum to escape the fast lane of London life for a few days a week - jay is a self proclaimed ‘party monster' and festival head. His locals are Bungalow 8, The Groucho Club and Whisky Mist where he is the first one in and the last one standing. Before being discovered as a model, Jay worked in a shop and while he loves modelling his dream job is to do something in entertainment - acting, film or song-writing.

 

What are the perks of modelling - do you get to keep the clothes?

‘Definitely the money and the clothes, I get sent free things all the time. But I think it's my job to sell stuff - I see myself as a modern day Del-boy - so I think it works both ways.'

 

What is the biggest myth you'd like to explode about modelling?

‘That everyone is super skinny and a diva - well I am a diva. That is a little bit of one, well only sometimes.'

 

Favourite shoot and why

‘The diving shoot we did with Perou. I love anything to do with the sea, water or swimming. If every shoot could be underwater I'd do it. Water can display every aspect of human emotion - crashing waves is anger. I just feel so comfortable by water.'

 

Proudest achievement

‘Getting signed as a model has to be the best moment and just getting to this point in my life too.'

 

One surprising fact about you which might not be considered model behaviour?

‘I'm the biggest Mummy's boy there is.'

 

If I wasn't modelling I'd probably be...

‘I'd be married to someone rich. My ideal partner would be Cheryl Cole or Megan Fox. Actually a vampire - someone tall, with a strong jaw-line and good cheekbones.'