Nobody in fashion is supposed to age, but the most famous male model of all time has done so gracefully. Ben Stiller’s Zoolander turns 11 today. To celebrate, we asked 11 male models from Major Model in New York to visit The Daily Beast and give us their best Blue Steel looks from the movie. Check out their poses and then tweet us your own, with the hashtag #Zoolander11 @thedailybeast.
Alex Berg (models)
Age: 24
Hometown: Oviedo, Fla.
Measurements: 5'11", 30" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 11
Why is Zoolander still popular?
It’s sheer bizarre, man. Ben Stiller does a fantastic job of being so flamboyant with it. The quotability of it is fantastic. I like the scene after he goes coal mining with this father, and then there’s the freaking commercial of him being a merman.
Do you have a side job?
I work at Abercrombie. I stand at the front shirtless. It’s mostly tween girls. But then you get the moms. They are the most aggressive. They grab you, spank your ass and stuff like that.
Do you ever eat chocolate?
Maybe once a month.
Age: 24
Hometown: Houston
Measurements: 6'2", 30" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 11
How many times have you seen Zoolander?
I’ve seen it like 100 times. I remember pretty much the whole movie. All my friends think that it’s really funny that I’m in this business, because that was one of my favorite movies. One of my best friends will sometimes call me Hansel, like “Hansel, he’s so hot right now.”
What’s the secret to six-pack abs?
I would say diet. Everybody has abs.
Age: 22
Hometown: Nashville
Measurements: 6'2", 32" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 11
How old were you when Zoolander came out?
I might have been 10 or 11. I watched it with my older brother. I didn’t understand half the stuff and it was still a really funny movie.
Can you relate to it now?
I lived in the model house when I first got here, too. You had guys around all the time, hanging out, going too late partying when they had a shoot the next day. It’s probably in your best interest to sleep before you take pictures.
Age: 23
Hometown: Carmel, Ind.
Measurements: 6'0", 31" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 12
Is Zoolander true?
It’s truth, but it’s like exaggerated a thousand times. All my college friends think I’m Zoolander.
Does modeling help with girls?
It’s very easy to pick up a girl if you tell them you’re a model.
How do you learn how to pose?
Before I get in the shower, I always look at myself and make a stupid face.
Age: 23
Hometown: Long Island, N.Y.
Measurements: 6'1", 32" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 12
When did you first see Zoolander?
I watched it for like 15 minutes two years ago, and I was like, this movie is stupid. Then, about four months ago, I got a new haircut, and my girlfriend and my brother were like, ‘Ohmygod! You look like Zoolander. We’re going to get the movie right now.’ We got it from Blockbuster and I watched the full thing. After modeling, I thought it was genius.
Age: 22
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Measurements: 6'0", 32" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 10
Do you ever quote Zoolander?
My senior year in high school, I was hanging out with an old friend and we both decided to watch it. For that whole week, we were just saying lines—the same lines over and over again.
What should happen in the sequel?
What should happen? Uhhh. I feel like Ben Stiller should definitely be in it. Maybe he has his own modeling agency, and Owen Wilson is involved by being a booker.
Age: 21
Hometown: Houston
Measurements: 6'0", 30" waist, 38" suit, shoe size 10
What part of Zoolander do you like best?
I really like the cemetery scene, where they are describing why male models are the perfect killers—you guys can get into clubs, you guys are trained, you guys are combat built.
Have you always had good bone structure?
No. I had chubby cheeks in the eighth grade. I played football for 13 years. All the running and exercise helped my cheeks go down.
Age: 27
Hometown: Allentown, Pa.
Measurements: 5'11", 32" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 10.5
What’s your favorite Zoolander scene?
I like the gasoline fight scene. It’s so thoughtless and stupid.
What kind of modeling do you do?
I work with Kenneth Cole. I do Justin Timberlake’s stand-in work. We’re the exact size. So I do all his clothing fittings.
Age: 27
Hometown: Atlanta
Measurements: 6'2.5", 32" waist, 38" suit, shoe size 12
Nice Blue Steel. What’s your secret?
I guess it’s pursing your lips and sucking your cheeks. I’ve done it with buddies at parties.
How often do you work out?
I probably work out two or three times a week. I’ll have a week where I don’t, and then I feel super guilty.
Age: 21
Hometown: Western Ukraine
Measurements: 6'2", 32" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 12
Did you get Zoolander in the Ukraine?
I saw it. Then I forgot about it. When I started modeling here, after a couple test shoots, I met with my agent. I asked what I should do. She said just be natural and everything’s going to be fine, but don’t do the Zoolander face. I had no idea what Zoolander was, because in my language, it’s different.
Do you have a second job?
Everybody has a second job. I work in real estate. I sell and rent all the apartments in the city. If you know anyone who is looking for an apartment, I can help out with that.
Age: 20
Hometown: Phoenix
Measurements: 6'0", 31" waist, 40" suit, shoe size 10.5
Do you think Zoolander gives male models a bad name?
I mean, no. It just kind of makes us look a little bit lower, the way he acts, the way he goes about his life with the mermaid commercials.
What’s the biggest misconception?
People don’t really consider it work. They’re like, oh, you just take pictures for a living—that’s what you do? No, it’s hard work.
Would you date a model?
I have. I prefer not to. We butt heads.
