Abs and Side Hustles: 12 Interesting Male Models to Follow on Instagram

Expand Photo

Michael Morgan (@ mikeymogz) Welshman Michael Morgan has been featured in fashion editorials in Another Man, Essential Homme, and Maxim Ital... more Michael Morgan (@ mikeymogz) Welshman Michael Morgan has been featured in fashion editorials in Another Man, Essential Homme, and Maxim Italia, but his Instagram feed shows that he's big on break-dancing. “I started break-dancing when I was 10 years old in Cardiff, and my break-dancing crew were called 'The Blitz Boys,'” the 21-year-old tells the Cut. “I was ranked No. 1 in the U.K. under 18s, and I was a five-time undefeated Welsh champion, traveled to Bremen, Germany, for the World Championships in 2009, and competed against 4,000 other dancers from 36 countries. I came in seventh, which was great.”  Photo: Courtesy of New York Models; Michael Morgan/Instagram

Expand Photo

Dan Murphy (@ danmurphymodel) Dan Murphy, an American who grew up in Hong Kong, has modeled in campaigns for Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and Barbour... more Dan Murphy (@ danmurphymodel) Dan Murphy, an American who grew up in Hong Kong, has modeled in campaigns for Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and Barbour. He's spent so much time on planes throughout his life that he developed an interest in flying, and is now a licensed pilot, which he documents on his Instagram account. “Now, I have my license and am halfway to my instrument rating, which is the next step to longer cross-country flights regardless of weather,” Murphy tells the Cut. By the end of the year, he’ll have logged about 100 hours of flight time. He posts a lot of scenic shots from the windows of his airplanes — though he admits it’s probably not the best idea to be snapping photos while piloting a plane — because, well, Instagram.  Photo: Courtesy of Hugo; Dan Murphy/Instagram

Expand Photo

K2 Twins (@ k2brothers) South African identical twins Alex and Charlie Kotze, are known at the “K2-Twins.” They've walked the runways at Internat... more K2 Twins (@ k2brothers) South African identical twins Alex and Charlie Kotze, are known at the “K2-Twins.” They've walked the runways at International Cape Town Fashion Week, appeared on the cover of Men’s Health South Africa, and are farmers. On their Instagram feed — which now boasts over 30,000 followers — the twins share pictures of themselves working the land in Vredendal, outside Cape Town, where they grow grapes and vegetables with their dad, and look good riding tractors. In January, the K2 Twins will tape a DIY home-makeover TV show, so apparently they are also handy.

Expand Photo

Jacob Bird (@jmallinsonb) Jacob Mallinson Bird has walked runways for Raf Simons, Billy Reid, and Robert Geller, and has appeared in editorials i... more Jacob Bird (@jmallinsonb) Jacob Mallinson Bird has walked runways for Raf Simons, Billy Reid, and Robert Geller, and has appeared in editorials in AnOther Man and Dazed Digital. The 21-year-old Londoner studied music at Cambridge University’s Corpus Christi College, graduating this summer with honors. And though you won’t find it on his Instagram feed, post-university, Bird is also a pianist and composer who plays concerts throughout London. What you will find on his Instagram accout, however, are pictures of his performances as Dinah Lux, his drag alter ego. “The name Dinah actually came from a Bible reference, ha ha,” Bird told the Cut in an email. “Dinah is the daughter (I think ...) of Jacob. She was kidnapped and besmirched, but her brothers saved her and she survived.” Lux, he says, “is a mixture of Lucretia from Livy, and Lucrezia from Woolf, and Phoenix, becoming Lux, which in Latin means ‘light.’” Being a female impersonator, Bird says, “is all about entire self-confidence and perseverance.” Photo: Courtesy of Billy Reid; jmallinson/Instagram

Expand Photo

Nick Youngquest (@ nick_youngquest) As a professional rugby player in Australia and England, Nick Youngquest had already been featured in many ma... more Nick Youngquest (@ nick_youngquest) As a professional rugby player in Australia and England, Nick Youngquest had already been featured in many magazines by 2012, when he turned to modeling full time. He’s since been photographed by Bruce Weber for Abercrombie & Fitch, and is currently the face of the Paco Rabanne Invictus fragrance. Posts to Youngquest’s Instagram feed reveal his devotion to causes, like LGBT rights in Russia. He shares a few fitness tips, but he’s not too much of a jock — Youngquest can also make dumplings and sushi. (Hey, Nick, you single?) Photo: Courtesy of Paco Rabanne; Nick Youngquest/Instagram

Expand Photo

Ian Mellencamp (@ianmellencamp) Ian Mellencamp, who has appeared in ad campaigns for Tom Ford, Diesel, Ralph Lauren's Denim & Supply, and CK ... more Ian Mellencamp (@ianmellencamp) Ian Mellencamp, who has appeared in ad campaigns for Tom Ford, Diesel, Ralph Lauren's Denim & Supply, and CK One, was handpicked for his first modeling job by Fabien Baron and Steven Meisel to be one of the faces of CK One. Mellencamp is also a musician, and is currently working on his own musical project, with an alternative-rock CD due to launch in early February. (And if the name seems familiar: Yep, his uncle is John Mellencamp.)  Photo: Courtesy of Tom Ford; Courtesy of Diesel; Ian Mellencamp/Instagram

