Josh Watson, lives in the United Kingdom. I first saw Josh through Instagram, as he was competing in powerlifting and through YouTube when he was featured on Fit Media Channel as he competed in a physique competition.
Josh was on reality TV as an actor in Big Brother UK.
Josh had an interview with the Only Fans website in which he described his background as well as his positive experience with Only Fans.
Physique Competitor and Fitness Model
According to an interview with Greatest Physiques blog, Josh participated in Judo when he was nine through his mid-teens. At 15 years old, Josh started weight training with his dad.
In 2016. Josh did a workout with James Alexander-Ellis.
Josh went on to compete at the Miami Pro contest from 2014 through 2017. Josh won the Miami Pro in 2017. During 2017, Josh also had a photoshoot with Photographer Simon Barnes.
Josh also won the title of Devon’s Strongest Man in 2017.
In 2018, Josh participated in a photoshoot with Photographer Arron Dunsworth.
Photoshoots
Box Menswear
Texas
Josh was at the Box Menswear photoshoot in the United States in 2019. Josh had many great images from Texas. I have selected a few for this blog post. (Box Menswear: jockstraps, trunks, and briefs)
There was also a Box Menswear photoshoot in Thailand. I selected some photos from that photoshoot for this blog post.
Rhys Sachett, Josh Watson, and Thomas. Photo by Jake O’Donnell. Swim shorts-Box.
Conclusion
Josh, after his time at Big Brother UK, has had success in the gym—winning a physique contest and a strongest man contest—and in fitness modeling. Josh has had many photoshoot opportunities.
Josh was involved in two huge photoshoot trips for Box Menswear, in Thailand and in the United States.
According to his portfolio page at his modeling agency, City Models, Kyle is 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall with a 31 inch (78.7 cm) waist. Kyle is also associated with the NUMA Network.
Kyle relaxes during the weekend.
A One-Time YouTuber
In doing a search on YouTube, I found that Kyle had been a fitness YouTuber starting about 8 years ago. At the time, Kyle was focused more on bodybuilding. A transformation video received 2.3 million views in 2013, according to an interview of Kyle in a Canadian newspaper.
Mens Physique vs. Bodybuilding
In mens physique, the contestants wear board shorts and do semi-flexed body poses. The emphasis is on overall physique not muscularity. The categories are determined by height. According to the Canadian Physique Alliance, contestants are rated on the following criteria:
Muscularity and body condition
On-stage presence and personality
Posing shorts (board shorts)
In contrast, bodybuilding is based on muscularity. There are specific flexing poses, and the classes are based on weight. Competitors wear posing briefs.
Bantamweight — up to and including 65 kg / 143 lb.
Lightweight — up to and including 70 kg / 154 lb.
Middleweight — up to and including 80 kg / 176 lb.
Light-heavyweight — up to and including 90 kg / 198 lb.
Heavyweight — up to and including 100 kg / 220 lb.
While at the Texas Box Menswear photoshoot, Kyle was in pre-contest condition. In October 2019, after the Texas photoshoot, Kyle competed in and won the novice mens physique division at the 2019 St. John Fall Classic in Canada. Kyle had some photos from the contest period.
In early 2019, Kyle was in New York for a photoshoot for Box Menswear, with Photographer Jade Young. Also, at that photo shoot was New York-based model Josh Riquelme.
Kyle Hynick at Photographer Jade Young’s studio for Box Menswear.
When Kyle posted these photos on Instagram, I thought they were a photomontage. (No one in the crowds of people is looking at him.) Nevertheless, the 2019 photos are really in Times Square, New York City. Someone who saw him there wrote a comment.
Check out a related blog post on Times Square, Calvin Klein billboard ads and today’s fitness influencers.
In early 2020, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, Kyle went to Miami, Florida for a photoshoot with Photographer Michael A. Downs.
While in Florida, Kyle did a photo shoot with Photographer Steven Schmidt. Photographer Schmidt mentioned that Seth Holbrook connected him with Kyle. I have noticed how the models from the Box Menswear photo shoot in Texas have supported each other.
I had an opportunity to ask Tom about his fitness modeling and other interests by e-mail. He provided responses which are detailed below.
