Bradley Greiner is a UCLA Water Polo player who was discovered as a male model and eventually became one of the campaign male models of Abercrombie & Fitch, one of the most coveted and prestigious assignment for a male model. He used his fame and new found recognition to start Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Today, Brad is a male model in LA who is involved in several entrepreneurial ventures and who recently has shared his workout routines on his YouTube Channel.

MFM caught up with Brad last May where he shared his opinion on fitness and fashion modeling, A&F experience, healthy lifestyle and goals for the future.

What do you think is the main difference between fitness and fashion modeling?

This is a hard question for me, because I’ve never actually been a “fitness model” on a shoot. I think it is because I am one of many models who blur the lines between the two industries and therefore are often required to wear many hats, often times at the same shoot. Ask me the same question again if anyone hires me for a fitness gig! [Agents, photographers - take note]

Which do you think is better? What are the pros and cons of either or both?

I think the shirtless modeling comes easiest to me. Being a water polo player for more than half my life, I am comfortable in a speedo and photographers pick up on my confidence without much clothing.

I do enjoy taking on different personalities depending on the clothing I am wearing, so fashion modeling allows me more creative freedom.

You’ve been in one of the finest campaigns, the launching pad as many say for male fitness models, an A&F shoot, how did that affect your career?

When I was asked to shoot for Abercrombie & Fitch, our UCLA water polo team was in the final weeks of preparation for the National Championship tournament. My focus was entirely on the NCAASs, but found time to shoot in Santa Barbara and Florida on the two days I had off. I went into that shoot with no expectations or worries, and I think that came across in the photos I took with Bruce Weber.

We won NCAAs in early December, and about a week later I received a packaged from Bruce with all the photos of the campaign. You would think that this campaign would have launched my career as a model, but after the photos came out, I was unwilling to leave college for the uncertain life of a model, so I buried myself back into my studies. I would do the occasional job, but getting a good education took priority.

Now that I am back in the industry after a few years off, those iconic photos will always be proudly displayed in my portfolio.

You seem to have accomplished a good lot as a fashion model, what do you hope to do as a fitness model?

I would love to be involved in any type of product that promotes healthy living and exercise. We’re at a cross roads in our country where we need to begin to educate people on how to live healthy lives, or else continue to go down a path with higher and higher obesity rates, and higher and higher healthcare costs.

I think the best role I can play as a fitness model is to educate and inspire millions of Americans out there that want to make a change in their lives, whether that be through interviews like this or promoting products that moves us into that direction.

What do you want your name, Bradley Greiner, to stand for in the fitness modeling world? What personal brand do you hope to create as a fitness model?

About 6 months ago, I became a practicing vegetarian after reading a few books about the food industry. The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan is a good place to start if you want to learn more about how we as humans should be eating-and Pollan doesn’t even argue you should give up meat entirely.

As far as my brand is concerned, all I can really do is provide my own personal experience with becoming a vegetarian and how it relates to being fit. If you would have told me 6 months ago if I would be modeling again today, I would not have believed you. I was working out regularly and in good shape, but definitely not to the point where I’d want to take my shirt off the camera. When I became a vegetarian, my body began to get much leaner and more toned. I also had a lot more energy, and would find myself running and swimming at a much faster pace than before.

About a month ago I volunteered to do a photo shoot for Haiti for a great T-shirt company called Revenge Is. When I saw the picture and the shape I was in, I decided to give modeling another go.

So hopefully I set an example of how someone can look, and dispel the rumor that being a vegetarian doesn’t provide athletes with enough protein.

You’re entrepreneurial as well, it seems, what’s your current venture?

I’m a partner in a renewable energy company based out of Minnesota. We’re working with a few technologies in wind energy, energy storage and LED lighting.

Just this week we are reminded once again of the disastrous effects of oil production and mining with the [continuing] oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and my hope is that this terrible event will be the final straw that convinces all Americans we need to begin developing clean forms of energy at an even quicker pace. I am trying to find some time to head down to the area to volunteer, and if you’ve interested in doing same please fill out the form Global Green has put together for potential volunteers.

I am confident that I will be working in some form in this industry for the rest of my life, and I am excited about the technologies I know are in the pipeline that will begin to ween our addiction to oil and coal.

How many hats do you wear professionally?

In LA, I think it’s very important to diversify to stay afloat. I’ve been working with this renewable energy company for about a year, and until I begin taking a salary I must do whatever it takes to live. I left my position as co-founder of non-profit Team Darfur, but quickly joined the board of another great start-up non-profit called Kitechild. So there’s the second hat. I just signed with APM Models in NYC, and will begin looking next week to be placed in an agency in LA. I am also going to be looking into getting a commercial agency to put to good use all of the great acting and film classes I took at UCLA.

How do you balance your activities and maintain a fit and healthy body?

I try to incorporate healthy activities into all aspects of my life. I always carry hiking shoes, a swim gear and a beach towel in my car, so if I find a break in the day I can do something active.

What is the one thing that has been crucial to your being fit and healthy?

This may sound like an odd answer, but hemp protein has played a big role in getting my body back to a fit and healthy place. I was never a fan of protein powders until I discovered hemp protein. I mix it with half unsweetened soy milk and half chocolate soy milk, and it really is a great source of protein.

Does being vegetarian give you an automatic edge as a fitness model? Why or why not?

I received an e-mail this morning from one of the top hair stylists in the industry I worked with last Friday. He works with models everyday of his life and said “Your skin is unreal, so fresh, healthy, glowing and clean.” It’s one of the nicest things I’ve been told, and I never heard a compliment like that the first time I entered the  modeling industry. I’m convinced that it’s all about what we decide to put in our bodies day in and day out, and so in that regard I do think it gives me an edge.

Have you been actively trying to convert friends to such dietary lifestyle?

It wouldn’t make sense to try to convince friends to put down a piece of bacon when I am secretly very jealous. That was no doubt the hardest thing for me to give up.

But I am lucky enough to live in LA where every restaurant in the city has a few vegetarian options. I’m never one to try to convert friends, nor do I even like the term vegetarian. There are a lot of people that are starting to eat much more consciously, but are uncomfortable going all the way to becoming a vegetarian because it completely defines and limits the foods they can consume. I would like to see us moving in the direction of eating less meat, and over time more and more realize they don’t need it at all.

A year from now, where will Bradley Greiner be?

I’ve always followed my passions in life, so it’s hard to know where I will be next year. I am beginning to “put myself out there” again in the modeling industry, so it’s hard to know exactly where it’ll take me.

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All Images are by ASJ Photography

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