Model Romulo Pires Thanks Karl Lagerfeld

Nothing could have prepared Romulo Pires for the levels of achievement and success that his modelling career has bestowed upon him. Romulo's success story is certainly a fairytale come true in many senses, but it hasn't seemed to change him from being the down to earth, respectful individual that he was brought up by his mother to be. When asked what advice he would give to young men aspiring to join the modeling industry, Romulo offers, "Remember the names of the people who help you to be where you are." Although this seems like simple advice, it demonstrates Romulo's enduring regard for his mentors and his influences.

Romulo began his life as a model by chance. He was literally fixing a flat tire while working as a mechanic in his hometown of Brasilia, Brazil, when the lady whose tire he was fixing asked him if he had ever considered modeling. As one of six children being raised by a single mother, the thought of becoming a male model was the furthest thing from his mind. The woman with the flat tire turned out to be scouting agent Marina Sakamoto from the Brazilian branch of Paris' Elite Model Management, and she convinced Romulo to participate in a modeling competition. Naturally, Romulo won first place, and his life of international stardom was launched.

Through his career, Romulo has always taken the time to show his gratitude and pay tribute to those who have helped his career along the way, especially Creative Director for the House of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld arrived when Romulo felt his career had reached a lull, and he wasn't getting any work. Romulo believes that Lagerfeld revived his career, which has reached an unprecedented series of peaks since then, with work for brands such as CK One and Cartier, as well as being photographed by such legends as Steven Meisel and Helmut Newton. Perhaps, as Romulo Pires demonstrates, a little kindness does go a long way.