In full disclosure, I wasn’t really aware who Sean O’Pry was when I first found out he’s the newest world-famous ambassador of Penshoppe and the face of the local fashion brand’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection of refreshing casual wear. Someone had to point out to me that he’s actually the hot guy in Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” music video (watch below). But of course! How can I miss that? I love “Blank Space”—I sing it all the time with my boyfriend, and even he recognized the guy when I pointed him out, haha.

“Hindi mo ba siya type?” asked my friend who enlightened me. “He’s cute, but not really,” I replied. Haha, ako na ang feeling.

So anyway I went to the press conference the day before Penshoppe’s Denimlab Fashion Show held last April 11, 2015 just to satisfy my curiosity and see what this guy’s about. And boy was I in for a pleasant surprise!

Before I share with you a transcript of his highly amusing media Q&A (because really, he’s so funny, none of us saw it coming!), let me tell you a little bit more about the 25-year-old stunner from Keenesaw, Georgia, USA, if, like I was, you’re still clueless who he is.

Sean has been proclaimed by Forbes as the world’s most successful male model and is currently at the top of Models.com’s male models list. He has graced the runways of prestigious designer brands in New York, Paris, and Milan, including Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Before “Blank Space” or even Madonna’s “Girl Gone Wild” music video (yes, he was there too, lucky guy—watch below!), you probably first saw his gorgeous face on the ads for Calvin Klein, Armani, and Versace. He was discovered on social networking site MySpace when he was only 17—they found his prom photos and the rest is history.

Prior to the media day and fashion show in Manila, Sean spent his first few days in the Philippines at Lagen Island in El Nido, Palawan. He talks about Palawan, the Philippines, fashion, modeling, and even cooking (find out what he likes to cook), among other fun topics the media asked him about during his really amusing Q&A that made me realize there’s really more to this top model than his good looks and swoon-worthy smolder (find out how he does it, haha!). Nakakatawa pala siya, promise! And if only for that, I like him na.

FASHION

Describe your personal style.
My style is more relaxed. I like a good pair of slacks or jeans, and a white t-shirt.

What are your tips for those who want to find their own style?
To find their own style goes back to being themselves and [finding] what they’re comfortable in. You don’t need to put a lot into it to be happy or to be confident. What’s important is what you embody within those clothes.

What are your favorite pieces from Penshoppe’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection?
The whole collection was incredible, but there is this one sweater that I’m gonna get. It was yellow, blue, and gray. [With] the whole collection, you can go from just chilling at the house or partying out at night. They have such a wide array of selections.

MODELING

How do you stay in shape?
I just try to be active in things that I really care about. I really like swimming, I’m not the best swimmer, but I swim. I also like to lift like every other male model. And I like sports, and I just like to stay active. I grew up in the woods, so I just like to do things.

There are only two people who can do the perfect smoldering eye: Ian Somerhalder and you. What’s the trick to the perfect smolder?
I don’t know… I guess just look above your eyebrows. (Laughs.) Ian’s just way too handsome for his own good!

(Note: Ian is also one of Penshoppe’s former international ambassadors, along with Ed Westwick, Mario Maurer, Nina Dobrev, Leighton Meester, Zac Efron, Josh Bowman, One Direction, and Cara Delevigne.)

Since sexiness is a big part of your look, can you give tips for bringing out one’s inner sexy for people who might not always feel that way?
I think the first tip and the truest that I can give is you have to love yourself. At the end of the day, if you don’t love yourself, you’re not going to portray that sexiness that you want to. At some point, I’m not there as well. I’m 25 and I’m still figuring myself out. But I feel that if you’re happy with who you are as a person, then that will be portrayed. And I think that’s the best advice I can give on that issue. Just be yourself, and if other people don’t like it, screw ‘em. Because if you’re happy with yourself, you’ll find that other people will be happy to be around you. You don’t need to put yourself in environments that you’re not happy.

When you do have days when your confidence isn’t there, is there anything you do to psyche yourself up?
I fall back on my family and friends. I surround myself with love, and I feel that love does make me confident. And without that I don’t think I could have ever gotten here or ever met the incredible people that I have met. So I am just very fortunate that I do have that grounding and that love.

You said in an interview that you want to get into acting because you don’t want to be known as just a “prop.” May we know more about that?
Have you ever been a prop? It sucks! (Laughs.) I am taking classes right now. I don’t know if that’s going to be my end game, but for now it’s a start. I can go to these acting classes and find out so much more about myself. I’m just excited for my next step. I’m still going to continue modeling, but it’s nice to have other things in my repertoire.

Do you have one dream product you want to endorse besides those you have?
You know, I haven’t done anything within a charity that I’d like to endorse so that would be nice to be a part of. And about which charity, I don’t really know at this point, there’s a lot of things I believe in. Fashion-wise and everything, I’m very happy with the people that I’m with now. If other things come, that will be great; if they don’t, I’ve been very blessed with what I’ve been given.

