Let. Them. Stare.
I was born and raised in Romania. Moved to UK on my own at 19 having never spoken English before.
Keep. Becoming.
Actor - Programmer - Photographer - Bodybuilder - Graphic Designer - Videographer - Model
Let. Them. Stare.
I was born and raised in Romania.From a very young age I’ve been approached by photographers wanting to take photos of me. I was with my mum on the beach when I was 8 when I was offered my first shoot but I declined out of shyness. When I was 14, I grew 20cm in height in 2 years. I was suddenly living in a lanky, thin body, noticed from afar, unrecognisable by most of my childhood friends. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of stares I would get from then on. I became anxious in public, always trying to be quiet, blend in, sit at the back, just so that I don’t get stared at. The only place I felt at ease, was on the terrace in the middle of the night, looking up at the sky, Stargazing made me feel as small as everyone else - I was the one staring.When I was 18 I had my first professional shoot for the high school “yearbook” - in Romania it is only done at the end of 4 years of high school. I was dreading being on camera so I decided to go last. The photographer had already shot 45+ different instances of the same location, but even though he was exhausted after the 8h shoot, he was taken aback by how easy and natural my shoot was. He insisted many times after the shoot that I should pursue a modelling career.A few months after the shoot I moved to UK and my studies and financial independence took priority over my modelling dreams. The stares however, have intensified exponentially being a tall, olive skinned foreigner. So in my first year at uni I decided to LET THEM STARE. If people are to stare, might as well give them something good to stare at. I got more serious about gym and added some size to the lanky frame and soon I became “the big guy”.I was often stopped on the streets by people wanting to take photos of me when traveling. In the club people would come and take photos with me. People liked what they were staring at, and I didn’t mind it anymore. The thoughts of a modelling career were put on a back burner yet again however, as some major health issues cropped in in my early 20s.8 years later I finally get to explore a career in modelling.