AVALON'S REVIEW: MODEL CITY

(from left to right Ibrahim Baaith, Nelson Nieves, Wendell Lissimore, and Zeric Armenteros)



I just got finished watching the new CENTRIC reality series Model City which takes you inside the world of Ibrahim, Nelson, Zeric and Wendell, four black and latino models trying to make it in the tough modeling industry. At first it came off as another generic reality series featuring models until in episode 2 we are introduced to edgy model Zeric. He had me at hello with the tattoos (even had star tattoos in his head), thick muscles and bad boy attitude. What really sold me on this dude was when he showed up at a model party held on the roof of the Gansevoort Hotel with his boyfriend who he introduces everyone to as his 'shorty.'

Model City // Meet Zeric from Centric TV on Vimeo.

For a minute he had everyone at the party gagging especially when he planted a kiss on his boyfriend's lips. While I had to rewind my DVR three times to make sure I heard him refer to his male friend as his 'shorty', at the same time it made me proud. I loved the fact that someone masculine, sexy, and had a thugged-out swagger could be on television and be unappologetic about who he was, especially when black and latino folk aren't as understanding when it comes to homosexuality. It also cracked me up how the other models reacted to it like there was a bit of surprise. How could you be surprised when A) you live in New York and B) you work in the modeling industry. It can't get any gayer than that. As I have said before closets are made for clothes, not people and Zeric is living proof that you can be yourself, love a man freely and openly as well as have it all professionally. So if you have CENTRIC, definitely check out this show. if you don't have CENTRIC, order it on your TV. This is definitely a show that stands on it's own as a rival to tired franchises such as America's Next Top Model and Make Me a Supermodel.

For more on this series, visit centrictv.com.