All Access Victoria's Secret

Being booked to provide comedic relief at the Victoria's secret fashion show is actually a lot harder than it may sound but it was a task that was completely worth it. Now if you read my previous post you know that I was booked to be an improv actor for the 2009 Victori'a secret fashion show. However, if you saw the show on CBS on DEC 1st you may have realized that you did not see me. "What happened?" you might ask, well here goes.

The night before the Victori'as secret fashion show was the rehearsal. Now this was the major rehearsal with all the effects, the Black Eyed Peas, Supermodels with wings and yours truly Sandhurst Miggins. Now to this point my co-host and I were told that we were basically going to be doing commentary backstage. Fooling around with the models, hold up that didn't sound right, lets try this again, playing with the models, hmm even worse. Okay just having fun backstage. Now here is where I started to see a problem with this vision. From a creative standpoint, having two guys backstage cracking jokes could be funny if executed well, however this is a fashion show and as a model myself backstage gets so hectic that no one is in the mood to laugh, even though the models look like they are smiling backstage as the run to change, they know the deal. They know the camera is on them and as such the smile and the "Oh I am having such a great time look is pasted on for the world to see" when in reality its more of a "Get out of my (insert obscenities here )way, I have to go on again in 2 seconds."

During the rehearsals everything was kept light, the models were having fun. I was trying not to faint and go into complete groupie mode as I started conversing with the likes of Chanel Iman Alessandra Ambrossi, Sessilee Lopez, Aminata, Marissa, Miranda and a really fun loving Candice Swanepoel who actually knew who I was. I had an excellent time backstage. It was a great experience interacting with some of the girls. Sessilee and I broke it down for the cameras hamming it up backstage. We even had a mock soultrain line going. I didn't think the night could get any better but then it did. One of the models had yet to show up so they asked me to be a stand in for her and walk the runway. So there I am waiting for my cue as Channel Iman walks out right before me. Walking the VS runway I must admit even though it was a dress rehearsal is extremely intimidating but it was fun. As I took my four seconds to pose at the crest of the runway I was like "Damn this is CRAZY!" Turning back to walk to the other side of the V I was completely caught off guard as Alessandra Ambrossi the Longest VS Angel beside Heidi walked out. The Woman is hot and being that close to her on the runway was almost too much I actually stumbled a bit by the shock of seeing her walk out after me. I think the moment became almost too big for me but I digress. The night was a success even though my partner and I were still unaware of exactly how tomorrow's show was going to work with the craziness of backstage.

The next morning as I woke up at 7 for my 11 o'clock call I was greeted by an email from Robert of Victoria's Secret with the Subject "Actor's Cancelation." Yes I had ben axed, fired, sacked, let go, released, I had been deprived of an even greater experience to top the one that I had last night yet all I could think of was "Yeah that's fine and all but I still get to see the show right?" I replied to the email thanking them for the opportunity and asked if I could still come see the show. A speedy yes was given to me and even though I still had my all access pass that was issued to me the night before for the actual show I was given two extra tickets. Not bad for a guy who two weeks ago was trying to sneak into the event. I was still going to get compensated for the job and I got to go backstage, it was great.

To let you all in, the cancellation was due to just what I had suspected the night before. Backstage was just going to be to crazy on the night of the show to have extra people there and they decided to get rid of the actors before we got a chance to get in the way. So is the way of the entertainment world, you have to be understanding. I didn't care though I got to interact with the most beautiful women in the world and I got to see both tapings of the show, once in the audience from, really great seats and once from the control tower right behind the director. I truly got an all-round all access pass to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Hi All,

Hope you had a great Thanks giving I know I did. I decided to take some time to update the blog about what has been going on with my career. I know some of my fans have been wondering what I have been up too since leaving NYMM so I apologize for the delay.

Now if you are one of my friends on Facebook you may have noticed that I was updating my status frequently about the Victoria's secret Fashion show, well here is the scoop.

