Five-time world champ Evander Holyfield’s namesake has entered a completely different line of work, professional modeling. Evander Holyfield Jr. struts his stuff on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Chicago Theatre during the 2011 Macy’s Passport Glamorama, “Artrageous.” Artrageous features top fashions and a performance by Cee Lo Green with Far East Movement.
Evander Jr. talked to rolling out before he makes his grand debut next week.
How has your dad’s fame affected your line of work?
The key thing, what it’s done is open doors for me. But what’s most important is do you have the talent, and skill to keep those doors open?
What was the most useful lesson you’ve learned from other models?
I learned to keep an even head and grow tough skin from other models. And [to] just be humble and grateful you have this opportunity because as you can see, not everybody can be a model.
Were you always drawn to fashion, or is this something new for you?
At one point in my life I wasn’t drawn to fashion. I was in college and I was on my way back home I was excited to see my family I hadn’t seen them in a couple months because of school.
So I’m back home in Atlanta and my sister asked me to take her to her new modeling agency so I take her to the modeling agency and she gets out the car and runs in and I get out the car and then her agent is like, ‘oh my goodness who is that?’ And comes out the door and shakes my hand, trying to find out everything about me and tells me about what a great opportunity modeling would be. So that’s pretty much how I got into it initially and from then on, it kind of just hits you. I fell in love with it.
What’s unique about your style?
I try not to look at it as a style, I just think of it as just being me because I know the more me I am, the more unique I am. I think that’s what’s most important — being yourself.
What advice do you have for future models?
To be smart about your craft, learn what you do, what you’re doing and get better at it. Be who you are and I think that’s what makes the world go around so much better, the individuality, creativity and uniqueness.
Photos: Courtesy of Ford Models. Special thanks to Kamal Bosamia and Chanel Davis Lott.
