Phil Bruce Interview

Phil Bruce is a fitness model and personal trainer. Mr. Bruce kindly shared numerous of his underwear modelling photos which can be found at the end of this interview. Go follow him on his Twitter and Facebook -- there's even more awesome pictures!

1. Age: 24

2. Current occupation: Self-Employed Exercise Instructor and Fitness Presenter, Personal Trainer, Fitness/Underwear Model, Football Coach, Semi-Professional Footballer

3. Where are you from? Stoke-on-Trent, England

4.Favorite superhero? Superman

5. Who or what inspired your fitness and model interest? Have you always been fit? 

My fitness has always been inspired since dreaming of becoming a Professional Footballer from a young age, and being in the best physical condition possible to teach Exercise Classes and conduct Personal Training sessions. The modeling interest came from being recommended in to doing it from a few friends of mine, and the love of it has carried on ever since.

6. What would you say is the toughest aspect of being a fitness model? 

Making sure that you are always in great shape for shoots, as they can occur at any time during the year. And to be able to constantly come up with new ideas and poses. 

7. What’s been the most rewarding experience as a fitness model?

The publicity in magazines, calendars and social media sites, the followers and support that you get from people due to the pictures. Also, making new friends and contacts, and climbing up the ladder to further success. 

8. What have you learned about yourself from being a model?

That confidence in front of the camera is key, and to never be afraid of taking risks and trying things out. 

9. How do you stay in shape? That is, what does your typical weekly gym schedule look like? How do you keep yourself motivated to stick to your schedule?

I teach a number of exercise classes throughout the week, including Spin, Pump, Aerobics, HIIT, Abs and Core, and Aqua, so I will go full out for each of those. I also do four weights sessions a week, and play Football whenever I can.

10. Can you tell me about what your regular diet looks like? Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to sweets or junk food?

Due to the high intensity and volume of exercise that I do, I need to make sure that I am consuming enough food to keep me going throughout the day. There isn’t really a set daily diet, but typically I will have Whey Protein and Oats as soon as I wake up, scrambled eggs for breakfast an hour or so later, Whey Protein and simple carbs immediately after each workout to fully utilize the recovery process, and some Casein and ZMA at night before I go to bed to promote good sleep and maintain fuel throughout the night.

 In between those, I will eat plenty of oats (such as oatcakes or porridge), other foods containing proteins, good fats and carbohydrates, and meals containing meats and plenty of vegetables or salads to keep me going, eating every couple of hours ideally.  

11. As a personal trainer, have you ever encountered anyone that has tried to freeload your training from a distance? [I’m thinking of the scene from Bridesmaids where they work out with the class for free from a distance] 

Yeah, I’ve had that a few times, bless them.

12. What is your biggest pet peeve at the gym? 

When people are on their mobile phones or reading a magazine whilst they are training, or people who train in big groups, and end up doing very little because of it. 

13. Which do you prefer: boxers, briefs, or boxer briefs? Why? 

For general everyday wear, I prefer boxers, as they feel more comfortable. I like to train and teach exercise classes in sports boxers/pants for the same reasons. For modeling purposes, I prefer working in briefs, as they help to show more definition of the body, and look more impressive in general. 

14. Has your current preference always been your underwear preference? If not, what’d you switch from, and what made you change? 

I never usually used to wear briefs until I started doing underwear modelling, now when I see I look good in the pictures due to wearing them, I make sure that I wear them for the shoots in order to get the best pictures possible.

15. Do you favor any underwear brands? If so, which and why?

My favourites are Calvin Klein and Emporio Armani, as they feel really comfy to wear, and they look really good on the pictures

16. You’re in a public place and you get a natural wedgie -- how do you handle it?

Discretion is the key to this one.

17. What would someone find if they went through your underwear drawer?

A massive variety of underwear, from the modeling ones to the sports ones to the boxers with a tiger on the crotch (seriously).  

18. Do you have a lucky or favorite pair of underwear? If so, what style/color?

The boxers with a tiger on the crotch are particular favourites of mine (like the pants Robbie Williams wears in ‘Rock DJ’)

19. GQ wrote an article stating that “tighty-whities” are stylish now. How do you feel about tighty-whities, & do you agree with GQ? 