How did you become interested (a) in weight training and (b) in being a fitness model?
“I started training just to get in shape and over time my physique kept progressing and after 6 years of training I decided to step on stage and compete in the UKUP competition.”
Author’s note: Tom had written some blog posts on his 2017 training at his blog for back and for biceps.
Did you participate in athletics before or while weight training for physique contests? When did you become focused on your fitness model workouts for competition?
“I used to play rugby and swim until the aged of 19. Aged 19 I stopped all sport and took up weight training until I competed aged 25.”
How have you adjusted your training and nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic?
“Yes I have had to do more ‘CrossFit’ style workouts from home to keep my cardio and weights combined. I can’t wait for the gyms to re-open!!”
What advice would you give to guys looking to become a fitness model?
“Stay consistent with your diet and training but only pursue being a fitness model if you enjoy the process of getting lean and you enjoy being in front of a camera / the spotlight.”
How have you liked working in the fitness industry and with clothing companies? Any things you would want to see improved?
“I have liked working with brands over social media but I would like to see more fitness events that bring like minded people together. There seems to be a couple of big expos per year. I would like to see brands host events on a monthly basis! I enjoy socialising (if you can’t tell).”
Any hobbies or interests outside of your own training?
“My hobbies outside of training would be Crossfit, Content creating (Youtube & TikTok), Visiting nice beach clubs with good pool parties and I like playing online poker too.”
Stealth Nutrition, a Lifestyle Nutrition, Workout Supplement Brand
Tom owns Stealth Nutrition, a lifestyle nutrition brand. Stealth Nutrition focuses on providing designer workout supplements–from pre-workout to nootropic brain support. Check out Stealth Nutrition’s website for further information.
Tom is in process of taking photographs for his brand. Some behind-the-scenes photos follow.
Tom, with Videographer Johann Overmeer
Tom Seed: Mens Physique and Fitness Model Competitor
Tom competed in his first Mens Physique competition in 2019. Tom discussed his contest preparation story in a YouTube video.
Tom shows a transformation video showing how he transformed his physique while going from 160 pounds to 139 pounds.
In another video, Tom shows his contest shape as well as excerpts from his mens physique contest where he won third place.
Following the mens physique contest, Tom participated in a fitness model contest and won first place.
Photoshoots
Alex Wightman
During the COVID-19-related lock-down in 2020, Tom had a photo shoot with Photographer Alex Wightman that complied with the physical distancing needed during the period and still produced great images for Tom’s portfolio.
(Tom’s workout shorts, Box Menswear and Jed North. Interesting note–Alex Wightman was one of the photographers at Box Menswear’s photoshoot in the United States.)
Alex Botic
Tom had a photoshoot with Photographer Alex Botic. Tom mostly was in workout clothing. Tom wore jeans and jeans and a leather jacket in some of the photos. The black and yellow swim brief is from Danny Miami. The denim jeans in one of the photos are from Carpe Omnia. (I do not have the brand for the shorts.)
Tom also had a gym photoshoot with Photographer Peter Fletcher of Muscle Mountain Photography. (Peter Fletcher was a photographer at Box Menswear’s Texas photoshoot in 2019.)
Tom collaborated with Dan Tai for a fitness model vs. CrossFit squat challenge. Tom got thirty reps on squats is a great result. (Dan, with amazing tree-trunk thighs, got 38.)
In a 2018 workout/lifestyle video log, Tom shared the activities of his day as well as a leg training session with Dan Tai.
Author’snote: This blog has more posts with fitness model Dan Tai.
As a side note, Tom and Dan hosted a fitness retreat in Ibiza, Spain, in June 2019.
Tom Models for Armani and Mens Health in Manchester
On another YouTube video, Tom provides information on how he and a friend walked on a fitness photoshoot with Armani and Mens Health UK.
Tom is getting a great started on his fitness modeling career as well as having great success in physique competitions. I appreciate his responses to my questions. I look forward to seeing more success from him in the future.
Please like, share, and comment. It helps me know what content the readers want to read.
Introduction
This blog is about menswear, mostly about athletic clothing. The models that wear the photos are inescapably part of the industry as their physiques carry the brands’ clothing. The first model I will start with is Josh Riquelme, who I first saw with Box Menswear.
