LIFE LESSONS
Model Jack Guinness
I’m happiest when I’m hung over with my mates, eating rubbish food and pausing the TV constantly to crack jokes
I started the Queer Bible because I wanted to learn more about queer history and share it with young people so they know they walk in the footsteps of the most incredible, beautiful people
LAST YEAR, I GOT TO INTERVIEW HARVEY MILK’S NEPHEW STUART MILK. HE’S ON THE FRONT
LINE, EDUCATING PEOPLE AND CHANGING GLOBAL POLICY TO PROTECT OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY. STUART AND HIS LATE UNCLE’S PHILOSOPHY FOCUSES ON THE POWER OF VISIBILITY, THAT WE SHOULD BE SEEN AND SHOW UP. HARVEY MILK KNEW THERE WAS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT HE WOULD BE KILLED AND HE
KEPT FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY ANYWAY. THAT’S MIND BLOWING
I’m going through the process of mending my heart right now. Eating lots of carbs seems to be helping
The fashion industry is stressful sometimes, but it’s also fun. Whenever I find myself overwhelmed, I remind myself how lucky I am. I could be down a mine or something. My job is literally standing still long enough for someone to take my photo
RECENTLY, WE DID A QUEER BIBLE EDUCATION DAY WITH THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE. WE HAD A GROUP OF 16 TO
25- YEAR- OLD LGBTQ FILMMAKERS WATCHING QUEER SHORTS AND MEETING INDUSTRY INSIDERS. I CHATTED WITH A YOUNG NONBINARY DIRECTOR AND THEY WERE IN TEARS, TELLING ME THEY’D ALWAYS FELT EXCLUDED FROM EDUCATIONAL SPACES AND THAT THE DAY HAD REALLY EMPOWERED THEM. SOMETIMES THE WORLD SEEMS SO HATEFUL, SCARY AND HOPELESS…
My top tips for surviving the fashion industry are to have normal mates who keep your feet on the ground and take the piss out of you mercilessly, and to save your money — for most people it’s a short career so hold on to your cash and have an exit strategy
I did so many weird jobs when I was younger in modelling. Dance around in my pants? Sure! Pose with this hungry tiger? Shall I get in its mouth?! Jump off this glacier holding on to a rope a strange man called Sven is holding? Absolutely! It’s so easy to get caught up in people pleasing so don’t be entitled or rude, but if someone is pushing you to do something you’re not comfortable with, don’t do it
If I wasn’t a model I’ve no idea what I’d do as I’m rubbish at everything
Coming out in your personal life and then being pressured to hide who you are in your professional life is something that happens in so many industries. Because of my look ( think caveman in a suit), I was selling a very narrow type of masculinity and back in the day agents thought people knowing I was gay would affect my career. It was very depressing. Now I get jobs because I’m gay…
IT IS A MYTH THAT THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS FULL OF ARSEHOLES. SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE I’VE EVER MET ARE IN THE INDUSTRY
There have been a lot of lows in my career but some were funny, such as auditioning for adverts where they make you do stuff like crawling around on the floor like a cat, meowing for no apparent reason
The happiest moment of my career was being on the side of a bus. I’m a Londoner so that was a surreal moment
I WISH I COULD TELL MY TEENAGE SELF: “ONE DAY YOU WILL MEET YOUR CHOSEN FAMILY AND LIFE WON’T BE SO TOUGH.” AND MAYBE TO HAVE A FEW MORE EARLY NIGHTS