When on the 1st of November I found out that the Victoria's Secret Fashion show was headed back to NYC I decided that I had to find a way to get in to see the show. It was kind of like one of those things I had to do before I die kind of motive. I found out that the show was actually going to be taped on the 19th of November so I began a mad campaign called operation Find Victoria's Secret. It was basically an initiative to find any contact that I knew who would possibly be able to get me into the show.

A week had passed and after I spoke to models, stylists, make up artists and producers no one had a lead on how to get into the show so I decided to let the issue rest for a moment. As I was searching the internet for castings for Broadway I came across a casting for the Victoria's Secret Fashion show searching for Female Dancers, as someone who is familiar with the production I knew they usually had an all female dance crew so though I wasn't surprised I sat back and said "Damn they should have had a call for guys. I would have definitely gotten to see the show then." Three days later as I was checking the internet for castings again, my prays had been answered. There, illuminated on my laptop screen was a casting for Male Dancers for the Victoria's Secret Fashion show. "What luck" one might say after reading my last sentence but no, it was not meant to be. The date of the casting happened to be the same day I found it and the start time was the same time I was reading it, so getting from queens to Manhattan in 1 second all warmed up and ready to go was out of the question.

Now you might say this is when you gave up. No I refused to give up I kept telling myself someone of my contacts would come through and be able to sneak me into the venue. Maybe I could be a production assistant, maybe Bravo needed someone to cover the event somehow I was getting in. Five days before the show and I'm again searching for castings for TV, Broadway and any interesting projects and there it was Victoria's Secret Fashion Show searching for Male Improv Actors. Cue the celestial choir. Now, to tell you the truth, I have only had one acting class in my entire life, an acting for dancers course my first semester, freshman year so I would not exactly call myself an actor and improv comedy...ah...yeah about that, but I was determined to find a way into the VS fashion show. The call was scheduled for the next day so I had enough time to both psych myself up slash freak myself out as to the embarrassment of not knowing what I was going to do, however, I have never been one to care about being qualified to do something.

On entry to the casting I was met by around 25 other men ranging in age and ethnicity but all seemed to be seasoned vets at comedy and acting. There were some who had Nationally syndicated commercials, about five Law and Order, what I like to call third cop from the left's and the rest were stand up comics. Feeling completely out of my element yet strangely confident I walked into the room with two other actors and was asked by the Director of the VS production to act out various scenarios. To say I had a blast is an understatement. I thoroughly enjoyed making a fool of myself in the hopes of possibly seeing the most beautiful women in the world in lingerie. Surprisingly I was one of ten guys asked to stay for a second round of improv while everyone else was released. The second round of improv was basically movement based, no words just physical comedy. I must say this time I thought my performance was a bit weak but it still garnered some laughs from the director and his assistants. At the end we were given the "We will call if we are interested" line and then were sent home.

This was it, only 4 days left and this was my last chance to get into the 2009 Victoria's secret fashion show. As I got home from the casting, continuously replaying the days events, I decided that I needed to take a nap and just relax. If I got it then great, if I didn't then next year. Two hours later, I got up from my nap and literally five seconds after opening my eyes my phone rang.

"Hello, Goodnight" I always answer the phone with a double greeting

"Hi is this Sandhurst?"

"Yes"

"Hi this is Robert from Victoria's Secret. We thought you were extremely funny so we want you to come hangout backstage with the models."

Antilia Carnival Event

We had a good laugh about the role reversal. Tyson was my first Celebrity interview. Fitting because he is my mentor. And yes I am much taller than Tyson.

These Pictures were taken at the Antilia Carnival event promoting the Caribbean and the various presentations of Trinidad carnival for the 2010 edition of the greatest show on earth. Tyson Beckford and Former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam hosted the event and top Soca Artist Machel Montano provided the entertainment.