I remember seeing him on YouTube a little while back.
Josh Riquelme, 22 (at the time of this post in February 2020), is from upstate New York. He became represented male model, with BMG Models, in 2019, according to an Instagram post.
Before becoming a signed model, Josh had his YouTube channel where he posted about his preparation for a mens physique competition as well as modeling photoshoots. His videos started in 2016, then had about a three-year break. After that break, he started making videos again.
This blog post will cover Josh’s social media pages, his men’s physique preparation, his return to YouTube after a break and then his photoshoots that he has posted about on his social media channels.
Josh seems to favor Instagram and YouTube, so this blog post will feature the posts that he uploaded on those sites.
YouTube
Mens Physique Competitor, 2016
Josh competed in a mens physique contest while a teenager. He covered his contest preparation on his YouTube account in 2016.
Josh prepared for a contest just after he graduated high school. He was 19 and a social media marketing coordinator. He started a video log to show his progress as he got into contest shape.
While doing the contest preparation, Josh also did a photoshoot with lifestyle shots.
Contest Preparation Macronutrients
Josh explained that his contest preparation macronutrients (aka macros) break down was–
Contest cut: 200 g protein, 250 g carbohydrates, and 55 g fat. For carbohydrates and protein, each gram is 4 calories and for fat, each gram is 9 calories. So the calories for Josh’s macros were 2295.
Refeed (for days to regain energy): 180 g protein, 390 carbohydrates, and 50 g fat. The calories for this was 2730.
Josh ultimately earned his pro card at his contest.
Contest Shape Transformation
Josh has a YouTube video showing his progression from the start of his contest preparation through his final contest shape and winning his pro card.
He started contest preparation at about 165 pounds (74.8 kg) and competed at about 148 pounds (67.5 kg).
After the Show
After the YouTube videos covering this contest, there were no updates to the channel until mid-2019. Josh prepared a video explaining what had happened in an update video.
Josh discussed his observations about his journey through depression and after depression on an Instagram page.
Several of the newer videos were about Josh demonstrating the workouts he performs to develop and maintain his physique. Unlike other videos with muscular fitness models, Josh also shows his personality in the videos. This helps the viewer see the person who is a fitness model as well as gaining workout inspiration. This is in line with the level of disclosure Josh showed in discussing his bout with depression.
The photos from this photoshoot were for clothes on the Box Menswear website. I picked a few of them for this blog post.
Box Menswear Underwear Shoot
Box Menswear Underwear Shoot
BoxMenswear Underwear Shoot
Below are some behind-the-scenes photos.
Texas
Following that, Josh went to the Box Menswear photoshoot in Texas. Josh did a YouTube video log of part of his trip. (Kyle Hynick, who was with Josh in New York, also was in Texas.)
While Josh was at the Texas photoshoot for Box Menswear, he was able to create excellent images with the photographers. One from Photographer Jake O’Donnell from Australia.
A post shared by Peter Fletcher (@musclemountainphotography) on
Josh also went to the Liverpool, U.K., headquarters of Box Menswear in late 2019, with plans to return to Liverpool from March 15 to 30, 2020, according to Josh’s YouTube vlog and his Instagram.
Josh’s First Time on the U.S. West Coast
Josh also recorded his experience going to the West Coast of the United States for the first time–Nevada and California.
Josh did a photoshoot with Photographer Joem Bayawa, which was in Eroticco Magazine. Josh was wearing Marcuse, a menswear brand based in Australia, in one photo.
In another photo, Josh wore briefs from Bench/Body, a clothing brand based in the Philippines.
Josh has done some photoshoots with Brooklyn, New York-based Photographer Rob Anthony. I think the two of them have created awesome images. Photos from their work often become fast favorites (like the top photo of this post).
From starting with gym training, to competing in mens physique and building his social media pages, especially Instagram and YouTube, and finally becoming a male model, Josh appears to be moving up in the fitness model industry. In addition, he appears to be a personable and friendly guy, that side comes through on his video logs.
