The fashion world has always been a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. But while many top designers and creative directors are gay, on the modelling side representation is still lacking.We spoke to models Billy, Marcus and Reece about being out and queer in the industry, and how things are changing for the better

Fashion and words Joseph Kocharian 

Marcus wears Dior

Photography Eddie Blagbrough

Reece wears Louis Vuitton

Marcus Hodson

How did you get started as a model? 

I got scouted when I was 18, back in Manchester. I did a shoot with a friend from school — she was messing around with photography. I was trying to give it ‘Blue Steel’. Looking back, I was clueless as hell. An agency saw the photos, and within a couple of weeks, I was on their books.

How do you feel about being out and gay in the industry?

For me, it’s been sweet. I think most people struggle with it, but I’ve only really [recently] properly come to terms with being, like, oh yeah, I’m gay and I’m proud. Sometimes the industry can be quite hyper-masculine, and it’s a struggle to be, like, no, this is me, this isn’t what I’m doing. [Being out has] given me confidence to be, like, yeah, fuck it, this is where I’m at, this is what I’m doing. And I’m really grateful for it. I’ve only [recently] started becoming comfortable, especially if I’m in a room with straight lads. I don’t know why I am [like] that. But I’m getting better at it.

”Being LGBTQ+ within modelling gives me more freedom to express myself”

Marcus

Do you still feel quite self-conscious? 

Yeah, I do, which I shouldn’t. But when they’re talking about girls and that, I’ll quite happily chirp in and be, like, “Yeah, she’s beautiful” [laughs]. But since I started dating my boyfriend, I just feel a lot more, like, fuck it, why am I arsed about this? This is who I am. In terms of the toxic masculinity, LGBTQ+ people have found different avenues to excel and express themselves, whereas I think you are quite limited with what you can do as a stereotypical male model. I think being LGBTQ+ within modelling and doing the kind of stuff that I’ve been doing gives me a lot more freedom to express myself. That’s what’s given me the confidence, which is sick, and I absolutely love.

What’s one of your favourite memories of being a model? 

My favourite job ever was when we were shooting a commercial in Vietnam. It was a really quick turnaround, we did the casting and then the next day, it was, like, “Pack your bags, you’re going to Vietnam for a week.” I was, like, “What is happening?” We shot for two days, but we were there for a week, so the rest of the time was just downtime. It was amazing. Our hotel was right on the beach. The last day it was a full moon, and we were, like, “We’ve got to go skinny-dipping. You know, let’s round off the trip properly.” We all went skinny-dipping. Oh my God, it was glow-in-the-dark plankton all around us and the full moon. I remember being there and being overwhelmed by it. I could have died happy then.