E113 - Lessons & Stories From the Most Successful Male Model Ever | David Gandy

First Things THRST - A podcast by Mike Thurston - Thursdays

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» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/In this episode, the British supermodel David Gandy joins the show. The man who defined an era of male modelling reveals why he walked away from guaranteed money to build something bigger. After watching female models launch empires while male models remained stuck as "clothes hangers," he made a calculated bet: turn down the certain payday, take back ownership of his image, and build a business that would outlast his modelling career.Now, at the top of his game, he runs his own brand "Wellwear" which has seen enormous success over the last few years, and it's only on the rise. David dives into his take on why AI will devastate the modelling industry and the coffee brand strategy that's generating more long-term value than any campaign ever could.00:00 Introduction01:30 Getting scouted late and breaking into male modelling03:52 Early modelling stigma and the shift toward aspiration07:44 Struggles with sample sizes and building a unique fit11:36 Gym injuries, competitive edge, and learning to scale back15:28 Training, longevity, and dedication through every era19:20 Campaign prep, appearance tricks, and dietary tweaks23:12 Behind launching a clothing line and early business lessons27:04 Why fashion’s a brutal industry for newcomers30:56 Collaborating without conflict and owning your brand image34:48 Exiting M&S, brand evolution, and staying relevant38:40 Modelling’s unpredictability and carving your own path42:32 AI models, declining rates, and the future of modelling46:24 Debunking modelling myths and why few succeed50:16 Moments of doubt and surviving early rejection57:59 Embracing discomfort, training consistency, and hard truths01:01:51 Crafting a personal brand by staying selective01:05:43 Designing legacy beyond his own image01:09:35 Mentorship, new faces, and passing the torch01:13:27 Aging, grey hairs, and why 30s are underrated01:17:19 Escaping social media and the battle for attention» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join @WHOOP and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow David«Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidgandy_official/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.davidgandywellwear.com/