I enjoy training legs in the gym. The legs happen to be a big muscle group and I love to do squats, walking lunges, and deadlifts. Many shorts are too long and interfere with leg exercise form.
Perhaps, some guys have great leg development and are physique or bodybuilding or are workout enthusiasts who are concerned about muscle size and development. These guys might want to see the legs working while they exercise.
For fitness enthusiasts or people just starting out with weight training, leg day is the day that exercises for the legs (quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves) are done.
Dan Tai
Some people train legs more than one time per week following a full-body training routine. Others do a body-part split training routine. The all parts of the legs could be worked on the same day or the quads, hams, and calves are trained on different days.
The legs, especially the quads and hams are huge muscle groups that carry our bodyweight everyday. Because of this the legs can handle a lot of weight and be exhausting to train. The reward is well-toned legs.
Matt Does Fitness and Mike Thurston
I typically focus on the barbell squat and deadlift for leg day. I have found that shorts that do not get in the way on the movement are better.
These shorts are not marketed for leg day. I received a pair of the Max Wyatt white sports shorts as part of my order from Box Menswear. I had a leg day workout with barbell squats and deadlifts, so I decided to try them on for it.
The fabric is light, thin, and soft. I would not wear white to the gym. My feeling is that white is a high-care color; anything other than white will stain it. Since my workout was at home, I could overlook this worry.
For leg day, the sport shorts were perfect–the right length and room for me to execute perfect deep, high-rep barbell squats. The same was true for barbell deadlifts.
Stay Shredded, based in Australia, makes shorts designed for leg day. The shorts, named quads for the gods lifting shorts, have a lining like swimwear and a short length (mid-thigh) to allow the flexibility for leg exercises, like squats and deadlifts.
The website states that the fabric composition of the shorts is polyester and cotton. See the website for the size chart for the shorts.
Model Kevi Kinetic at the gym.
My Review
I ordered these shorts to try them out. At the time that I ordered, the sizes that I was looking at (L & XL) were only available in certain colors. I ordered the black with white logo and the black with black logo.
When I tried them on they felt a bit tight around the hips but overall there was good support and flexibility.
I did a workout with them, particularly high-rep squats and walking lunges. The shorts worked well for both the exercises. Going deep with the squats was no problem with these shorts.
They have quickly become one of my favorite shorts for leg day.
Care Instructions
The lifting shorts have cotton in them. Cotton, the company explains, can shrink in the first wash, if the shorts are not washed correctly.
Thus, Stay Shredded recommends washing the shorts by hand in cold water or dry clean only.
For drying, the company recommends drying on a flat surface or hanging on a clothing hanger.
2Eros Icon Shorts
The company, 2Eros, is based in Australia. The shorts, S01 Icon shorts, have a mesh brief, are mid-thigh. The shorts are designed for swimwear as well as working out, according to the description on the website. A physique enthusiast named Aziz Sergeyevich Shavershian (1989-2011), also known as Zyzz, used to wear these shorts in his social media posts.
2Eros S01 Icon shorts.
The fabric for the shorts is 100 percent polyester and the mesh brief is made of polyester Elastane. A potential issue is that the shorts tend to be small. Check out the 2Eros size chart before buying.
Strong Lift Wear
Strong Lift Wear is a fitness clothing company based in Australia. Of the shorts available on the Strong Lift Wear website, I liked the premium lift shorts for the colors, length, and design. The premium lift shorts are marketed for leg day but they could be used for a cardio session or just relaxing at home as well. The fabric composition is 94 percent polyester and 6 percent spandex. The shorts are made in China.
My Review
I selected the XL size (orange bolt color). It is hard to find the size guide. I have found sometimes that sizes for clothes from Australia can be on the smaller side. After an Internet search, I found the size guide.
I ordered the shorts (before the COVID-19 pandemic) from the US-based website. (The shorts still are shipped from Australia using Australia Post.) At the time I ordered, I was offered a deal to add socks for 10 US dollars and I accepted that.
I had no issues with the shipping before the pandemic. During the pandemic, international mail is affected as flights are being disrupted for the moment.
Shipping and COVID-19-related disruptions. For United States readers, there is a United States Postal Service webpage that details international postal service disruptions. In addition, Australia Post has a webpage for international mail deliveries affected by COVID-19. There are delays in shipments to the United States.