Yeah, I totally agree with that, and I like to wear them for my modeling work; it helps to show the shape and definition of the body and they are quite stylish.  


20. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 

You have one chance in this life, try to achieve as many things as you can, give everything your best shot, always take responsibility for your actions, and have no regrets.

T.J. Lavin

Benoit M. Interview

1. Age: 25

2. Where are you from? Montreal, Canada

3. Current occupation? Masters student in Biochemistry

4. Favorite current pop song? I’m not a big listener of music, so that will be Applause from Lady Gaga.

5. Which do you prefer: boxers, briefs, or boxer briefs? Why?

Briefs! I like to have my legs as free as possible. You have maximal support but nothing is rolling on your legs and it feels so much more comfortable when you move. Plus, it emphasizes the attention on your part and makes the illusion that it’s going out.

6. Has your current preference always been your underwear preference? If not, what’d you switch from, and what made you change?

I used to have a lot of boxer briefs, but I changed for briefs for the same reason as the previous question. I always had the part on the leg of the boxer briefs that was rolling back to the hips and even when I washed them they kept rolling. 

7. Do you favor any underwear brands? If so, which and why?

Right now I would say that my favorite brand is Andrew Christian. I totally love those. The colors are so clear, light and vivid. The styles are simple but original. What I like most is the pouch that fits so well. I don’t like my parts to be stuck, I’m just trying to move it to get a comfortable position and I look awkward. With the pouch my parts stay in position but are totally free during movement and I feel so well that way. 

8. What would someone find if they went through your underwear drawer?

Most likely at 90% Andrew Christian underwear. After removing all of them, they would find some Joe Snyder, Gregg Homme, ES collection, Pump, Bodyaware, Mundo Unico, JM and Timoteo.

9. You get a natural wedgie in public – how do you handle it?

Deal with it, I endure the wedgie until I find a restroom to arrange my underwear.

10. Do you have a lucky or favorite pair of underwear? If so, what color/style?

The trophy boy brief in azure blue from Andrew Christian. It simply has everything I want from underwear. Brief, deep pouch and my favorite color which is Azure blue.

11. GQ wrote an article stating that “tighty-whities” are stylish now. How do you feel about tighty-whities, & do you agree with GQ?

I don’t really agree with that. First of all, I cannot imagine tighty-whities to be stylish, it is a plain simple white brief. I don’t really like white color with clothes to begin with because it gets dirty easily (not in the good sense). It can be useful during gym sessions to get your part fix, but I think there are better specific garments for that. The only moment it could be good if it’s part of a costume, like with a white t-shirt and white pants (picking black brief would be weird with that). But even in that case, I would take white briefs with a certain pouch to accommodate.

12. Worst wedgie experience?

Where I live, summers are hot and really wet. When you walk during the day, it can be easy for your underwear to slip and make a wedgie. You sort of deal with it because you know that everyone has surely the same problem.

13. Words to live by?

Make the future a happy place not only for you but for the others that will follow you.

David Richmond-Peck

Alex Deibold

Dylan Garner Interview

Dylan Garner is a model with Elite Model London. Mr. Garner kindly shared some of his modelling photos which can be found at the end of this interview. Go follow him on his Twitter -- there's even more awesome pictures!

 1. Age: 30 

2. Where are you from? Tregaron, a small town in west Wales. 

3. Favorite superhero? Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)  

4. Have you always been fit?

Growing up in the country side with two brothers of similar age for as long as I can remember we always played sports of some kind together in the garden or raced around the village on bikes, climbed trees etc.

5. Who or what inspired you to become a model? 

After university I was a primary school teacher for 3 years and my colleagues (90% female) would always joke that I should go to London and be a model, but it wasn't until 5 years later on a chance visit to NYC I was asked to be a model whilst drinking in a bar called McSorleys by Kirsten from Red models. Haven't looked back since.

