Man of Steel

Djimon Hounsou.

(Pronounced as 'Deee-mon' not 'Di-gi-mon, the computer game/cartoon :-P)

Remember that name.

He who was spotted by famed fashion designer Thierry Mugler, way back. And his modelling career took off.

Think of him as a male Naomi Campbell; also one who was spotted off the streets and whisked away into the glam-world of High Fashion.

Ironically, it was not modelling but his love of acting and a critically-acclaimed career backed with a slew of Academy and Golden Globe nominations in the wake, that really brought him full-circle and back into the forefront of fashion campaigns.

Now, he's possibly the second only Black-male Supermodel since Tyson Beckford.

Although, it must be noted that while Beckford rose from anonymity, Hounsou was already a celebrity to begin with.

Not unlike like Beckford, however, whose mega modelling career was launched into the stratosphere when he fronted the Ralph Lauren Sport campaign back in the late Nineties. Hounsou's career is set to ignite because on February 24, 2007, it was announced that Hounsou will be the new Calvin Klein Underwear model.

Starting with the Fall 2007 season, he will be featured in the brand’s global print advertising campaign including the launch of their new Calvin Klein Steel product line.

Djimon now joins the ranks of Iman, Naomi, Tyra and Alek, and of course Tyson, in estblishing a break-through in the fashion industry.


He's become the only black male model ever, in the history of the provocative brand, to front its world famous Men's underwear campaign.

His association with 'Supermodel-hood' is even more apparent now that he's dating Supermodel-turned-head designer for Baby Phat, and bestie to Tyra Banks, Kimora Lee Simmons.



Hats off.