MaleFitnessModels.NET - Featured Model: Ivan Rusilko

Ivan Rusilko is the USA’s representative to the Mr. World competition held in Korea early this year. MFM caught up with him soon after his amazing experience and he was generous enough to give us this amazing interview about his life in general, aspirations and his future career as a Doctor of Osteopathy.

Please tell us a little something about yourself, where were you born? What school did you go to before college? How did you start modeling?

I hail from a little town in Northwestern Pennsylvania called Meadville where I attended the local High School and played for a championship caliber hockey team all while working on a farm and excelling academically.

My modeling career was actually sort of a pleasant accident. I participated in a bodybuilding event in Pittsburgh called the Iron City Classic and when my pictures where seen online I was contacted by a modeling agency in NYC. They wanted me to fly up and attend various shootings which spawned this new and unique road I have been traveling for the last four years!

Recently you have represented the USA to the Mister World 2010 competition in Korea. How was your experience competing for a prestigious international fashion event?

This experience was one of the most unique and rewarding experiences I have had to date. I saw and did things in Korea that I never thought I would or could and along the way met some of the most genuine people who I plan on keeping in touch with for the years to come. Being able to represent the greatest nation on earth at the worlds’ largest male modeling event to date was an honor that I am so thankful to have had! The MWO organization did a great job dealing with all they had to and I thank them for such a great experience.

How do you feel about male pageants versus female pageants? Aside from the obvious difference in participants, what makes a male pageant different?

From my dealings in both realms I have found that in the male pageantry world camaraderie usually triumphs over the overall end goal which is winning the contest. While in Korea my main object was to have the time of my life and experience as much as I could with my fellow contestants… successful here. This perspective I felt was shared amongst the contestants in my “click” while there. We tried to have as much fun and do as much as possible. Creating some amazing photos and stories was just as important as competing in the pageant itself. In the female realm I have found that it is much more cutthroat when it comes to winning as opposed to experiencing the event as a whole. As an example a very good friend of mine was actually sabotaged in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant when someone placed pepper spray in her makeup and clothing. I could never see something like this happening in a male pageant.

You’ve been a professional fitness model for almost five years now and also graduating Mercyhurst college and soon from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), how do you balance your academic and professional pursuits?

Time management is the key to how I have been able to live two lives at once (plus the addition of an extremely supportive group of associates at my medical School)! I find that modeling should never be an end all to one’s professional aspirations. Looks can come and go in an instant but education lasts a life time. My father said it best to me when I was just starting out… “There will always be someone stronger, faster, and better looking than you but not many that will be smarter.” I feel this is an accurate assessment. Many professional models tend to be able to look smart but when it comes to acting smart, good luck! I pride myself on the education I have and believe it is what sets me apart from the “run of the mill” good-looking man. I am always willing to learn and as many of my fellow contestants can attest I always have my medical books along side during the inevitable waiting periods in the modeling world!

You’re about to graduate as a Doctor of Osteophatic medicine? Can you tell us more about Osteopathy, how important it is and what role do you intend to play in the field?

Osteopathy is something that not many know what it is but nearly everyone believes in our overall principals, they just don’t know it!! Osteopathic physicians are the exact same as Medical Doctors (in the USA) in terms of education/prescribing rights/and fields of study. The key difference is that we are centered on a belief that one’s mind, body, and spirit are interlinked to make up an overall body unit which together forms our overall health. We aim at preventing disease rather than just curing them.

A key concept is that one’s bodily structure will govern how the body works as a whole and vice versa. This is where a key technical difference comes into play that distinguishes what we can do and what allopathic physicians can’t and it is termed Osteopathic Manipulation Techniques or OMT for short. We aim at adjusting the bodies structure through various forms of physical releases such as muscle unwinding (massage like), trigger points (acupressure/puncture like) and HVLA (chiropractor like) to mention a few.

Treatment takes into account physical, mental, and social/spiritual stresses and allows the physician to treat with holistic or medical treatments which provides the patient with a variety of options for their care not just pills/surgery.