Progress Report

Hey All,

It's been a while, I know. It's hard keeping a blog about progress when you think you are standing still but I had to fill you all in on the happenings. Well for those of you who read my facebook status, you know that I left New York Model Management. To some of you out there you may actually think that it is insane for someone who goes through an experience such as Make Me A Supermodel to get a contract with a reputable agency, to just throw it away after five months. Well the truth is I left NYMM on good terms. I made the decision for myself based on my experiences in the fashion world during those five months. I got the hint, the industry is more about sizing than it is about your look and I had to come to terms with the fact that I wasn't fitting any of the clothes, a sad yet true fact. I am happy, though, that I was able to recognize it now, reevaluate, and change course to a new direction where I feel I would be more successful.

Since I left NYMM I decided to get back to the stage, so I have been auditioning for Broadway as well as TV. Why do I love to pick these highly selective careers? Auditioning has been fun but landing a broadway show is just as hard as landing your first campaign but once you get in it becomes easier...or so I've been told. It's hard but I am still keeping Positive.

Sandhurst

Male Model Tips

Hi all,

I know its been a while but I am still alive and well.

Some of you may already be my friends on Facebook so you may have already seen my Male Model tips but I decided to bring them over to the blog as a fun entry for you to read.

Tip to Male Models - if you are going to remove the hair from your chest using hair removal creams then make sure there is enough in the tube for the entire chest and not just a thin layer. Trust me it is extremely embarrassing showing up to castings with a patchy chest, or so I've heard

Tip number 2 for male models. Make sure that if you use the bathroom before going into a casting, remember to pull ur fly up. It could become an embarrassing situation if you don't ...or so I've heard

Male model tip #3 when asked to do your run way walk in an extremely small room from the back wall towards the camera, please remember how many steps it took to get there. Walking into the wall can lead to embarrassing questions about your sobriety... or so I've heard Male model tip

#4 it might actually be a good thing to go into a casting with your fly down the embarrassing moment will keep you fresh in their mind and you might actually get a call back ... Or so I've heard

3rd TIME'S THE CHARM

Well it happened. It finally happened. Sandhurst Miggins is a signed model and with the agency that gave him his first rejection no less.

It's funny to think that a year and a half ago I walked into New York Model Management not knowing a thing about the industry trying to fulfill a dream. I had no pictures and no book and I was dressed in some of the most ill-fitting clothing that one could wear to an open call. Let's just say I wasn't a model that day. My hair had grown out of its borders and to tell you the truth I don't know what I was expecting them to say, all I know is on that morning of January 7, 2008 I was politely rejected by NYMM. Now some people may have gotten the attitude of "I'll show them" or "How dare they reject me" but the way they did it was so professional, almost kind, like they knew I wasn't ready and knew it was up to me to do my homework and prepare myself to try again. I left the agency that day determined to come back, well that was if the other agencies in NYC felt the same way. 

Most people know that it was when I left the building that morning, I first saw the promotion for Make Me A Supermodel season 1. Did I suspect that this new show would have a life changing effect on my life in just 6 short months? To be honest. No. I just thought it would be a great learning tool for me about the industry. I mean the male side of the business had mostly gone undocumented compared to the various shows promoting the women. Anyway after watching the first season it was time to try again. This time I was sporting a fresh cut. my clothes were perfectly fitted and my pictures were existent, though amateurish, but then again that is all I could get. I sat waiting in the reception area for the open call to begin, confident that today was the day that I would be signed. Out of the corner of my eye a figure entered the waiting area. It was David Ralph the head of the men's board, I had recognized him from the first season of MMASM and knew I had to impress him in order to get anywhere. He stopped for a cool second, looked at me for a moment and then returned to to the back where all the agents worked. At that moment I thought to myself "I had this." 

