Canadian Male Model: Dax Gramuglia – Manhunt 2009

Famewatchers, meet Dax Gramuglia, a 22 year old Canadian model who won the recent Manhunt Canada modeling competition earning him the right to represent his country to this year’s Manhunt International joining the likes of Pakistani Javed Iqbal and Costa Rica’s Mauricio Mayorga.

Here’s a write-up on Dax from North Vancouver’s North Shore News:

A young North Vancouver man will be making his way onto the world stage this fall where he hopes to jumpstart his career by taking away the top prize at an international modelling competition.

At the end of June, Deep Cove resident Dax Gramuglia, 22, won Manhunt Canada, a pageant held in B.C. that judged aspiring male models based on their walks, physiques, and ability to pull off a variety of outfits, as well as their personalities.

“They want to make sure you have a good personality and you’re in it for the right reasons — you’re not super arrogant but you’re confident,” says the bartender, who first caught wind of the competition in 2007, while getting his hair cut by the same stylist he’d been going to for years.

“We kind of did this crazy Mohawk cut and she took a photo. One of her other clients was an agent and director for the show and asked me to be in it. I was like ‘OK, sure,’” he explains.

Gramuglia made it to the finals in that year’s contest and decided to try his luck again this time around at a heat held at West Vancouver’s Ocean Club.

Contestants were asked to model swimwear, evening wear, and casual wear and compete in a category called Mr. Photogenic.

“They had two photographers do an indoor shoot and an outdoor shoot and you’d only have 10 frames. Whoever had the best shots out of those won,” says Gramuglia.

“I usually photograph pretty well so I know that I did really well in that.”

Although he admits he’s generally a shy guy, Gramuglia says he tries not to get too nervous before competing.

“I don’t get too spooked about many things. . . . I just get excited because I take myself out of my own element and just enjoy it.”

He also tries to match his attitude to the look he’s sporting.

“So for my swimwear and in the last heat we also did underwear, I was a little more smiley, a little more flirty. But not overly done where you lose the class of the event.”

As winner of the national pageant, Gramuglia took home $500 in cash, prizes from Helly Hansen and Biotherm Homme, a shoot with Vancouver-based Sweat Under Gear and a ticket to the international competition, which will be held in Shanghai, China later this year.

“I’m really excited to travel, it’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” says Gramuglia.

“When this opportunity came up, it’s not only like a cool circumstance to go under, but it allows me to travel and see things that I might not be able to do for another couple of years, so I’m really stoked.”

Each of the 50 finalists chosen will be wearing at least one look that represents their mother country, he adds.

“We’re working on some ideas, we might do something RCMP related. Something a little more fun just to really incorporate the audience.”

As a newcomer to the industry, Gramuglia is planning on making the most of his trip by networking with professionals who are at the competition.

“I’m just really hoping to get great exposure and meet a lot of people, photographers, agents, and hopefully continue opening doors and move this forward,” he says, adding he thinks everybody has a little part of them that secretly wouldn’t mind being a model.

“I’m having a lot of fun with it and if the opportunity comes knocking than you try and answer the door.”

Related posts:

1. Yvan Cournoyer: Canadian Model and Bodybuilder
2. Marvin Raymundo: Mr Personality Part II
3. Javed Iqbal, Pakistan: Manhunt International
4. Turkish Men in Underwear: Tolgahan Sayisman’s Swimwear
5. Theresa Marie Fenger: Fil-Canadian Actress in Manila