Ike Love Featured in the Current Issue of Rated UD Magazine - The Music Issue

Here are my pics from a shoot I did with the folks over at Rated UD Magazine - The Music Issue in Dumbo, Brooklyn.  It was a very lively, active shoot that kept me on my toes, literally.  To preview the magazine and purchase a hard copy, click here.

My FAVOURITE 5 Shots I've Taken with Photographers

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you.

You must travel it by yourself.

It is not far. It is within reach.

Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. 

Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.” 

― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

As we approach the end of the year, I am forced to reflect not only on the past year, but also about my past in general.  In doing this, I've thought about my journey as a model and that led me to think about my favourite pictures I've taken.  Some I consider favourites because they mark a certain milestone I reached as a model, others because they showed me an aspect of myself that I hadn't before seen, and others simply because I like the look.  

Here are my five favourites (in no particular order)

Photo by PSCOTT Photography
Winner Underwear Ad Campaign 2011

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Photo by Clique Photo

Photo by Richard Lipscomb

Photo by Arteo Photo

Photo by PSCOTT Photography

Designer Antonio Paolo Sadio Agrees to be a Sponsor for THE IKE SHOW 2014 VIDEO LAUNCH

I am pleased to announce the coming aboard of Antonio Paolo Sadio, Atlanta based Underwear Designer, as a sponsor for THE IKE SHOW 2014 VIDEO LAUNCH - Get out of Your Own Way.  Sadio has been in the Fashion Industry for 24 years, with his experiences varying from a model, to fashion illustrator to a designer of men's and women's wear.

His first big break came in 1994 at a "chance" occurrence in a retail store when he went to visit a friend who worked there and the store manager liked a vest he was wearing and requested that his entire vest collection be carried by the retail store. Eventually finding his niche in men's ready to wear and custom made underwear, he went onto start hisown design company, Sadio and Co. which is focused on men's intimate apparel.  The Sadio Store, launched in 2009, is where his men's undergarments and casual wear are available.  He gets his inspiration for his designs from St. Croix, where he hails from which is evident in the tropical, bright colours and the breathable fabric.

I find his "if they don't accept me, I'll do it my own" attitude an inspiration.  This attitude, along with his unwavering determination drives Sadio and provides him  the encouragement he needs to carry out his plan of branching out his company and making it into an international brand.

I consider it a true honour to represent Sadio and Co. Underwear as one of my ads for the upcoming IKE SHOW 2014.  More to come...

Top International Model, Bertini, Introduces Mister Africa USA 2013

I am pleased to announce that an esteemed colleague and friend of mine, Bertin, International Model/Fitness Consultant/Actor/Underwear Designer will be holding his First Annual Mister Africa USA 2013, on Saturday, August 10th, 6pm-12pm at the National Black Theater at 2031 Fifth Avenue.

Mister Africa USA 2013 was a concept conceived by Bertini to celebrate the accomplishments of African men living in the United States and to empower young African Men in America, while embracing their African Beauty and Heritage. The pageant will provide the platform for young African male leaders to serve humanity and empower communities in Africa, USA and around the world. 

Proceeds from the event will go toThe Fabo Foundation for the Deaf, an organization that supports deaf young people in Africa, also founded by Bertini in honour of a younger brother who was born deaf.

For more info about the event, you can visit the Mister Africa USA website.

Ike Love's Favourites in Style, Fashion, Beauty and Grooming

 

I've often shared here my thoughts and the going on's in my career as an underwear model.  As my first blog for this year (sorry I've been away for so long) I wanted to take a different route, and share with my readers my preferences pertaining to fashion, grooming, diet, etc. to give you a bit more of a view into my "personal" world.

Favourite colour:
I LOVE the colour grey. The colour literally soothes me, grounds me and I believe completely goes well with me. I love wearing grey slacks, shirts, sneakers, underwear, hats and when I buy a car, intend for it to be a grey/silverish colour.

Favourite Sneakers:
So, what about Pumas?
It's simple - their simplicity.  They're subtle but at the same time they make a statement.  They're simplicity makes for their versatility. They go well with shorts as well as jeans and a blazer. Love these sneakers!








Favourite Underwear:
I love 2(x)ist Boxer Briefs. I love the fit, the style and the comfort. Nuff said.

Skin Care Aids:

I've often been told that I have great skin, which STILL comes as a surprise to me no matter how many times I hear it because that wasn't always the case. As a teen, I had severe cystic acne. Thank God it never left any serious scarring. I'm a bit anal about my skin and don't like using store bought products for my face because they're filled with petrochemicals, parabens, etc that do the total OPPOSITE of caring for your skin.  