Two seconds later the agent conducting the call came out to meet me and the three other models who arrived earlier in the morning. I looked at one of them and thought he looked like me from January. He was Indian, his clothes were so baggy that it was hard to tell what his frame looked like. His hair was all over the place and he had no pictures and as he was politely rejected as I had been 6 months earlier I thought to myself  "Go home and do you homework" That day I had finally cracked the first barrier. They liked me. The liked my look and wanted to take more shots.  "This is it!" I thought. It was going to happen. As we began to take more pictures the dreaded question was asked. "How tall are you?" Now I knew I was taller than the standard but I had heard stories about the exceptions so I said it "6'3." That's when my second rejection happened. "Well we like your look but, we are going to struggle with your height but we will keep you on file if anything"

What was I supposed to do now? I couldn't change my height. This is the point where most would have given up but I just knew that somehow it could work for me. It would work for me. Later that month came the open calls for MMASM season 2 and I thought to myself "Why not and if this doesn't work out for you then it really wasn't meant to be" Well it was, Even while competing on the show I knew I had to perform well, just to impress Cory and David because if I didn't win the contract from the judges I knew I would be making my final trip to NYC after the competition ended to try one last time with the exposure from the show. 

Well I did it. I walked into the agency for the third time and had proven my abilities to the board. I had shown perseverance, maturity, and brute determination and it was finally time to give me a shot. 

Now today I rejoice as it has finally been made official but signing a piece of paper does not mean anything more than I am represented. It is time to get to work, to actually build a career and live the dream. Signing on the dotted line ended one phase of the process but commences another. Looking back on this past year and a half you really have to think that the saying is true 

3RD TIME'S A CHARM

WIN OR LOSE

I have been reading a lot of the message boards and reviewing some of the comments from the Chat box and I am realizing that in the quest to find out who won the show a lot of you are really dissecting my posts to find any clues or hints about the outcome. Truth be told we are all planning major moves in our separate careers so you still wont be able to figure out what is what.

Jordan who got voted off last night is planning on moving to NYC to start modeling there and is extremely excited to work in the main US high fashion market.

As far as I know Amanda is planning on getting into acting with a role in an independent film. I wish her all the luck with that.

Colin is planning on making the move to New York to start modeling, and to calm the rumor mills, no he hasn't been signed but I have a feeling when he finally moves to the city he will be taken up in a quick second. He and I were actually talking with Branden about moving in together but because we will all be moving there at different times This scenario might not work out. 

Laury is modeling all over the world She just recently came back from Milan.

Kerryn just made her rounds at the agencies in NYC so we will know the verdict soon.

Gabe is quickly becoming a top notch Photographer. 

As for the models still left in the game, the truth is win or lose we are all planning on modeling after the show airs, I may be more public about it but that doesn't mean anything. It is still a strong field so you will have to keep watching the show to find out. 

Sandhurst-Tacama

 

FUNNY CLIP

Shawn and I had fun with Willow she really allowed us to take it to all kinds of wrong lol.

EBARRASSING CLIP TAKE 2

Oh yes we had a blast in the house but not enough time to show on air

EMBARRASSING CLIP THAT WASN'T AIRED TAKE 1

I decided to post some of the embarrassing out takes from the show because I had to admit this was pretty funny lol.

Enjoy

NEW YORK IN THE MORNING

Well I am off again to the CITY today. I am supposed to do some shooting with a world famous stylist and a top notch photographer. I am not too sure whether it is for a national ad campaign or for the stylist's portfolio or what but I am going. Sometimes in this industry you take the opportunity first then ask questions later. The reputation of the Stylist and Photographer tells me that it won't be anything pornographic so all I need to do is show up. 

I feel like I am on the show again though, a lot of hurry up and wait. That is what the majority of this industry is. You get to where you're going early, only so you can wait the rest of the day for either make up and hair or to be seen by the client after hundreds of other models have taken their turn. In this case we were to shoot on Wednesday but you know sometimes things don't work out as they should so the date is in limbo but come hell or high water I will be in NYC waiting for that phone call telling me to be at whatever location in ten.  It's amazing how much fun you can have while spending your last dime on a bus ticket from Philly to NYC. These are the stories you remember when you finally make it. 

Anyway I just thought I would share that tidbit with you all as I hadn't written in a while. Hope all is well with everyone else and I hope to show you the pictures from that shoot really soon.