6. What would you say is the toughest aspect of being a model?

Not knowing what you're doing from day to day, so organizing holidays, work and seeing family from home is hard. I have cut many holidays short to fly back to London for modeling jobs, a particular costly one was from a wedding in Miami to London for a CK underwear show. I also missed Glastonbury this year after getting a ticket, but I can't complain I feel like I'm on one big holiday.

7. What’s been the most rewarding experience as a model?

I think I've been lucky and have had opportunities to travel and shoot with great photographers and stylists but In April this year I shot an editorial for Port magazine with both my younger brothers, Rhydian and Llyr. Over the years we have worked on building sites, been behind a bar, played in the same football, rugby and cricket teams but I never thought I would ever feature in a fashion magazine with them. It was also shot in my home town Tregaron.

8. Have you had any embarrassing or awkward experiences while modeling? 

I have done two naked shoots, one with Noemi Loire for Pony Step magazine and the other with Diane Kruger for Tetu (which saw my bum on the cover) I didn't really find either awkward or embarrassing but the Pony Step shoot was shot in a cold studio in January ;) 

9. What is your favorite way to stay in shape? 

Over the years I have tried different types of training, mostly sprints and weights for rugby, but at the moment I've really gotten into rock climbing and bouldering. I go to the Mile End wall and I find it gives me an all over work out that's challenging, fun and social.

10. Can you also tell me about what your regular diet looks like? Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to sweets or junk food?

I'm very lucky that I don't really have to watch what I eat so much. Now that I'm thirty maybe I should as my metabolism may be slowing down ;) 

My house mate Max Hearne is a great cook and often cooks great healthy breakfasts and dinners. I try to have 3 eggs, avocado and some vegetables every morning, then my diet varies through out the day to day. My vice is a Prets: a manger bacon and cheese croissant.  I also love a few beers on a Friday night which leads to a chicken kebba ;) 

11. You’re also a handyman – do you prefer modeling or working as a handyman more?

I find the time between modelling jobs frustrating, sometimes it can be a week or more between modeling gigs, so to fill this time I do DIY at offices and people's homes, I also work part time in an antiques store called Phoenix on Golbourn Rd. which I love. I definitely enjoy working with my hands and also love to wear nice clothes and hang out on on set.

I get to meet interesting and cool people at both aspects. A long day in a hot studio makes me appreciate the nice DIY days and the stressful, sometimes messy, DIY jobs make me appreciate my modelling jobs. The two professions work well together I think 

12. Which do you prefer: boxers, briefs, or boxer briefs? Why?

Growing up I always wore briefs, mostly for support whilst in gym or playing sport, I hardly ever wore loose boxers (not good for the swimmers I know). Now i generally wear boxer briefs day to day and going out, and briefs for climbing and the gym.

13. Do you favor any underwear brands? If so, which and why?

I wear any brand, I have a mix from different jobs I've done and have been allowed to keep. I really like my Sunspell briefs and boxer briefs, super cool and comfortable. I also find  Hugo Boss boxer briefs fit me well.

14. Do you have a lucky or favorite pair of underwear? If so, what style/color? 

Not any more but during my football and rugby days I had a pair of 'Next' briefs that I had a superstition about. I always tried to wear them for games. I wore them to shreds.

15. Do you have any funny or memorable underwear stories?

I once (before modelling days)  auditioned for 'Total Wipe Out' in Cardiff, in a pair of tight white Lycra briefs and on the back of them I wrote 'the naked welsh man' (inspired from the naked cowboy) I didn't get on the show :( 

16. GQ wrote an article stating that “tighty-whities” are stylish now. How do you feel about tighty-whities, & do you agree with GQ?

I've always been a tighty whities man really. 

17. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I've been given a lot over the years. My Dad always had great advice to any sort of problem I had that always helped me along. Among many this stuck with me and I try and remember it when new opportunities are given to me:

"This life is not a rehearsal for the next one so try and do it right this time" (or words to that effect) 

My old form teacher Mr. Williams told me every day "Garner remember - 'no guts no glory!'"

 I like reading about Churchill and I like particularly this quote:

"Successes is not final, failure is not futile but the courage to carry on is what's important"