Tell us your story.
I went to college until I was nineteen, which is two an a half years ago now. Then I moved to a bigger City in Denmark and worked there. I partied a lot once I moved from my parents house. I got my freedom or maybe the freedom got me? I’m not too sure which one, but after a year of partying and working at a kebab place, I moved back into my parents house. I then applied for University, because I felt a sense of pressure that I had messed up. So I moved on and got serious, but then I soon realised it wasn’t for me, so once again I moved back into my parents house. After that I started working as a substitute teacher. The kids and teachers loved me and I loved them, so it was very organic.
Are there a lot of male teachers in Denmark?
No, in the teacher's room where I was about ten or fifteen percent of the teachers where male. It was just me and loads of older women talking about politics. I did that for a year and then took a few months off, as I had planned to travel. I worked a lot and got a lot of hours at the school, but then modelling came by. It was actually really good timing.
Are you modelling full time now?
Yes, I am doing this full time now. A lot of the boys when they become a model, get their freedom for the first time and take the opportunity to party a lot and have a lot of fun, but I’ve had that period of my life. I’m still figuring out what I’m going to do with all my spare time.
(Cecilie jumps in). The boys that really make it are the ones that stay focused, being a model is actually hard work. I love it when you ask a Scandinavian boy a question because you get their whole life story.
I think that I’m more shy than I thought I was, but I’m also more intelligent then I thought I was. I was somewhere a few days ago in London and I was randomly talking to this guy. When I walked off I thought I’d never had a conversation like that or even spoke to someone like that before. I've been exposed to new cultures and a new ways of seeing life. I think I believe in myself more now, which is the most important thing. Good questions, guys.
I find it really interesting to meet models from different parts of the world, and learn about the men you’re becoming. Like an American boy, is often quite different to a Scandinavian boy.
I think those boundaries are disappearing more and more. I’ve met more guys my age from all over the world and have realised that we have the same interests and the same way of approaching aspects of life. Everybody has internet connection now and they can see the same things.
(Back to Savannah) I like your jacket.
Thanks, it's my brother's. He’s sixteen and always takes my clothes without telling me, so he has to learn how it feels. I had four siblings originally, but one passed away some years ago. I now have two younger brothers and one older half sister.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a very open minded guy, a young man. I’m an in-between. I'm not a boy anymore, but I’m still not a man. I’m just a guy right now.
How would you describe a man?
A man is someone who can take care of and provide for himself, and not have his friends or mum buy alcohol or food for him. Being able to provide for yourself and others. A man is mature in his relationships, he doesn’t need the attention like a boy does. He has a sense of who he is and who he wants to be.
In your group of friends, what role do you take on?
I have different roles in different groups. In my home town, it’s a tourist city in the summer and the rest of the year it’s a raw city. People don’t have a lot of energy to be nice to others apart from themselves and their family. In one group I am the smart, wise and noble guy; a good boy with no bad intentions. In another group of friends I have from college, I am the charismatic, funny and very open party boy - the one who isn’t afraid to stand out or do something a little crazy. To the friends I had at the kebab shop, I was just a random white guy. I have a lot of different groups of friends, and I don’t feel a connection to one more than the other.
Why do you drift around?
They are all very different groups of friends. Different groups bring out different sides of me. I try not to ignore or suppress any sides of myself, so that’s why I’m comfortable with having so many groups of friends. I like having different types of people around me.
What would be your perfect first date?
It depends a little bit on who the girl is. If she’s a city girl then I would probably take her out into nature, so it’s the complete opposite. The perfect date is a date where conversation grows organically, where it's not pretentious.
Do you remember your first date?
I’ve never had a girlfriend. I’ve never spoken about feelings with anyone besides my mum. I have always doubted myself in the company of girls, I don’t know why. I have respect for girls, but for a lot of years my heart was very cold. I’ve had very deep, good and honest friendships with girls before, but nothing beyond that. The town I live in there just aren’t a lot of girls. All the girls there, we have known each other since we were at kindergarden and most of them moved away to study.
Interview by Savannah Liu.
Words by Rebecca Jones-Clarkson.
