Alexey, an early-thirtysomething from Kazakhstan, has a face and spirit you’ll never forget. So, it’s no surprise he spent his first several years in New York City as a high fashion model, gracing runways and being featured in striking  editorials. But that’s only part of the story.

When you look beyond the beautiful face, long hair, and lithe physique, you’ll see something else: A glimmer of the man beneath. The person behind the sass. The gentle smile that hints at the true Alexey underneath, full of limitless depth, heart, and passion.

Yes, he embraces his beauty and has worked long and hard to reach a point where he could give two f*cks about how you feel when it comes to his looks. But only because he’s spent so many years molding himself into what everyone else wanted.

Whether he’s willing to admit it or not, Alexey is a true embodiment of one of my favorite quotes by poet Erin Van Vuren:

I will not be another flower picked for my beauty and left to die. I will be wild, difficult to find, and impossible to forget.

But don’t take my word for it. Let his vulnerability and honesty speak for itself. Experience Alexey’s Pillow Talk journey below:

 

Beauty & Not Giving a F*ck

Not the B*tch Everyone Thinks I Am