Interview by Christopher Uvenio
"My first modeling job was for a look book in Munich.
There was this new upcoming designer who wanted to do
the shoots with me..."
"Mariano Vivanco is one of the biggest photographers. I knew it was him shooting for Uomini..."
"Traveling means everything to me. When I'm old, it is my dream to have been everywhere in the world.."
"Mariano Vivanco is one of the biggest photographers. I knew it was him shooting for Uomini..."
"Traveling means everything to me. When I'm old, it is my dream to have been everywhere in the world.."
-Hello
Luis, I'm flattered you accepted to be interviewed
for my website, to start this interview off, please
give me some background information.
Ciao Christopher, its a pleasure for me to answer your questions.
I was born and grew up in Munich/Germany, lovely city where are still my parents and most of my friends, which I have back from school. Having lots of fun there always when I go back. I was living in Munich until I was 20, I did my Abitur, and soon after I got discovered I had my first trip to Paris and then started to travel.
My Mom is working for the city of Munich, my dad is selling houses. My twin brother Victor and me we grew up with our mom, who means everything to us. We talk everyday and have are no secrets, I'm very thankful for the support I get from both of them.
-Let's
look back at how you started modeling, tell me about
how you got discovered. I have an identical twin brother, Victor, who looks
the same to me. We are both tall (185cm), so we went
shopping in the city of Munich, where an agent came
up to us, and asked if we could think about working
as a model. He was supergay, we both never had contact
with gays before, and we just wanted him to leave us
alone. Standing there right on the street, with the
guy who gave us compliments, me and Victor no idea what
he was talking about. Was actually a little scary. But
very funny when I think back.
Our plans were to study, that was right before our last exams. But he kept calling, we didnt really want to study, so one day, I was saying to Victor "Ok, lets have a look, we can at least check it out" So we went to this little agency in Munich, and he was talking about a big future, which sounded great. We signed with the agency, and soon he sent us away. It was very difficult for us, that was the first time we got separated. We split the agencies, when Victor was in Milan I went to Paris, as he was my biggest concurrent of course.
Family and friends were a little surprised I think, they didn't really know what's going on, as everything went so fast..
Ciao Christopher, its a pleasure for me to answer your questions.
I was born and grew up in Munich/Germany, lovely city where are still my parents and most of my friends, which I have back from school. Having lots of fun there always when I go back. I was living in Munich until I was 20, I did my Abitur, and soon after I got discovered I had my first trip to Paris and then started to travel.
My Mom is working for the city of Munich, my dad is selling houses. My twin brother Victor and me we grew up with our mom, who means everything to us. We talk everyday and have are no secrets, I'm very thankful for the support I get from both of them.
-Let's
look back at how you started modeling, tell me about
how you got discovered. I have an identical twin brother, Victor, who looks
the same to me. We are both tall (185cm), so we went
shopping in the city of Munich, where an agent came
up to us, and asked if we could think about working
as a model. He was supergay, we both never had contact
with gays before, and we just wanted him to leave us
alone. Standing there right on the street, with the
guy who gave us compliments, me and Victor no idea what
he was talking about. Was actually a little scary. But
very funny when I think back.Our plans were to study, that was right before our last exams. But he kept calling, we didnt really want to study, so one day, I was saying to Victor "Ok, lets have a look, we can at least check it out" So we went to this little agency in Munich, and he was talking about a big future, which sounded great. We signed with the agency, and soon he sent us away. It was very difficult for us, that was the first time we got separated. We split the agencies, when Victor was in Milan I went to Paris, as he was my biggest concurrent of course.
Family and friends were a little surprised I think, they didn't really know what's going on, as everything went so fast..
book in Munich. There was this new upcoming designer who wanted to do the shoots with me. I didn't even know what a look
book
was. So I went to this studio, where already people
were waiting for me, in total maybe 5 or 6 and I didn't
know what to say. The designer was there, dressed up
in his own collection, his gay friend the photographer
was putting on the girls clothes, and they both were
running around in the studio, screaming and laughing.
I was standing in the door, for literally 5 minutes
and watched the scene, didn't know if I should do it
or go straight back home. But it was really fun in the
end, the photographer always said: "Luis, I want you
to be hot and sexy!" Then he was screaming loud
"HOT AND SEXY! BE A TIGER RRRRRR". That
was my first experience, very fun...
-On
your recent shot by Mariano Vivanco: what do you
remember about that experience and did you feel comfortable
to pose naked in front of his camera?
