Name:
Michael
Tintiuc.
Age:
23
Location:
Planet
Earth, born and raised in Moldova.
Day job (what pays the bills):
Clothes and shoes designer, web developer / graphic designer for
my label LIRFON'S.
What was growing up like for you?
The
idea of 'growing up' is quite relative, as I think that one can be considered a
grown up only after he has a clear and
distinct understanding of who he is, what he can do and how to achieve it.
Someone understands it at the age of 13, some at 18, others at 40, at other
times this kind of self-awareness does not show up at all.
I
can't say that my attitude towards life, people, towards what looks well or
bad, good and evil has changed with time. In fact I'm quite sure it hasn't
changed at all.
The
more we live, the more experience we acquire. It can be as a negative
experience as much as a positive, everything is very individual.
I
don't like when people say: 'You have to respect a person who is older than
you'. I find the whole idea of respect based on the age factor absolutely
ridiculous, as I think that the person's deeds and life-time achievements
should be considered as fundamental factors of respect.
We
are living in the times when you can have more respect towards a 15 year old
rather than to a 80 year old, to those who have wasted their lives 'existing'
and have not understood who they are and what they can do.
Most
likely I've become grown up by the time I turned 18, when I earned my first
money, got my first real job and have seen from all angles what independent
life is. That was the time when I understood that I don't want a 'grown up'
life for myself, a life of complete and total submission to someone, a life
like in the 'Groundhog day' movie, everything is by a scheme – home->work,
work->home.
How did you get into modeling?
Every
time I am being asked this question, I get in my head the words and sentences
I've said and written some many times, may be I'm wrong but this gives the
feeling that everyone who was really interested in this already knows the whole
story of how I got into the modeling business.
I
don't want to be trivial or banal, this is why I'll give a different answer.
Same as in the most model stories of how they got into the industry, mine can
be referred to as a matter of chance or luck. I was at the right place at the
right time. But opposed to most of the other models, I actually had to work
hard and undertake some actions to get to where I got, to that 'right place'.
At
the age of 18 I left to Moscow, Russia, to start living independently and as I
thought at that time to try to start doing what I like, relying myself on the
will of fate. I didn't like the idea of what other kinds at my age did, and
still do, continue living their lives as their parents or the society wants it
in exchange to a relatively wealthy and secure life.
In
2008 in Moscow, at an underground's clothing line 'White Trash for Cash'
fashion show I was noticed by my future agent and within about a month or so I
left to NYC.
What was the response like from your friends when you started modeling?
My
friends' responses were positive, as it was them who talked me into trying
myself in the role a model. But others
just couldn't associate or draw a connection between an 18 year old skater from
Moldova and me an 18 year old model working in NYC. At that time most of the
people didn't even have the slightest idea of what male modeling is, especially
outside of their country.
To be honest, at that time the last thing I
though about was what others think of me, I didn't waste my time or thoughts on
how will people react or what will they think, I just kept on carrying on,
doing
whatever I was doing.
When did it really hit you you were a successful model and what was that like?
I
never felt that way and surely don't feel like this now. Becoming a model is
not an outstanding achievement.
It
all depends on the level of a person's 'development' and how high have he has
set the bar.
I,
personally, have set these bars quite a lot higher than simply becoming a
model.
Modeling
is only a partial activity even for the most successful models.
What is the number one misconception about being a male model?
The
biggest misconception is that modeling is one of the easiest jobs in the world,
that you are getting paid for just for existing and 'being there'.
Modeling
is just an intermediate step before the big raise or fall of a person's career,
every case is different, some one goes big and drops right after, some aren't
even destined to rise.
One
thing that unites every model is that you have to work a lot, no matter of your
inner state, mood etc. you have to be always on time and be what they want you
to be and how they want you to see.
It
is a job were there are no guarantees or success charts, everything can change
at the very last moment and the chances of that are very high.
When you are not modeling what are you doing?
I'm
skateboarding, playing on my X-box, I draw, compose music, write lyrics,
recently I started 3D design / modeling and of course I'm designing for
LIRFON'S.
What's it like seeing yourself all over the Internet and girls gushing all over pictures?
There
is a contemporary saying – You have to live your life so that Google knows
about it. Considering this statement, I think I can strike out an item in my
'to do list'.
But
really, it is always very nice to read what other write me or write about me.
It's a very warm feeling when people like what you do, photos and videos of me.
But I'm not overly psyched about what people think about me. I, just like any
other person, can be liked by some and
hated by others.
As
an answer to this I can cite a LIRFON'S phrase - “We're not saying that we're
different. We're not saying that we're like everybody else. But all you think
and all you see is just your own way of comprehending reality.”
Who is Michael Tintiuc?
A
man in who's life real human values are taking the first place, goodness and love among the people. A man who believes
in God, not for the fact that God would believe in him, but just because he
believes. A man who knows that you can achieve anything you want only if you
are really worth it and will do everything possible and beyond.
Is there a difference between the public and private Michael?
I
don't wear masks and I can's say that I love public life and places were people
come to look at each other and show themselves off.
My
main principle in life is being yourself, no matter what the circumstances
might be. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are with, what matters is
who you are.
I
don't think that there is a big difference, I always say what I think and do
what I want to do. The only difference between the public and private me is
that I don't discuss the topic of my personal life in public and I try not to
burden my private life discussing the public one.
Is there anything you would be prefer to be doing as a career instead of modeling?
No,
I'm completely happy with what I do right now and I don't have to deny myself
in anything or to favor one job over the other.
Modeling
is not my main focus. I have no problem combining modeling and my work at
LIRFON'S. I can't even think or imagine what I could be doing instead, simply
because everything I do is a part of my life and I hold very dear to myself
every aspect of my jobs.
What inspires you the most?
Music,
history, loneliness and every passing day.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I
don't like making any predictions, just because everything said but not done
loses it's power of thought. The main thing I want is to continue what I do and
get to the point of creating something that would keep on living after me.
Let's talk about girls. Ladies man, fun loving bachelor or hopeless romantic?
Unfortunately
we live during the times when there are practically no true gentlemen or
romantics left. I would most likely consider myself a romantic, inspired by the
format of a relationship between a man
and a woman from the 19th century, the times when morals and respect
towards each other were the first things in love. Times when men would take
their hats off, kiss the lady's hand and greet her by standing up.
What do you look for in girls and admire most?
The
most important thing is the harmony of souls, body and mind, if it's there no
man will resist such a charm. I admire inaccessibility, adherence of
principles, pride and natural beauty.
Girls vs Women?
It
all depends, as I've said before age means nothing to me and would never be the
main criteria for me.
Do you have any advise for guys who want to get involved in the modeling industry?
The
most important is to be able to clearly assess your capabilities and know why
you want to be a model in the first place. Everybody should know that becoming
a model should never be one's number one goal in life. No one will think for
you what you'll be doing after modeling. Models are paid for being young, fresh
and pretty. You should know that models are very interchangeable, people come
in the place of others all the time. This is a very forgetful industry, it
makes money on
youth and only few actually remain in the industry
after two seasons with the flow of the industry. Becoming a successful model is
not as hard as becoming as good as Leonardo da Vinci, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix,
Mickey Rourke or Bill Gates.
You
shouldn't think too much about it and then it'll all fall into place.
Anything you'd like to say to your fans and the readers?
First
thing's first – believe that you can be better than you are today, you can be
happier than you are at the moment. You just have to stop being sorry or
pitying yourself, stop envying and procrastinating. Nobody will trust in you
and nobody will love you as long as you won't do it yourself.
