Muse of the Month: The Portrait of Philippe

Every month, Meet the Muse will highlight a model present on our platform. For this first edition, discover Philippe, one of the faces of our launch. Between authenticity, determination, and ambition, he agreed to tell us about his journey. Could he be the Muse for your next project? 📸

Proving it to Yourself: How Philippe Launched into Modeling

How did you start in modeling and what attracted you to this profession?

"It was really to make the little version of me proud," Philippe confides right away. His journey is rooted in a childhood marked by discrimination and the judgment of others. "When I was younger, I suffered from discrimination. For a certain period, I was much shorter than my classmates, and it affected me a lot." 👣

One specific sentence acted as a trigger for Philippe. During a conversation between his parents and the parents of a friend at the school gates, Philippe heard: "My son, there is no more hope for him." While his friend received all the praise, he felt left in the shadows. "That was the day I told myself I had to develop, to write my own value. I never want to be disrespected again."

At 20, Philippe finally grew and reached 1m80. He was told he could do commercial modeling. He tried it for three or four months alongside his studies and student jobs. The money earned allowed him to open his first restaurant, but unfortunately, it went bankrupt. Philippe bounced back thanks to his investments and the support of his friends. They believed in him and lent him money to open his second restaurant. 🍽️

"Now that everything is better, I finally have the time to invest in my modeling career. If I hadn't experienced all these difficulties, I probably wouldn't be the person I am today."

For him, there are two types of people, Philippe tells us: "Either you run from the problem, or you want to try to fight it. If I hadn't had these difficulties, I wouldn't have what I have in life now, nor such close friends."

The Philosophy of Contrast 🌓

Beyond collaborations, tell us about your world. What makes you vibrate in life and what are your sources of inspiration?

"The only thing that really makes me live is my objectives and their accomplishments," Philippe explains. For him, self-confidence is born from the ability to keep the word you give to yourself. "When I manage to accomplish what I say, it makes me vibrate. I write my schedule, and even if I don't reach 100% because of the unexpected, but at least 85%, then I am happy." ✅

This quest for accomplishment is accompanied by constant gratitude: giving thanks for what he has, seeing his friends—all of this makes him happy. But it is in contrast that Philippe truly draws his inspiration.

"I have always loved contrasts. Regarding clothing, I love wearing an androgynous style, having a feminine side but with a very masculine face." 👗👔

This contrast extends to his personality. "When I walk in the street, I am very cold. Even on my Instagram, sometimes people tell me I have no emotion. But as soon as people talk to me, they discover that I am, on the contrary, very warm. I love having a hyper-impressive aura when people don't know me, but as soon as I open my mouth, it changes: they discover I am warm and friendly." ❄️🔥

For Philippe, this contrast creates mystery. "When a person has a contrast, it's much more mysterious and you want to discover it, to dig deeper. It's the philosophy I follow in my life, in everything I do. Even when I cook, I like to create surprising contrasts."

When Meet the Muse Changed Everything 🚀

When we contacted you, how did you understand the concept of the platform? And honestly, what convinced you to say yes to becoming one of the faces of our launch?

The first contact was quick. Then, a few days before the shoot, the team contacted him again to confirm his availability: that was when everything became clear. "You really explained the project to me and I finally understood. I said to myself 'this is great, of course I want to participate'."

In an industry where young models often run into unkept promises, Philippe had learned to temper his expectations. "Honestly, I didn't even expect to be paid. In Europe, many shoots for beginners are unpaid, or even worse. The fact of being paid sends a message: my work has value. It’s important. Everyone should be paid for their work. I thank Meet the Muse for making me feel true recognition during the shoot." 💎

Do you think that in your life, this shoot can be useful for your modeling career?

The impact of this collaboration exceeds everything Philippe imagined. "I was talking about it yesterday with a friend who asked me: When did you feel legitimate enough to say: 'I am a model'? For me, you dare to say it when you do big projects. It is really thanks to your shoot that I dared to say it. I had said that I found another model present had a lot of allure and charisma, and someone from your team replied: 'You underestimate yourself, you have a huge amount too.' Just that, it boosted me enormously. The fact that a person working in the industry tells you that is very reassuring. That sentence, I keep it in my head and I will bring it out one day. I will be able to say: 'That was the moment I felt my career take off.'" 🛫

What is Missing in the Industry 📢

Speaking of collaborations, what is missing in your opinion in the way they are done today between models and recruiters?

For Philippe, the main problem remains the lack of transparency, especially regarding finances. "In Asia, it’s more direct: they tell you the amount straight away, it’s yes or no. It’s quite fast, whereas in Europe, we really lack transparency at that level."

The other crucial point concerns the details of the shoot. "I would also say there is a lack of transparency on how the shoots unfold: knowing why we are going to work, having a minimum of details. One day, I did a shoot where the recruiters hadn't briefed us, and I discovered on the spot that it was a shoot for underwear. I really don't like doing those kinds of photos; I'm not comfortable. Imagine arriving at the meeting place and being told: 'Undress and put on boxers.' I was caught off guard, and it showed in the photos; I couldn't be myself. If I had been warned in advance, the result would undoubtedly have been better." ⚠️

This clarity would allow models to prepare better. "It allows you to give your maximum and not be caught unawares. It avoids being embarrassed, and as a result, that particular collaboration was not successful."

The Art of Staying True to Yourself 🌟

In this blog article, is there something you want to share?

"We live in a world where people are starting to become more and more fake, especially in Asia with surgery," Philippe observes with lucidity. His message is clear: "I just want to do modeling and in the end, I really hope to stay humble because I have always been humble in my life. Human beings change, and I hope not to change."

His goal? "I want to show people that they can have confidence in themselves. Unfortunately, nothing is offered to us on a silver platter. I want to work very, very hard and leave a positive footprint on this world." 🌍

Philippe is already thinking about the legacy he will leave. "I want to show my child, or even just one or two people, that you have to work very hard to get what you want. And especially that I didn't fall into surgery or artificiality."

His three priorities summarize his philosophy of life: "First, to be my own role model, to be proud of myself when I am old. Second, for my children. Third, for all my friends, wanting to motivate them and move forward."

Projection into the future

Where do you see yourself in the coming years?

Philippe has a clear vision of his future. "I want to go either to Paris or to China. I think that in France, I would have more chances to break through." 🗼

Philippe's Advice 💡

To finish, what advice would you give to models who want to start in this environment?

His answer surprises with its frankness: "Make shit. No one is born to be good, unless you have talent. But I'm not talking about those people, those who are directly photogenic. If you have that luck, great. But generally, my real advice is: make shit." 💩

He develops his thought: "By making shit, you start somewhere, you start doing something. From the beginning, you build, you learn, you accumulate experience and that's when you're really going to launch yourself. But if you don't even dare to make shit at the beginning, you're never going to launch. After that, it's just going to be a regret: 'I always wanted to do that but I never did it because I never dared to start.'"

His advice then takes on a deeper dimension: "The best advice I can give is: make shit, have fun. That's where you're going to discover your personality, because it's the best way to discover yourself." 🎭

Meet the Muse thanks Philippe for his authenticity and generosity. His journey reminds us that behind every face lies a story, and that true beauty lies in the courage to be oneself.

Do you want to collaborate with Philippe? Book him for your next project or discover other talents on meethemuse.com