HIGH SOCIETY / TOMMY INTERVIEW / PHOTOS by EUGENE GALLEGOS
High Society premiered on the CW March 10. Besides the Manhattan socialite drama created by Tinsley Mortimer, Malic So Chic and PJC it was hard not to pay attention to the gorgeous Tommy DiDario [Ford Models]
Tommy was born and raised in Berkeley Heights, a small suburban town in central New Jersey. Tommy loves sports, health and fitness, traveling, writing, friends and family. We asked him a few questions and he was kind enough to answer to them ;-) The icing on the cake is provided by photographer Eugene Gallegos with some sexy photos of Tommy.
How did you get discovered?
I kind of had two really cool moments of discovery I guess you can say. When I was 17, I was picked out of hundreds of people in a nationwide model search to be in a runway show, sponsored by 17 Magazine, on the television show The View. After winning this competition, I seriously thought about getting involved in modeling, but wanted to focus time on pursuing a college degree. Throughout college I worked part time at the Abercrombie and Fitch store in NYC as the shirtless greeter where one day an agent from Ford Models came into the store and recruited me.
Why did you move to NY?
I moved to New York to pursue a career in modeling and acting. I went to Penn State University for my freshman year of college because I wanted to try a new environment, one that I was not accustomed to. However, I felt so disconnected from the artistic environment that New York City creates that I knew I had to come back and immerse myself into everything the city has to offer. I transferred to NYU and moved to the city the beginning of my sophomore year.
How real are reality shows?
I can’t speak for other television shows, but as far as High Society, these characters are as real as you can get. In fact, it was a bit overwhelming at first to be thrown into this new world through my relationship with Paul because it’s definitely a crazy one. Even though through being with Ford Models, I’ve been able to go to many great events throughout the city and be a part of this exclusive sort of night life, I still consider myself a pretty low key guy. Going out is fun, but ordering in take out and drinking wine with friends is also my idea of a perfect night. This group of characters lives a very fast life and all the drama that it brings that you see on the show is completely real. When you put a lot of strong personalities together, conflict is going to ensue. I really don’t like to waste time on drama but at the same time I am going to put someone in their place if they need to be.
On playing a gay character in a gay love story:
You know, having my life broadcast on national television was a bit scary for me at first to agree doing. Relationships are meant to be intimate and not for the entire world to see every detail of. However, I thought that this was a great opportunity for people to witness a gay romance and see that it isn’t something that should be considered strange or different. One thing everyone in this world has in common is the ability to be in a loving relationship. Relationships all go through the same things and same emotions no matter what sex you are, and I thought it was important for people to see that in the relationship Paul and I go through. Hopefully this storyline in the show will make people more aware of this and that everyone, no matter what your sex or orientation is, experiences very similar emotions through being in a relationship.
HIGH SOCIETY follows Tinsley Mortimer, New York's most talked-about "Park Avenue Princess," as she and her circle of often-controversial friends circulate through New York's most prestigious black-tie affairs, outrageous parties and fashion exclusives, with never-before-seen access from behind the velvet rope.
+ Eugene Gallegos Photography
+ More Photos by Eugene Gallegos on OhLaLa
Below more photos from Tommy's portfolio for you to enjoy! Is it me or it suddenly got hotter in my office !!!?
High Society airs every Wednesday night at 9:30 PM on the CW network.