I plan on making the profession of Osteopathy better known to the community as well as improving on its already sound philosophies. Providing the patient with a better quality of life is my end all objective and I believe that Osteopathic medicine can appeal to anyone who truly understands what it is which I hope to improve on!

How does it affect our health actually?

Osteopathic forms of medicine are focused on preventing illness and improving one’s quality of life on every level. If one feels good physically they will inevitable feel well mentally and spiritually. We all know that finishing a Yoga, Pilates, or exercise session leaves one feeling relaxed and in better spirits. The nice thing about osteopathic medicine is that these are all forms of first line treatment not last line! So in short osteopathic forms of medicine are aimed at keeping individuals who are healthy… healthy and those who aren’t, get them better and stay better.

How can we apply and use Osteopathic principles to our advantage?

The use of Osteopathic principals can be utilized in any situation one comes into contact. To feel good one must be sound in their physical condition, social and spiritual surroundings, and mentally stable. If you are experiencing distress in your life take a look at all three parts of your overall health and see what is dysfunctional. Don’t just pop an aspirin investigate first… then pop it! Receiving the education I did from LECOM prepared me for everything I came into contact in the entertainment industry. Always look at life from different angles because we live in a three dimensional world, not a one dimensional!

How do you maintain your body?

I rely on the osteopathic mentality that one’s overall health is a combination of mind, body, and spirit. This is how I approach my exercise routine which is enjoyable and keeps me at it every day. Mentally If I enjoy going to the gym or running I will want to do it every day and I do! Diet is the hard thing for me because I am a 230lb man living in a 180lb man’s body! But by becoming a Certified Sports Nutritionist I have learned how to make educated decisions on my food choices and eating habits which lets me eat a lot but still look proper!

Have you always had a good body? What got you into the shape you have now?

I actually was a fat kid that turned into a power lifter… benching 455lbs, squatting over 600lbs, dead lifting over 500lbs and leg pressing over 1000lbs was fun but I soon figured out that looking massive and being immensely strong only impressed the guys at the gym but I wanted to impress the ladies! So this led to me trimming down via my first bodybuilding contest sparking the current four year run of fitness oriented goals and body shaping where I am now. Although I can’t lie… I do miss having to duct tape weights together in the gym just to have enough weight to press!!!

How should one start in his or her quest in achieving his fitness goals?

First, congratulate yourself on deciding to make a positive difference in your own life. Second, you need to set an end goal that is attainable and practical! Third, set daily, weekly, and monthly goals that help to keep your end goal in focus and assure yourself that you are making progress and not losing hope! As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and six pack abs aren’t either. Lastly, make the road to your goal a fun one. Exercise is something you should enjoy doing not feel like an obligation to do. Personally, I love to exercise… it is how I relax after a hard day at work as strange as that sounds. Find things you enjoy doing and incorporate them into it such as music and TV. The nice thing about fitness is that it is an individual sport. If you fail it is on you but if you succeed it is for you and only you. Many can help along the way such as trainers and friends but success is a personal check only you can cash!

As someone who has been doing volunteer work and has been active in his community for almost 11 years now, how do you want to contribute in the life of people around you? What is one dream you have for your community?

I believe that nothing in life is free. One can be born with the gift of good looks, musical ability, athletic ability, etc but if they don’t better the community around them are they really gifted?

I was fortunate enough to be blessed with the Title of Mr. USA in 2008 and now Mr. USA World in 2010. Having this title has afforded me the chance to improve my community, my surroundings, and inevitably myself through charity work with which I have been involved. In 2008 I served as the International Ambassador for the Jigsaw Foundation located in Melbourne Australia’s Royal Children’s Hospital which focuses on correcting facial abnormalities in children improving their overall life. Currently, I sit on the active board of the Sumo Kids Foundation which is aimed at afterschool programs for children focusing on healthy living through the Sumo Way of life. This involves proper education on nutrition, exercise, philosophy, and way of life. These, among the other charities and volunteer groups I am involved with, are how I am trying to say thank you for gifts I have been given and make the world just a little bit of a better place to live! I want to make as many positive dents in this world as possible!

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Tagged as: Advanced Male Fitness Model, fitness model, hunk, male fitness model, male fitness models, male model, Mr. World

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