Sandhurst-Tacama

FANART

A Fan emailed this picture to me I thought it was extremely cool so I decided to post it. It's really simple but it still means a lot. I want to thank ...013 for sending it too me. I can tell they used  the Picasa program that my other friends used. I am going to have to download that but I digress lol.

CHAT BOX TOPICS

I was going to respond to some of the questions posed to me via the chat box in a short chat box reply  but I decided to make a full post about some of the topics.

Sexuality. Come on, I get it, male Ballet dancer turned model all indicators point to Gay right but the reality of the situation is just like there are Gay athletes there are also Straight dancer/models. I think on a whole we ask the public to not define who we are by what we do but then we go right ahead and do it others. I was raised in the Caribbean and though I will admit it isn't the most LGBT friendly zone in the world, I was brought up to not care about whatever anyone else thought about me. My parents would always say once you are not doing drugs or stealing then we don't care what you do or who you are. Those kinds of words really opens up a child to a world of experiences and people. 

My father was a jack of all trades. He was in the military, he was an actor, a dancer a painter a fisherman, a farmer, a great soccer goalie, a swimmer, a track star, you see where I am going with this and these are all activities that I have done and enjoyed in my life. My parents just gave me options as a child, options to experience a whole world and yes I found my passion in the arts I am also a lot of other things as well. So to the questions that were raised. What is my sexuality? If it is really that important that I define it then I am straight, but does it change your opinion on me no lol the people who think I am gay will continue to do so or those that think I am Bi and I honestly have no problem with you coming to your own conclusions. Hell I have my own thoughts about other people lol. 

William you asked if I felt the need to prove my manhood and the answer is no. Why should I? I am a guy that knows and can set every classical ballet created and I am proud of that it takes years and a lot of hard work to study ballet and really appreciate it and I am not going to pretend like I don't love dance just so that someone else will feel like I am more of a man. And for those guys out there who feel like they have to live up to some kind of mold in order to be accepted then I have a question for them. Are these really the people that you need to be accepted by?

So now that the sexuality rant is done lol, I move on to the topic of Caribbean Models. The only caribbean models that I have been in contact with so far is Daver Campbell. I will honestly say he is truly an inspirational and motivational figure because I get the impression that he is really about empowering those around him to not only follow their dreams but to really take charge of it and own it. As far as other models from the caribbean Oraine's rise to success in this industry is incredible. I remember reading a caribbean magazine one summer when he had just won a modeling competition in Jamaica and the next thing I knew he was everywhere when I got back to the states. I think his journey into the industry really inspired me to to get off my ass and start going for it. Some people are lucky and get discovered walking down the street but others have to create the opportunity for themselves. 

Anyway I hope this post gives you a little insight into my life. 

A-List Aawards

These are some of the shots that we took at the A List awards in April. We had an amazing time pretending to be famous.

REPRODUCTIONS

Hey All,

I recently received two images from some of the students from my old High School and I thought they were cool so I decided to Show them to the world. They are mostly memebers of the ballet department. GO PC!!!

SCHOOL VS. DREAMS

Hey ALL

As I near the final weeks of school heading into my big graduation date (Not May but June, I have to do Summer school because I took time off to do MMASM) I can not help but reflect on my journey through higher education. If you are an avid viewer of Make Me A Supermodel you would notice the Ballet Dancer label that always pops up when I speak but I am beginning to believe that a lot of you do not realize that my major at Temple University is actually not dance. My major at school is that of Strategic and Organizational Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations. I know say that Ten Times fast. Colin and I were the only two at the time that were actually going to school while the show was being filmed. For two guys in their senior year at college, it's a major decision to make to completely switch gears and change from what you've known for the past 4  or in reality 16 years to something completely new.

