INTERVIEW with  Fitness and Cover Model Nick Bennett

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow Nick: Facebook / Instagram/ Twitter

Nick: I’m Nick Bennett, I am the youngest of three brothers, my parents are still together. I grew up playing all sports and fell in love with working out when I was 13 years old in a before school weightlifting program.

TRC: What were your dreams and aspirations growing up?

Nick: I never really had any dreams or aspirations growing up. I never knew what I wanted to be career wise and as for out of this world dreams such as going pro in football or any other sport I never wanted it. I guess I just lived my life day to day and was motivated in the now and never really thought about the future too much.

TRC: When not modeling what is your ‘day job’?

Nick: I work in the service industry in Las Vegas, I have a bachelors degree in health sciences but I feel as if I am still currently too ” young minded” to be able to lock myself in a hospital or small office at this point in my life. I also dabble in the stock market with investments as well as personal training, both online and in person.

TRC: What first sparked your interest in modeling? Is there a defining moment where you knew that modeling was something you were interested in pursuing?

Nick: A friend of mine in college recommend I get into it “mainly because of my physique” and so I created a Model Mayhem profile. I knew I was interested in pursuing modeling once I started getting paid for photo shoots “not long after creating my model Mayhem Mayhem account”. I was 18 years old and charging anywhere from 75-150 dollars an hour for shoots. I was hooked on the easy money as well as the attention it brought from my peers. Some negative because in male modeling you are always exposed to what some people may not view as normal, in my case I was exposed to a pretty large gay fan base which I love, as well as a female fan base.

TRC: Have you ever had a photo shoot that went completely wrong?

Nick: Yes I have had photo shoots where I was extremely uncomfortable and manipulated after already showing up to the shoot on what the contents of the shoot would contain. I was 18 and was only seeing easy money but I quickly learned what the industry can be like sometimes.

TRC: Nudity in modeling or acting can be controversial. Some pictures can cross the line between sexuality to pornography. What would you tell young models/actors /body builders just entering the business about nude modeling and photography?

Nick: My advice is very simple. To each his own. The internet is a hell of a place. If you’re comfortable being nude than be nude. Just know your son and daughter and everyone else related to you will be able to see that at some point in their lives. If you really want the money and find great opportunity in it maybe use an alias. That way you’re only googleable with your alias UNTIL the super creepers find out who you really are and then blast you on blogs.

TRC: The modeling industry exposes you to many people and sometimes it can be very stressful. What do you do when the stress becomes overwhelming?

Nick: Honestly I’m blessed enough to have never experienced any stress and or drama. I am decently “well known” I would say but I like to think I’m in the industry and yet at the same time not in the industry. I don’t get involved with any drama and most of my posts are directed towards positivity and nothing more. Getting too heavily involved would ruin the fun for me. Remember I’m just a kid from a small Florida town “Merritt Island” who just so happen to get pretty buff and doesn’t have a half bad face to look at 🙂

TRC: At times, there has been a ‘stigma’ surrounding the male model and the romance-cover industry but the popularity of the romance story line has skyrocketed in the last few years especially with the erotic and sensual cover images. What is your opinion about the recent popularity and the very busy industry of the ‘romance cover model’?

Nick: I think its amazing!! I had no idea it even existed. I still remember my first cover, an image from FuriousFotog and a cover for Lani Lynn Vale. At the time I was only shooting modeling images for self promotion and to grow my social media. After shooting with Furious I was randomly sitting on my couch one day and got a paypl deposit followed by a text message explaining what it was all about. That was all she wrote and I kinda of blew up from there once everyone saw me on her cover and said “who is the new guy!!??’ I think it’s amazing that something as small as changing the cover of your book from a stock image to an actual person that the fans can communicate with and see at events was a genius idea.

TRC: What do you do to prepare yourself for a shoot?

Nick: Well this is where I SHOULD lie and say what needs to be done to live a healthy fit lifestyle and maintain a well oiled machine physique BUT….. I am genetically blessed. I eat literally whatever I want, whenever I want to do it, and I have pretty good abs year round. Every shoot I have ever done all I did to prep was try to work on my tan. Don’t get me wrong I bust my ass in the gym 5-7 days a week since I was 13 years old but I do get to live both worlds and eat amazing food while still maintaining what most would call a “goals body”

TRC: Do you know the number of novel covers that your image has appeared?

Nick: Including couples images as well as solo I am close to 50 sold images. Some of the images were just purchased with no book currently written, but it’s flattering that an author can see an image of myself, or a couples image and be inspired to write a whole story based on what they see.

TRC: Do you remember the first romance cover on which you appeared? Do you have a favorite?

Nick: Yes, like I said earlier my first cover was a FuriousFotog image for Lani Lynn Vale ‘Life to my Flight’…. and I didn’t even have to go back on my Facebook to check if I’m correct. It was a major turning point in my life and I thank both of them for welcoming me with open arms into the community. I cannot say I have a favorite…….. or maybe I can 😉 but I won’t.

TRC: Would you please tell us what you do to relax?

Nick: I love just snuggling up in bed with my girlfriend Madena. I really have a queen: she massages me without me asking, draws baths with all the fancy stuff I don’t know how to use, and is always super supportive of any work or modeling endeavor I decide to embark on. Every day with her is pretty relaxing in itself.

TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?

Nick: purchase a home, have a stable career instead of hustling with multiple “jobs” and maybe be married and have or start a family

TRC: What is something that few, if anybody, knows about you?

Nick: I am the tallest in my family at a whopping 5’7″ haha and I sleep with a blanket that was given to me as an infant every night which I hope to pass along to my child if and when I may ever have one.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about modeling ?

Nick: Stereotypes exist for a reason BUT I don’t like it that some people view myself in particular as douchey arrogant or uneducated just because I have tattoos, muscles, and hair that’s low on the sides and long on top hah.

TRC: What type of music do you listen to? What songs are on your playlist today?

Nick: I mostly listen to early 90’s and 2000’s hip hop rap and r&b. Love classic rock as well and some punk rock screamo stuff for the gym.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Nick: Pretty solid interview

TRC: Thank you !

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food:sushi

Favorite Dessert: multiple cheesecakes

Favorite Movie:anything by Pixar or Dreamworks

Favorite TV Show: Supernatural

Last Movie that you saw: Straight Outta Compton

Secret Celebrity Crush: none

Dark or Milk Chocolate: milk

Do you have any pets? Pitbulls back with my parents and a small Yorkie named Ollie in Vegas

Pet Peeve: talking over certain parts of certain songs, and crappy people who do extremely well in life.

TRC: Thank you Nick for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success and the numerous cover images we see every day.

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