“Living on Tucker Time” – Model/actor Tucker Des Lauriers With Images by Nick Andrews

By Tom Peaks@MrPeaksNValleys

With a decade of modeling under his belt, 25-year-old Tucker Des Lauriers is full-steam ahead… bringing with him his trademark zeal, authenticity and vigor on top of his handsome looks and natural charisma.

Known for his big smile and thick head of dirty blonde/brown locks, Tucker is multi-talented and has a degree from Hofstra University in Film Production.

“Living on Tucker Time” – Model/actor Tucker Des Lauriers With Images by Nick Andrews

As a model, he’s shot with numerous great photographers in multiple countries, appearing in countless publications and department store ads, as well as walked in Milan for Calvin Klein.

The 6’1” thespian starred in the Oxyen program, “My Crazy Love,” as a New England Patriot fan with a Boston accent – granted, it was not a stretch role for Tucker who is from Massachusetts and is an avid Patriot fan. He loves every aspect of entertainment from set designs to production and direction to acting. He has plans to hit the Hollywood casting scene this winter for pilot season.

When he’s not shooting in Sri Lanka…or being photographed for a spread with beautiful singer/actress Victoria Justice for Cosmo… or working on music video productions… or on an African safari adventure…or hanging out in the mountains of Montana, you can find Tucker partaking in activities like skateboarding, snowboarding, running, skipping rope, or painting.

In high school, the high-energy brown-eyed athlete was into wrestling and football, but let’s face it…all those bruises and broken bones can’t be good for modeling, so Tucker focused on outlets for his creativity.

Recently, Tucker shot with London-based photographer Nick Andrews, creating some fantastic images which you can review here as you read my first interview with Tucker in over 3 years. Enjoy some “Tucker Time”!

Tucker, it’s hard to believe you’re 25 years old now! You have been modeling for a decade, and still going strong. And you’re so multi-talented in your various creative pursuits. Let’s start with modeling. Over the last couple of years, tell us about your favorite or most memorable 2 modeling jobs? You are with Next Models in NYC, but you also recently signed with DT Model Management in LA. Are you considering moving there?

I can’t believe it has been that long! Time really does fly when you’re having fun! Anyway, that’s a tough first question… I think one of my favorite shoots in the past year or so was for Versace. It was this massive production over in Brooklyn with about a 200 person crew and around 25 male models. The first day we were there they had all these mats laid out with marble sculptures and busts surrounding it. Someone came in the back room and said okay, you guys are learning to wrestle today. I was super fired up because of my wrestling background and that’s just what we did during the three-day shoot. I swear there were like 6 cameras rolling at all times, it was awesome!

The other memorable shoot I did that is going to be out this week (December 4th) and it is directly connected to the first professional modeling shoot I ever did. I was discovered by Bruce Weber and he first shot me and my family around our house in Franklin MA for Kids Wear International. I was 15 years old and my entire family, including my girlfriend at the time, was published. Bruce and his team have been amazing to me and family, and we recently bumped into him and some of his crew in New Orleans for Jazz Festival. Well long story short, he reshot my entire family in July out in Montauk for his book, “All-American.” It was 10 years since we all shot together and Bruce wanted to reshoot us and use photos from both shoots. I am incredibly excited to see the pictures!!

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And I am now with DT Model Management in LA. David Todd (DT’s founder) is awesome. I met him in 2012 when I opened for Marlon Gobels show in NYC. So glad it came full circle, and I will be working with him over in LA! I’m planning on heading over to LA for pilot season this January-April. If I land an acting gig, I’ll hang there until further notice, but NYC will always be my home base. And aside from them and Next, I am also signed with Innovative Artists in LA and NYC.

How do you maintain such youthful good looks? I’d never guess you are even 25.

Well gotta thank my mom and dad for that first and foremost! Then I’d say working out and sweating a lot while staying hydrated must help. Then my girls at Kiehl’s! They have been helping me keep my skin nice for years. I mainly use some energizing face lotion and midnight recovery oil!

Tell us how you keep prepared both mentally and physically for a gig when you sometimes are given short notifications. Does the sexy stuff bother you or is that just another day at the office?

Most of the time if I have short notice for a shoot I’ll go to the gym and do some cardio and a quick super set to pump my muscles up. Then, if I have time in the morning before the shoot, I’ll do the same thing. Mentally there isn’t much preparation that I feel myself doing now although I’m sure there’s still some prepping going on. I’m just so use to being on set and I enjoy it so much that I really just look forward to it! The sexy stuff doesn’t bother me at all as long as it is done professionally! Who doesn’t like to feel/look sexy?

Today we’re featuring you recent photo shoot by Nick Andrews aka LensAction. Tell us about that shoot.