Mariano Vivanco is one of the biggest photographers. I knew it was him shooting for Uomini, but no one told me to be naked in there. The shoot was in Milan, right in the garden of the Dolce Gabbana headquarter. Everyone was smiling, it was summer, and then Domenico Dolce send me out to shoot with Mariano. Mariano just finished shooting another guy before, he was there with 2 assistants and some other people. The first second I saw him, he got a big smile on his face and I had to laugh immediately with him. And then he asked me to get naked for the shoot straight away. I actually didn't really think about it, I just did it. There was no, what will my Mom say etc., it was all between Mariano and me. I don't like it when people see me naked, just don't feel comfortable, but this was an exception, I felt super comfortable and the pictures are amazing!!!
-Please share with me some of your recent and upcoming
projects. Lets see what the future brings. Some big things are
in the air, but as far as nothing is sure I don't talk
about it.
-On
your recent shot by Mariano Vivanco: what do you
remember about that experience and did you feel comfortable
to pose naked in front of his camera? Mariano Vivanco is one of the biggest photographers. I knew it was him shooting for Uomini, but no one told me to be naked in there. The shoot was in Milan, right in the garden of the Dolce Gabbana headquarter. Everyone was smiling, it was summer, and then Domenico Dolce send me out to shoot with Mariano. Mariano just finished shooting another guy before, he was there with 2 assistants and some other people. The first second I saw him, he got a big smile on his face and I had to laugh immediately with him. And then he asked me to get naked for the shoot straight away. I actually didn't really think about it, I just did it. There was no, what will my Mom say etc., it was all between Mariano and me. I don't like it when people see me naked, just don't feel comfortable, but this was an exception, I felt super comfortable and the pictures are amazing!!!
-Please share with me some of your recent and upcoming
projects. Lets see what the future brings. Some big things are
in the air, but as far as nothing is sure I don't talk
about it.
-Turning
to some more personal questions, how do you spend
your free time? Wherever I am, whatever I do, I always have to do
sports. Now its mostly workout in the gym, but that
takes time. I just love it, Im addicted to sports. If
I do not work out, I get nervous.
But then also, I love to meet people, having coffee, go to the city like a tourist, read books...
-Do you think that the job title “male model”
does help your dating life? In other words do you think
that women are attracted to male models?That's an interesting question, but actually I don't think
it makes any difference. Its about personality, not
about titles. My friends say to me, that I always get
to know people and a lot of girls.. that it would be
just because I'm a model. But its not. Its not that I
run around and say to the girls: "Listen darling
I'm a model"... mostly I don't even tell anyone. If they
ask me why I travel so much, I say I work for a photographer
or just won a ticket for the plane.
There are always superficial people, but to find the good ones in life you have to look deeper, and see the character and not the title. To be a model doesn't mean anything.
-Are you a "fashionista"? What do you
like to wear when you are not working as a model?The more and more I got into fashion it got more important
for me to wear also clothes which fits me. When I was
a teenager I was running around in Hip hop clothes,
being cool with Fubu, now I dress mostly classic. I
really do like clothes, from classic to fashion, I even
mix, or still have some hoodies, I wear everything,
I just don't wear pajamas.-I know you've
have been traveling around the world, where you would
like to live other than where you do now?Traveling
means everything to me. When I'm old, it is my dream
to have been everywhere in the world.
Hard to say for living, I guess I need some more houses.. Milan, London, New York. My problem is that I always wanna go somewhere else where I am. I love Germany, its a great country, but I've been here for so long. Stay tuned for the future!!
But then also, I love to meet people, having coffee, go to the city like a tourist, read books...
-Do you think that the job title “male model”
does help your dating life? In other words do you think
that women are attracted to male models?That's an interesting question, but actually I don't think
it makes any difference. Its about personality, not
about titles. My friends say to me, that I always get
to know people and a lot of girls.. that it would be
just because I'm a model. But its not. Its not that I
run around and say to the girls: "Listen darling
I'm a model"... mostly I don't even tell anyone. If they
ask me why I travel so much, I say I work for a photographer
or just won a ticket for the plane.There are always superficial people, but to find the good ones in life you have to look deeper, and see the character and not the title. To be a model doesn't mean anything.
-Are you a "fashionista"? What do you
like to wear when you are not working as a model?The more and more I got into fashion it got more important
for me to wear also clothes which fits me. When I was
a teenager I was running around in Hip hop clothes,
being cool with Fubu, now I dress mostly classic. I
really do like clothes, from classic to fashion, I even
mix, or still have some hoodies, I wear everything,
I just don't wear pajamas.-I know you've
have been traveling around the world, where you would
like to live other than where you do now?Traveling
means everything to me. When I'm old, it is my dream
to have been everywhere in the world.Hard to say for living, I guess I need some more houses.. Milan, London, New York. My problem is that I always wanna go somewhere else where I am. I love Germany, its a great country, but I've been here for so long. Stay tuned for the future!!
-Thanks Luis for taking the time to reply to my questions, it was a gift to me and my readers!
You are always welcome!!!
- Luis Kelling
No comments:
Post a Comment