I’m sitting with Brian at Nic’s Vodka Lounge in Beverly Hills. To paint you a picture Brian is wearing chino pants rolled above the ankles, a pair of toms, and a relaxed shirt buttoned down just enough to see his chiseled chest. He has this amazing smile and orders Oysters in the half shell. Being that I rushed over from work I head straight to the spirits menu and order a vodka tonic. The room has a certain mature ambiance with a hint of too much sophistication for two guys who learned life's toughest lessons in New York City. He’s glowing and mentioned that today he received his first facial. Over the years he’s transitioned into modeling and even became an Andrew Christian Model. This may not be huge for you but I hardly ever see a black AC Model so I felt as excited as black america when Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss. America. He’s truly proving that he’s a force to be reckoned with. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him walking a runway this season while he’s traveling around.
R|A: Bryan where are you from? You have this accent and smile that would make anyone think you haven’t a care in the world?
B|B: “Oklahoma… yes I’m a country boy.”
R|A: How old are you and at what age were you when you started dancing?
B|B: “I’m 27, I started dancing when I was 23.” About 4 years ago.
R|A: Okay to clear this up and I’ve had several debates on this for those wondering what is your ethnic background?
B|B: “Creole, my family is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”
R|A: I feel you are very business oriented. You know your brand and you worked it in your favor. What advice can you give aspiring models that can help them financially?
B|B: “Do your research in the field you want to work in. Then use social media to help brand yourself.” Also research what agencies you would like to model for and if they’re models actually work. “Always do your homework. Get rid of negative people including negative family. Everything in life is a learning lesson. Get off your phone slow down and pay attention.” He thinks everyone has the chance of living their dream if they have the ambition. “Life's a test just ace it. Stop giving up when times get hard.” He almost gave in but he didn't.
R|A: What do you find to be the biggest hurdle for you in the industry?
B|B: “My height, I’m 5’8” and my ethnicity, I’m not the white guy with blond hair and blue eyes.”
On ethnic AC models- " Andrew Christian has a certain demographic he's marketing to. Most designers do."
R|A: What are some of your career goals?
B|B: “Being on covers, being on a billboard, and being in Worlds Sexiest Men Magazine.”
R|A: It’s always great to have a support system in a business where we receive more no’s than yes’s. Who is your support system?
B|B: “My mother & two of my friends, I also pray a lot. If you don't get yourself together it doesn't matter what anyone tells you. You don’t wanna always keep looking over your shoulder for things you can fix.”
R|A: What did you want to be when you were a kid?
B|B: “A Zoologist I love animals to death. I go to the zoo in every state I travel in. I can name all the animals.”
R|A: Do you have any regrets in life? What have you learned from your past?
B|B: “The gogo dancing. It made my relationship so much harder. Gogo dancing was fun but then the fun goes away when dancers are stealing and promoters are being shady. Cutting wages and then they started letting anyone dance. I don’t want to be dancing for 15, 20, 30 years like some of the other guys.” He knew his time dancing was to network in order to get into modeling. He used the money to pay for shoots to model and now they're paying him. “I broke my family's cycle of being locked up with felonies or getting into drugs.”
R|A: You were not too long ago engaged, do you find it hard to date being in the industry? And curious minds want to know: what happened in the relationship, and if you have a child? What advice do you have for people trying to date and follow their dreams at the same time?
B|B: “I was distracted by my relationship, so my career was put on hold. You need a partner that's going to push you to do better. I put my ex in the industry because I was very comfortable in my relationship and wanted that connection. I went through hell trying to find balance in my relationship. My ex felt like he was being abandoned and I felt I wasn’t working hard enough. There may have been some animosity with that. And no I don’t have a son the little boy in my pictures is my nephew.”
R|A: What are some of your favorite hobbies when you’re not working?
B|B: “Fishing, Karaoke, Swimming, Basketball, & chilling with friends.” You will never see him in the club when the lights come on. He doesn’t do after parties... would like to be respected as a performer “don't slap my ass when I’m clothed or the gemini will come out. I never did lap dances, never did the private rooms.”
R|A: What’s the most embarrassing thing to happen on set?
B|B: “No embarrassing moments on set. They go through really quick. I’m all about the business.”
R|A: Whose career in the industry do you aspire to most?
B|B: “I never had a role model to look up to, so I started looking up to myself, I inspire myself daily. I makes videos to myself to push me.” Then he goes back to the video and sees if he's accomplished what he's talked about. He explains how he’s always ready to put people on. He's not in competition with anyone.
R|A: What are you currently working on?
B|B: “I’m working on a huge campaign in Dallas.” He had to handle a lot of stuff in his past before his future could progress. “Too many people are rushing to the finish line and not enjoying the process.” His shoots tell a story of his journey. Considering himself to be very open to people. He’s also going to start training videos to show his health fit journey. He also has five cover shoots coming up.
R|A: What’s your favorite social media app?
B|B: Not really a social media person, he’s a country boy, would rather be riding horses, fishing, and cooking. “I hate social media, but now in the business it helps with branding myself.”
R|A: Why did you leave New York?
B|B: Brian gets a bit emotional explaining his mother's illness... “that’s why I started dancing in the first place, we needed the money.” He felt so broken dealing with that and his break up .“I just wanted to give up on life and everything.” But his spirit came back through his niece and nephew. He and God are now best friend. “I found my self worth, I was running from my past which is why I had so many stage names.”
R|A: Being in the clubs often what was your drink of choice?
B|B: “I don’t really drink much. I usually take the bartender's recommendation.”
R|A: Where do you see yourself settling down?
B|B: “I Don't Know, I’m not done traveling.” Feels like he’ll leave the country for Europe but will come visit.
R|A: Well it’s nearly Pilot Season and all the hottest shows such as Empire, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder will be coming back out. What are some of your favorite television shows and reality television shows to watch?
B|B: "I'm not big on television and I don't watch reality tv." Watches the news, and the discovery channel.
R|A: How would you like to give back?
B|B: Charities I want to contribute to: HIV, Cancer, Exotic animals, and Zoos.