The shorts arrived in a large mailing envelope. Inside, the shorts were in a plastic bag and the sock was in plastic in the same envelope.
The lift shorts have a liner. It is the wearer’s preference to wear the shorts with or without underwear. The shorts fit great and I used them for an at-home HIIT workout and weight-training session.
The length of the shorts was perfect for HIIT training with lots of exercises similar to what was done in my physical education classes in the United States (mountain climbers, burpees, jumping jacks, and so on). The shorts were perfect with the weight-training portion of my routine as well.
I am very happy with the lift shorts. I will order another pair.
Care Instructions
According to the label on the shorts, the shorts can be machine washed with warm water (no bleach) and tumble dry low, removing promptly from the dryer.
Conclusion
Leg day is much talked about because the legs are such a large muscle group that takes effort and energy to train. The benefits of having well-conditioned legs makes the effort worth it.
The shorts (in this post) that have been designed for leg day have worked well. The high quality of the Strong Lift Wear shorts impressed me.
Are there other shorts that you like for leg day? Any favorite leg day exercises or routines you would like to share? Let me know through a comment.
Valentine’s Day is a holiday where love is celebrated. The holiday celebrates the relationship with your loved one (or maybe you are getting ready for a great relationship) with food, chocolate, and so on.
Some selections from Box Menswear can also assist you find men’s underwear for Valentine’s Day to present your best self not only for Valentine’s Day but for the rest of the year.
Men’s leggings have proven to be popular at the Box website. Guys seem to love them; their loved ones could love them as well. The leggings have 100 percent bamboo viscose come in grey and white.
Model Dominic (Dom) Calvani by Photographer Guilherme Licurgo.
Introduction
While researching for clothing and brands in the men’s fashion niche, it is impossible to ignore the models that the brands select to wear their items in promotional materials. The male models that are featured in the campaigns tend to have fit and muscular physiques usually with prominent abdominal muscles.
Comment: In doing part-time social media work for Box Menswear, I have seen a blog post on the use of muscular models rather than guys that look like most men do. Box Menswear’s owner, Luke Mills, has featured all physique types for his brand. However, the guys that model for paid work tend to have a muscular physique.
Nevertheless, as I go about my social media work for Box Menswear as well as my own blog, I do look for average-physique guys that seek to promote their images for brands. If a reader knows of models like this, please leave a comment or send an email to info at menswearnews.com.
Male Model Discovery: Dominic (Dom) Calvani
One model that I discovered through Instagram is Dominic (Dom) Calvani. Dom did a photoshoot with Photographer Jade Young (see photo below), who has photographed several male models for Box Menswear. Dom has a strong, masculine look and muscular physique. I was interested in finding out more about Dom as well as his background.
Based on Dom’s Instagram page, Dom is an athlete, a model, an engineer, and a big daddy who is from Brazil. According to a 2018 blog post at All American Guys, Dom was 30 years old (birthdate April 15 (Aries)). At the time of this post in January 2020, Dom would be 31 or 32. Perhaps this is the reason for the “big daddy” reference on his Instagram bio.
I was interested to find out some more information, so I searched on Dom’s name in Google to see what search results I would get. I found a 2018 interview with Wire Magazine through Men and Underwear blog.
Dominic’s Interview with Wire Magazine
In an interview with Wire Magazine by Rafa Carvajal, Dom explained that he had an athletic background in mixed martial arts (MMA), specifically in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Dom had to leave MMA due to suffering serious injuries.
Dom, when asked by Rafa Carvajal to describe himself in three words responded “eccentric, unconventional, and dominant.”
Dom also told Wire that his family has roots in Calabria, Italy. However, he grew up in Brazil and lives in the United States. For work, Dom is involved in software engineering, supply-chain management, and real estate investing. On the side, he poses for photoshoots and dances.
Rather than just a body to model products, male models have great background stories as people. Dom Calvani is one example of this. I found out about Dom through one of his modeling photoshoots.
Dom, with his photographers, creates stunning images. Dom also has a great life story. I wish him well in all parts of his life.