PHILIPPINES

Did you know about the Philippines before Penshoppe’s offer?
You learn [about it] in school but you never can see the actual culture, or know the taste of the food, and get to know the people. But right from the moment I got on the plane, I met the nicest people. This is one of the most hospitable cultures in the world. To actually experience the hospitality of the people here, it’s a completely different story—to feel the warmth of the people and to see the beauty in their smiles and to be a part of that culture. I don’t know how I’m gonna leave.

Do you plan on coming back?
I do. (Pause.) I hope!

How was your visit to Palawan?
I spent a couple of days in Lagen Island. It was incredible. I hope all of you have been there because it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. I kayaked very badly, I went fishing, I hiked and swam a lot. I avoided the jellyfish successfully.

You’re one of the world’s most successful male models. What compelled you to work for a Philippine company?
Why wouldn’t I work for a Filipino company, first off? I mean, look at what this brand stands for, they’re incredible, why will I not work for them? I mean, I don’t know any celebrity that could say no to this brand and what they support and what they stand for.

PERSONAL STUFF

Are you seeing someone right now?
Next question!

You said in an interview that your appeal to people still escapes you. Do you still feel that way now?
Completely! This is crazy to me! All you great people here, to hear me on a mic? I have no idea what to say. After I get out of here, I’m going to have a glass of wine and take a deep breath.

Manila is the social media capital of the world, so what has been the response on your social media, have you been flooded by Filipino fans recently? Do you check your Instagram account?
Uh… Social media’s fun! Yay, social media (sarcastic). I’m just really fortunate that people want to see what my daily life is like. Sorry if all you see are pictures of clouds and sunsets and water. I will try to do better. But if you’re asking me to post more selfies, you. Are. Crazy. I’m not gonna do that! I’ll have selfies with each and every one of you but I’m not gonna post selfies of myself. You’re just gonna get more clouds, and more water, and more sunsets, and steak, definitely steak. Sorry to disappoint you.

If you’re not a famous supermodel right now, what would your fallback career be?
I don’t know what my fallback career would be, but as I said earlier in an interview, I was raised by my grandfather, and I asked him, “What would you like to be remembered as?” And he said, “A fair man.” And I think that’s what I’d like to be remembered as. As long as I’m a good man and respected by people around me, I’d be happy. That would be enough for me.

Do you believe in angels and that one is guiding you now in your career?
I do, and I hope.

You said you want to be in a movie, so if that were to happen, who would your leading lady be?
Hopefully someone who likes me! (Laughs.) It would be horrible if she didn’t like me. But as for my dream leading lady, Audrey Hepburn.

Is Taylor Swift a good kisser?
(Asks host who Taylor is dating now before answering) Ask Calvin [Harris].

COOKING

We read that you love to cook. What do you love to cook?
I really like to cook steak. That’s the only thing I can really cook, truthfully. (Laughs.) I have horrible timing in the kitchen, like I can make three things but two of them are cold and one would taste bad, so I try to cook only one thing and get other people into the kitchen to help me cook the sides.

Now, here’s where things get really interesting and super funny, when a member of the media asked…

Q: If you were to throw a private barbecue and cook some of your steaks, who would you invite? Can you name five?
Do they have to be alive?
Q: No.
Awesome. That’s a good question. What kind of steak am I cooking, t-bones…?
Q: It’s your barbecue so…
I know, but you have to appeal to the crowd!
Q: But you’re the one sending the invite.
I’m sending the invite, but they don’t have to take it. And I’m cooking a t-bone, but they’re more a New York Strip kinda guy…!
Q: …are you always like this?
Well my answer’s yes! (Laughs.) All right, let’s see, what kind of crowd do I invite? Are we talking like a party crowd…?
Q: It’s a chill day.
Oh, it’s a chill day, so Bob Marley obviously. He’d be there, he’s super chill. Jeff [Bascon, brand director of Penshoppe] would be there too. Who would you invite? We’ll go back and forth.
Q: Well I’m a die-hard Taylor Swift fan…
So you’ll invite Taylor? See, that changes our whole environment!
Q: Should we have a royal in there too, maybe Kate?
[Duchess] Kate can be invited. Let’s invite Kate, but [Prince] William, he has to come.
Host: So that’s Kate, Jeff, William, and Bob Marley. There’s only one spot left.
Who would you invite?
Host: Myself.
She’s not invited.
Host: Aww…
Okay, you can get invited, but can we extend it past five? Let’s invite a married couple.
Q: Brad and Angelina?
Oh, stop, that’s too obvious.
Host: If it can be someone dead or alive, what about family from your past?
She’s getting too heavy, way too heavy. Okay, let’s thrown in Humphrey Bogart, we need a deep raspy voice, and then Sammy Davis Jr., I feel like he’d be fun.
Host: Anyone else would like to ask questions?
Come on, we can argue. (Laughs.)

Want more Sean O’Pry photos? Check out the photos in the gallery, all taken with my wonderful iPhone 6 from my Globe post-paid plan (then saved for web)!

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Penshoppe has over 300 branches in the Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

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