David Gandy conversed with the Spanish magazine '¡Hola! Fashion' at the Meditteranean Summer Cocktail event in the San Mauro Hotel (Madrid) during the D&G's latest Light Blue fragrance campaign in May 29, 2013.
Ph: Richard Ramos
Text: Susana Molina
Spanish Version
English translation by DjG.com
DAVID GANDY
The World's Most Expensive Model
The World's Most Expensive Model
"A woman does not have to do anything to seduce me, just come and talk to me and make me laugh. That is what's most important." He was the only male model to strut the catwalk with top female models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell during the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games.
In an industry dominated by women, David Gandy is the first male model to reach the category of top and even out the salary made by the female Top Models. Perhaps that is why, this Englishman born in the same region as Victoria Beckham (Essex) was the only male model to accompany Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss during the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games. Desired by women and envied by men he became famous for sailing in white pants and for drops of Light Blue perfume by Dolce and Gabbana in the Tyrrhenian Sea. But Gandy does not want to only be known as the handsome man in the ad, he combines his work as a model creating his own brand, creating apps for mobil phones, a blog and his own charity... Almost nothing for a person who participates in car races and is a self defined adrenaline junkie. A very risky hobby that has nothing to do with the discipline he showed during our photo session, repeating the same poses many times as asked by our photographer. At the end of the, Gandy is a true gentleman.
- You are best known for being the white pants guy, more so than your own name. Does that bother you?
DG: I hated it, it is the reason I wanted to build the brand David Gandy. Now everybody knows my name, it is an extension of me.
- Filming on that boat must make for good stories.
DG: I have one from two seasons ago, I almost drowned!! The weather was awful and I was trying to get on the boat again and again. I was able to get my arm on the boat. I have no idea what I was holding to. They would tell me: "Come on, come one." The boat shot out and they had to jump in the water to save me.
- If you were lost on that boat, in the middle of nowhere, what would miss the most?
DG: I would probably love to get lost. My father used to take us to the Mediterranean Sea as a child. We went with my sister on a small boat and I always fell asleep . This is how my father shushed me. Now I would love to be lost on a boat with no one around.I would be without my Blackberry, no emails, no photographers, without anything. Just me, sunbathing. And later I would see where I would end up.
- Who would you like to be lost with on that boat?
DG: I don't know. I'm not sure anyone could be with me for so long. Maybe the best thing would be for me to be alone.
- Who would you throw off the boat?
DG: There are many people who I would want to throw in the water. But I can't think of anyone in particular right now.
- Have you ever done anything crazy for love?
DG: I have done many. I think everyone has done something crazy for love. When you look back, you think: "Why did I do that?".
- What does a woman have do to seduce David Gandy?
DG: No need to do anything, just come talk to me and make me laugh. That's whats most important.
- In your blog you write quotes Voltaire, Churchill ... Is there one that summarizes this point in your life?
DG: No. My life changes every week. If it were the same it would be boring to write about it. That is the reason I choose a different column, and a different quote for every post I write. This column is a summary of what I want to say and write about dreams. People should always have a dream.
- What is your dream?
DG: One of my dreams was to do the Mille Miglia, the race of a thousand miles that runs in Italy, and I did it with Yasmin le Bon a few weeks ago. It was a dream come true. If ten years ago someone would have said to me you are doing the Mille Miglia with one of the world's most beautiful women in a 1950's Jaguar I would have never believed it.
- In addition to racing, do you need speed in your life?
DG: Constantly. The Mille Miglia, skiing ... I'm constantly looking for speed. I'm kind of addicted to adrenaline. That's why I'm always doing fun things that people hate, like getting on a plane with ridiculous turbines.
- I guess it's a hobby too risky for your work. Do you have insurance for your body?
DG: I had insurance, but if you die, I guess it doesn't count. You can't be too worried about things like that.
- You must be tired of hearing jokes about the character from the movie Zoolander. Do you have to prove that a model can be smart as well?
DG: Constantly. That's all I do. That's the reason why I created everything that I have. I had to create the brand David Gandy because everyone had that preconceived notion. I've also created my own charity and I called Blue Steel Appeal.
- Because of the movie?
DG: Yes Blue Steel is from Zoolander. Everyone knows Zoolander, and I thought if I could not beat them why not join them. It has a comic element. I think it works well.
- You have said on different occasions that you do not like or your hair or your nose. How is it possible that one of the world's sexiest men finds he has faults?
DG: I'm sure everyone has little things they do not like about themselves. And I'm exactly the same as anyone else. Probably a little worse. I have to see constantly look at my photos, go figure. I am perhaps more aware of this than any other, but, of course, I have the same insecurities as everyone else.
- Besides being a supermodel, you're are famous. Do you ever feel harassed on the street?
DG: I don't like the word famous. It is horrible. People aspire to be famous and they do nothing. I'm known for being a model, for my charity, for being television and what I write. I love it when people approach me and I also talk to them on social networks.
- You're are considered one of the most elegant men around. How do you become a gentleman?
DG: It's something that comes from you, not your clothes. You can do it with a shirt and jeans. Probably, people think a gentleman is someone dressed in suit and tie, but if that person does not behave as such, it is not.
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