This brings me to the subject of my post. How long should you put off school to in order to pursue your dream or how long should you put off your dream to get that degree? I found myself asking this question when I was 18. I had spent the past 18 years realizing that an office was not for me and that in some form or another I was going to make it on a stage of some kind. I was determined to be there. The problem here was that it was 2004 and having a bachelors degree didn't mean as much as it used too. Everyone and their mother had one and now the master's degree was the new standard, so as a young kid going into the real world there was no way I was going to put myself at a disadvantage and not get that degree. This decision delighted my parents but at the same time I knew that if any opportunity came in getting me to my dream I would take that chance without hesitation. I believe that a lot of us who have big dreams spend so much time securing a back up plan that we forget what our passion really is.

So what is the conclusion that I have drawn seeing that in 1 month MMASM will have concluded and in 2 months I will have my degree? My conclusion is that everyone's journey to where they are going is different but the important thing to do is to listen to your own natural instincts, they have a tendency to lead you on a wild crazy path that takes you to mars and back and sometimes you wonder if you made the right decisions but in the end they take you to places you need to go in order to develop the tools you need to achieve your dreams. As I look back on my 5 years of 3 different schools, 3 different states, 3 different majors, 1 dream of going to the Olympics for Track, 1 dream of going to the Olympics for Swimming, 1 deferred year to train only in ballet, 1 impulsive decision to audition for Simba in the Lion King, and countless trips to New York in hopes of being signed, all the while trying to finish school, I realize now that my journey wasn't a sporadic web of inconsistencies. I see now that with each new venture that I have taken in my life I have learned a skill that not only helped in my progression on the show but added to my arsenal of abilities to which I can drawn from in the future.

So for me School coexisted with my dream. It nurtured it and provided a place for me to be while my dream fine tuned itself. School was the cocoon to which my future developed and I personally am glad that I took these years to finish my degree. I feel like I am coming out of it with much more than the average model or average graduate.

Now there are some out there that have found great success in the fashion and entertainment industries without even stepping foot inside of a university and those stories seem to actually be more common than mine but at the same time again I must stress that everyone's journey is different. What was right for me may be completely wrong for you so that is why it is essential that you listen to your instincts. 

Take the chance

I didn't realize that when I got into that line in NYC back in July, that May would come and my life would have changed for ever. It's weird how we can sit in our beds, or classrooms, or offices, or where ever and daydream about doing something bigger.  We wish for that chance to change our lives, but we refuse to because we're too afraid to break what's comfortable or exert that extra effort to just try. We look at others who are fulfilling their goals and we say that "they are lucky," we say that "they have it all," "they were in  the right place at the right time" but I believe that the reality is that they just got FED UP. 

They got fed up with mediocrity, monotony and any other "m" words to describe a state of constant averageness directing their lives. I remember sitting in class listening to a lecture and thinking "this is not what I want." A realization like that can really set the ball rolling for change in your life. This is the acceptance of "No I want more," and if you want it that's when you start thinking of how to get it. 

Now I will admit the road from the realization to the actualization may be bumpy. I remember when I had decided to try modeling I went to all the agencies in NYC and heard varying levels of "NO," most with no reason at all. However, the pure excitement of actually going to each open call and doing something that I was so enthused to do, knowing it was something that I wanted, provided the right medicine to get over the rejection. Simply it was just fun. I was actively pursuing something. 

Finding the courage to say "this is what I want and I have the ability to go for it" is to me the best advice I can give to anyone. I constantly get asked "do you think I have potential?" or "Should I try out for next season?" and the truth is why ask? Give yourself the opportunity by showing up for whatever it is you want, just be prepared that the answer could be either YES or NO. 

By showing up to that casting in July, I met 15 incredible individuals, countless other PA's, Cameramen, Sound guys (I know technical term right), lighting specialists, casting directors, make up artist, trainers,  stylists, designers, supermodels, photographers, scouts, directors, caterers, drivers, producers and cast ranglers. I was allowed to take part in once in a life time activities while learning the other side of an industry that not too many are privileged  to. I was given the most AMAZING experience of my life and to think I could have missed the chance if I had listened to the twinge of doubt, that made me turn away twice from the subway, that morning on the 26th. 

Sandhurst-Tacama