Teenage model on his stunning rise to fame
eating my breakfast and this guy calls me and says, ‘ I am a modelling scout. Would you be interested in modelling?’ I was going to hang up thinking somebody was winding me up.
“I wasn’t sure but he persuaded me, told me about the agency, directed me to the website and told me to check it out and call him back if I was interested. I did that and said, ‘When do you want to meet me?’ and he said, ‘Right now.’
“It was random. I went from waking up in the morning and eating a sausage roll to signing up to be a model. I didn’t have a clue.
“It all happened in under an hour. One minute I’m a boy in school, the next I’ve signed with a modelling agency. But I was happy to get on board and see what it was like. I’m thankful I did.”
Connor has grafted, travelling at the last minute and sleeping on couches and floors. He’s learned the business and is now a favourite of the top names, including DSquared2 owners Dean and Dan Caten, who appear in the film. He has partied with celebrities like Pharrell, Paris Hilton and Busta Rhymes.
He said: “Michael and my mum made sure I took it seriously. Going to New York and getting jobs like Ralph Lauren and Gucci, that’s when I started realising this is serious. It wasn’t George at Asda – not that there’s anything wrong with George at Asda – but suddenly I’m in Vogue Italia. I was expecting maybe small catalogue stuff around Scotland, not Lacoste.
“If I’m working or I’m at a party and there are celebrities there, at first I was like, ‘ Wow, that’s Paris Hilton, that’s Busta Rhymes’, but I’m kind of immune to it now.
“I will be focusing on the work. They are all really nice. Like Paris Hilton, I thought, ‘She’s a typical rich daddy’s girl’ but she was coming over to all the models and partying with us. I was a kid when she was everywhere and now I’m having parties and drinking with her.
“Pharrell Williams is one of the best music producers in the world and now I’m posing for shoots with him. It’s mind-blowing but I don’t show too much when I’m around them.
“To be honest, Pharrell was more interested in talking to the female models who were there rather than me but he was a nice guy.”
Connor is living a life a world away from his family and friends – and even girlfriend Kayleigh, who is a student and a part-time waitress – but when he is not travelling around the world, he remains a home boy at heart.
He said: “My mum is my biggest fan, she is interested in everything I am doing. She’s always got my back, all my family have.
“My mates take the p**s out of me sometimes but they are always asking me how the job is. I’ve got a lot of support from everyone I work with.
“I’ve taken a shine to Los Angeles. I’ve been twice. It’s 32C and I’m taking a walk down Santa Monica Boulevard or in the Hollywood Hills but I always miss Govan.
“I would like to call Govan home for a while longer. I’m a mammy’s boy. I’m just grateful to everybody who has stuck by me.”