For my skin, I use the PSCOTT Skin Care Package consisting of a Face Wash, Toner, and Moisturizer. I like using it because it's all natural (yea, I mean ALL natural, meaning not an empty statement like what other large companies use to deceive people), it's made from essential oils, natural botanicals, etc with no petrochemicals or parabens.

Favourite Soap:
As I grow, I've become more and more skeptical of all the mainstream brands that are thrown in front of our faces through media every day, this includes the soap.  Most of the soap out there dries your skin and are full of unhealthy chemicals.that can damage our skin. I use Trader Joe's Oatmeal Exfoliant Ginger Almond Soap for my body because it smells great, keeps my skin soft and smooth, comes as a huge bar which enables it to last a long time, has bits of oatmeal on it that gently exfoliates my skin as I wash it, and is a lot healthier than what's out there.

Favourite Deodorant:

Just about all of the antiperspirants that are available in stores contain aluminum in addition to other parabens that are NOT HEALTHY for the body.  They may do a good job of keeping us dry and odour free, but it comes at expense of our health. We can only begin to wonder how much of the illnesses that we suffer are due to the unhealthy amounts of aluminum and other parabens that we have in our bodies due to the antiperspirants that we use on a daily basis.

After getting more conscious about the products I use on my body, I changed to non-aluminum deodorants, but admittedly, they didn't do as good as a job as keeping a heavy perspirer like me as fresh and dry as the ones with aluminum do, especially during the summer months. At the recommendation of a like-minded friend of mine, I tried Dusk Organic Deodorant.  It still didn't do as good of a job as an antiperspirants with aluminum, but I found it to be better than the other non-aluminum deodorants out there. With good health being of HIGH priority to me, I can deal with that.

Favourite Toothpaste:
I was "prescribed" Therabreath Toothpaste and Oral Rinse by a Holistic/Homeopathic Doctor back in 2007 because I found that the regular toothpaste brands I had been using for my entire life up till then were not giving me the necessary oral freshness I needed.  I subsequently learned that most of the toothpaste and other oral hygienic products out there contain products like sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohol and other ingredients that have the opposite effects on some of us than what they're advertised to do.  I found that Therabreath products, which contain all natural ingredients and are free of dyes, alcohol, formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals certainly did the trick for me, and since then I've never looked back.

My Experience Walking the CLEONS Clothing Fashion Show 9.15.12

I had the complete honour to walk in a fashion show for the CLEONS Clothing Line titled "Destruction" on September 15, 2012 at the Broad Street Ballroom in the Financial District.. There was a lot of buildup and anticipation leading up to the show because of all the preparation that went into it beforehand involving several rehearsals where we were fitted with outfits for five different scenes and where we practiced our walk over and over and over again.

Chad, the designer for the line, I must admit, was one of the most  (if not THE most) organized designer I had ever worked with through the rehearsals up until the very day of the show. Everything was planned to a "T" including how long the models took to walk each scene down to the second. He was truly professional and the fact that he had everything tight and sewn up made things flow more smoothly which put everyone else at ease.  The team he also put together to help with the handling of the show was also top notch.  They were very helpful to myself and the other models.

I must also say all the models were great to work with as well.  Everyone was friendly, there was no cattiness or competitiveness between the models which created a great working ambiance. Everyone worked together as a team to make sure that we ALL as a group pulled off a great show.  We even joined hands and said a prayer right before we walked out which I know definitely put me at ease and gave me the confidence to do my thing.

Scene 1

Photo by Karina Antigua

Scene 2

Photo by Karina Antigua

Scene 3

Photo by Karina Antigua

Scene 4

Photo by Karina Antigua

Scene 5

Photo by Karina Antigua

Final Scene

Photo by Karina Antigua

My Participation in the PSCOTT Dusk to Dawn Sleepwear Collecion Showcase

On the tail end of New York Fashion Week Spring 2013, Thursday, September 13th, I had the honour of being one of the models showcased at the PSCOTT Dusk to Dawn Sleep and Intimate Wear Showcase for Men.  It was a very cozy, intimate event and I had a lot of fun interacting with other models Bertini, Max Rivas, Neno Bland and Malaysia, along with photographers.

Sadly, it was also the last time I was to see Richard Sommerville, one of the videographers/photographers at the event, who left this earthly plane several days later on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 after a long, protracted battle with illness. R.I.P. Mr. Rich Sommerville, from the short time I worked with you,  you showed yourself to be a very giving, caring, beautiful soul.

Here are some pics from the event.

Photo by Ken Fitch

Photo by Giselle May

Photo by Giselle May

Photo by Giselle May

Photo by Ken Fitch