Expand Photo

Silvester Ruck (@ silvesterruck) Munich-born model Silvester Ruck has worked with Moncler and Ralph Lauren, and is currently the face of Dsquared... more Silvester Ruck (@ silvesterruck) Munich-born model Silvester Ruck has worked with Moncler and Ralph Lauren, and is currently the face of Dsquared2’s WILD fragrance, photographed by Steven Klein. On Ruck’s Instagram account, you’ll find that he doesn't just stand around and look pretty: He's a former professional kiteboarder, and he still practices the sport. Also, notice Exhibit A (his washboard abs): Ruck claims that kiteboarding eliminates the need for crunches. (His inspiration, apparently, is the ultimate male model, Fabio.) Photo: Courtesy of DSQUARED2; Silvester Ruck/Instagram

Expand Photo

Max Papendieck (@ maxpapendieck) Aussie Max Papendieck has modeled for Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. His ... more Max Papendieck (@ maxpapendieck) Aussie Max Papendieck has modeled for Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. His personal Instagram account mixes his modeling work with his own photography, about which he’s become more serious during the past year.  (He now has a separate Instagram feed solely for his photography.) “I first got into photography when I traveled with my girlfriend (who is also a model),” Papendieck tells the Cut. “We visited many beautiful locations and naturally I would take pictures of her. One day I thought I would send them to her agency to see if they liked them. They loved them and asked if I would shoot more for them.” Among those who have posed for Papendieck are models Nina Agdal, Hannah Ferguson, River Viiperi, and Ellis McCreadie, and even photographer Bruce Weber. Photo: Max Papendieck/Instagram

Expand Photo

Thor Bulow (@ thorbulow) Danish model Thor Bulow has walked runways for Gant Rugger, Parke & Ronen, and David Spade, among others. But his In... more Thor Bulow (@ thorbulow) Danish model Thor Bulow has walked runways for Gant Rugger, Parke & Ronen, and David Spade, among others. But his Instagram account makes it immediately clear that he is also a CrossFit bro. “My favorite thing in CrossFit is going to that special dark place, that place where you feel like you want to stop and just lie down, but you keep pushing until the job is done,” Bulow tells the Cut. Now he even has a separate Instagram account for his CrossFit journey — and he is trying to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Meanwhile, Bulow does other, less serious stuff: He backflips when he hears he's going to New York and dives into the Copenhagen harbor. Photo: Courtesy of Parke and Ronan; Thor Bulow/Instagram

Expand Photo

Phil Sullivan (@ insight_phil) Fans of America’s Next Top Model may remember Phil Sullivan, a contestant in 2013. Since appearing on the show, he... more Phil Sullivan (@ insight_phil) Fans of America’s Next Top Model may remember Phil Sullivan, a contestant in 2013. Since appearing on the show, he's walked for Trina Turk, Lucas Castro, and other designers, and appeared in Nylon Guys, Fashionisto, and other editorials. The Massachusetts native with a trademark beard is also a photographer, shooting photos of other models, some of which are in the mix on his Instagram feed. Photo: Courtesy of New York Models; Phil Sullivan/Instagram

Expand Photo

Julian Schratter (@ throughjuleslens) Julian Schratter has appeared in ad campaigns for Armani Exchange, Iceberg, Ralph Lauren's Denim & Supp... more Julian Schratter (@ throughjuleslens) Julian Schratter has appeared in ad campaigns for Armani Exchange, Iceberg, Ralph Lauren's Denim & Supply, and 7 for All Mankind — but the California native is also a photographer. He works on the “Through Whose” project, which features photographs of people, places, and things around the world taken with disposable cameras. He's also rescued a stray dog in Puerto Rico named Rincon, who now has its own Instagram account, and has even started modeling. “As any excited owner, I blabbed about Rincon to some of my clients like Banana Republic and American Eagle, who then wanted in on the Insta pup,” Schratter tells the Cut. Man and dog are now inseparable. Photo: Courtesy of 7 for all Mankind; Julian Schratter/Instagram

Expand Photo

Travis Smith ( @triggtrav) Travis Smith has modeled for Versace, Versus, and Strellson — and has walked runways for Dsquared2 and Alexander Wang ... more Travis Smith ( @triggtrav) Travis Smith has modeled for Versace, Versus, and Strellson — and has walked runways for Dsquared2 and Alexander Wang x H&M. But from his Instagram account, you’ll learn that he’s a surfer from from Hawaii, is apparently some kind of acrobat, and is also a techie: He founded a modeling app called Modelfolio that allows models to arrange their photos into a portfolio. Photo: Courtesy of Versace; Itunes