Ooo Nick is a beast!!! We actually ended up connecting via Instagram. He reached out to me and said he was going to be in town for a few days and wanted to shoot me. I had just received some clothes from one my new favorite companies, Descendant of Thieves, and figured it would be a great opportunity to shoot some looks in the new clothes and work with someone new. So glad I did that!

I’ve know you for 5-6 years, and I feel like I’ve watched you grow both in your art, but also personally. Models often start out so young, is it a disadvantage that often times they lack the maturity in those early years? What would be your advice to a newcomer?

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Do what you love, trust your instincts. To Thine own self be true. And always be aware and find what interests you.

You started out modeling at 15 years old after being recruited on a family vacation in Provincetown, Mass. by Bruce Weber and his scouts. You have been outspoken in your defense of Bruce during the ongoing allegations against him of inappropriate behavior. Tell us about your experience with him and why you took the option to publicly defend him.

Bruce is one of nicest, thoughtful and generous people I have ever met in my left. He goes out of his way to make those he cares about feel special. He is responsible for me being a model and introducing me to life on set, something I have loved and will continue to love for the rest of my life. It saddens me what was said about him because from all of my experiences with him, through the 10 years I’ve known him, he has only gained my respect and been nothing but professional and helpful.

“Bruce is one of nicest, thoughtful and generous people I have ever met in my left.”

I believe you have now graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in TV, Video & Film Production with a stellar GPA. You worked on writing, production, directing, shooting and editing during that time. So, have you determined what you like best and which avenue you most want to pursue in life if you don’t end up acting?

I will be acting forever… that’s for sure! And my degree helps out with that in numerous ways. I am still shooting and editing music videos, and have been working on writing a film for a few months now. My goal is to direct, produce and act!

You have done countless projects in front of and behind the scenes in film and video. But tell us about 2 of you most memorable accomplishments.

I shot a music video for my best friend and rapper, Skunkz, in Montana at my family ranch. Skunkz has had a less fortunate upbringing and was part of my life since middle school. We’ve done everything together and have shot a couple of music videos together, but every year I travel to Montana and he had never even seen mountains before.

So getting to experience him going out there and living it up while shooting a music video, was one of the best moments ever. The video is called “In Pursuit” – Skunkz and is on You Tube if anyone wants to see!

The second music video I ever made I was in college and a friend at the time wanted my help with a music video. So I met with the artists, talked ideas and visions, next thing I was ordering props online and reserving spaces to shoot. I did all the artistic design for the sets and filmed everything. My friend at the time edited it and it happened to get on MTV.com. So that was pretty cool! The video is “Workin For It” – Justbpolo.

What are 2 things about Tucker Des Lauriers that fans, such as those who follow your social media, would be actually surprised to learn about you?

I’ve held my breath underwater for 3:33
I wasn’t always “fit”

I know how close you are to your family from social media. And your Father actually came out as gay years ago and ultimately married another man. I know you’re still very close to him today. But, tell us how that impacted you initially, and what you learned about people and yourself through this experience.

It really broadened my prospective on people and societies. It was in 06 or 07 when they divorced, and I was unaware and thought to be gay meant you wanted to be a woman. I remember my dad explaining to us that he is still the same guy we’ve always known, that this was always inside of him somewhere and he kept ignoring it out of fear.

“He explained why he thought he was gay, and that it didn’t mean he didn’t love our mom.”
Tucker Des Lauriers

He still loved her but the kind of love was different. He still tells me today how much he loves her. The whole experience made me a better person. It really expressed to me that: you never know what someone else is dealing with; always treat people how you want to be treated, put yourself in someone else shoes before you do anything.

What can we expect from you in the year ahead, Tucker?

More acting work!!

Okay, so time for the PnV/Fashionably Male Flash Bulb Round…quick, short responses to mostly stupid questions.

2 things you most enjoy about your family’s ranch in Hamilton, Montana:

The raw, untouched beauty and the stars.

How bad did you feel for us Atlanta Falcon fans when we choked vs New England in Super Bowl 50 ( I still re-live his daily):

Hahahaha I feel really bad for you guys, BUT ONE HELL OF A GAME!

Best show on network TV? Netflix? Cable?

“Atlanta” and “Rick and Morty”.

Favorite brand and style of underwear?

Boxer briefs and Versace or Calvin Klein.

Who are you praying to run for president in 2020?

Someone properly suitable for the job.

Favorite thing to do at Christmas? Fave holiday food?

Play games with my family! I’m the worst with sweets, so those holiday cookies are definitely my favorite. My mom makes the best ones 😉

Most famous person(s) you ever met?

Russel Symons, Paris Hilton, Charles Schwab, Mark Cuban, Jon Voight.

Would you prefer to play strip poker or go to a nude beach?

Strip Poker.

Largest fish you ever caught?

I just saw it when I was back home for Thanksgiving! I can’t remember what kind of fish but end to end, it was from the floor up my leg, it stopped mid-thigh.