I had a chance to interview Paul Becigneul today. Sooooo cute! Paul has always been one of my favorite models. He's been back and forth between Detroit, New York and Europe. Paul has modeled for Old Navy, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana, Volkswagen, and Versace. Paul was raised in St Claire Shores, Michigan and has been working part time in retail since he's been back. I got to snatch him away for a bit to find out what's up? I have to say he dressed really cute. He wore a cute striped button down shirt and tie. We love Paul B!!
What's Up Paul?
DOMO: How's it going Paul?
Paul Becigneul: Not bad, just really tired. Had a long weekend.
DOMO: Did you party hard?
PB: No, just busy with the holidays and work.
DOMO: So Paul you are from St. Claire Shores, Michigan. How did a cutie like you get into modeling?
PB: I got started in November of 2005, I was actually scouted in the mall. And then I came into one of the open calls at One Source Talent.
DOMO: Awesome... What was the first casting you went on?
PB: I think it was a hair show for Luigi Bruni, I still do shows for them when they call.
DOMO: Your now with New York Models... when did this happen?
PB: I got signed to New York Models in February of 2006. It was amazing. It was the biggest turning point for me. I was gone that whole summer after that. I was in New York for about a month and then London for a month there and then back to New York.
DOMO: What other agencies did you go see when you went out to New York?
PB: Katie Ludwig had me go see New York Models, IMG, Click, RE:QUEST and I was on my way to DNA when Katie called me to let me know that David at New York Models wanted to sign me.
DOMO: Are you happy with signing to New York Models?
PB: Oh yea. It's the best. David is soo cool. I'm always being shopped out. Just last week he called me for a casting in Toronto for Stiches which is sort of like an Armani Exchange in Canada. But I wasn't able to make it do to school.
DOMO: So tell me more about a models life. Where did you stay in New York? Who did you meet?
PB: I actually stayed in a model apartment with 2 or 3 others. It was on the upper east side. I actually met a few celebrities in New York. Ashley Simpson, that was really cool. Also Mathias, he's the Gucci model. He's a really well known male model. One of the coolest guys. In Milan I saw Kate Moss.
DOMO: Wow, Kate Moss is my favorite.
PB: Yeah she is even more gorgeous in person than she is in print. Like jaw-dropping.
DOMO: So you've also been to Europe. How was that?
PB: Amazing it was my first time there. I went o London. I actually saw Matthew McConaughey there. I was in Milan, Italy; and Athens, Greece.
DOMO: Do you know how to speak any of these languages?
PB: I picked up a little Greek and Italian to get buy. Most of the people were helpful. The bums in Greece were really rude though haha. And I already knew Sicilian because that's what I am.
DOMO: So Paul, what do you consider the biggest thing you've done with your modeling career?
PB: In New York I modeled for a Salvatore Ferragamo Ad which was in Interview Magazine. In Greece I got to shoot with this photographer... I forget his name it's a long Greek name, but he is supposed to be the best photographer in Greece. And then in Milan, David (NY MODELS) was sending me on a ton of castings for fashion week there. Like 10-15 a day for like 7 days. And it was kind of rough because I was going on all these castings, I had went on one for Dolce & Gabbana, one for Versace and I was not getting any call backs. The day before the Dolce & Gabbana and Versace shows I found out I was doing them. I was ecstatic. I also did this show room thing for Versace where I was a live model in a warehouse and these people with all this money were having us try on clothes in different colors and where just buying the clothes there it was pretty fun. It was actually the biggest paying job I had.
DOMO: How much? lol
PB: I got paid $10,000 for that day. And it was only a couple hours. But after all the foreign taxes I only kept 45% of it.
DOMO: That's amazing. What designers did you meet? PB: I actually got to meet I think Dolce? The bald one of the two. He was such a nice guy. I thought he was just going to have me walk for him and look at my book but he talked with me a little and he seemed really interested in me for the show. I also met Neil Barrett.
DOMO: So Milan Fashion week? How would you describe it?
PB: It was hectic! Exciting. It was a rush. 12 to 15 castings a day. I was getting called every couple minutes. Adding a casting or taking one off my schedule. The models were friendly. Really inviting.
DOMO: So what brings you back home now?
PB: Mainly school and family.
DOMO: How do your parents feel about you doing this?
PB: My dad is really supportive. He actually wants me to focus on the modeling more then school right now. My mom likes it too but she hates when I leave because she misses me and stuff.
DOMO: Awe so cute. So what's planned for the future?
PB: Well I'm going back to New York in the February for a bit and then Australia. Then Tokyo.
DOMO: Australia? Tokyo?
PB: Yea well I guess Tokyo is a huge market. That's where Mathias said he made a lot of his money as a model. And David is having me go to Australia for a bit to do this reality thing for models. It's supposed to be similar to the Real World?
DOMO: So what do you like to do outside of modeling?
PB: I also play hockey. I am a goalie/center and I play about 3 days a week. I am decent at it.
DOMO: Now for the million dollar question. Did you fall in love along your journey?
PB: Not in New York or Europe but I did meet a girl here. She's actually from Windsor. Her name is Christy.
DOMO: Awe. (Lucky her.) ok and before we finish. Any tips for my new faces? The wanabees. haha
PB: Just be genuine. Clients want to see the real you. They can see through any fakeness. Always keep your head up. Also guys stay in shape. You don't want to be too big and bulky because then you might be too big for runway. And you don't want to be too skinny because you might be too skinny for editorial/print.
