Hey guys!
Now, I got this question from some of you asking me.
Daniel.
How can you be a preacher, a man of God,
and also do professional international modeling?
How can you have two different channels?
A channel where you talk about Christian lifestyle and another one about modeling?
That's about fitness grooming and style.
Is that not, sinful and too worldly?
Well, in this video I'm gonna answer all of these questions and more.
So let's get to the video.
All right, so let me say this at the beginning.
Modeling is what I do, It's not who I am.
What I am, is a reborn Christian.
A child of God.
Now, let me ask you this question.
What do you think is a model?
Some of you might say, 'Well, it's tall and skinny people.'
Some of you might say, 'It's beautiful people.'
Some of you might say, 'Models are arrogant and puffed up people,
vain and people with no education.'
Or people who show their bodies in underwear, or just being naked.
And the list goes on.
I've been falsely accused of a lot of things, because what people think about modeling,
is totally wrong.
And people want to put labels on people.
You want to put people in a box, and stereotype.
We know that stereotyping, is wrong.
But still we do it.
We make assumptions based on our subjective perceptions, and we judge people.
Without even understanding the whole picture.
For example, what do people usually ask you when you meet them for the first time?
What do you do for a living?
Then the moment you tell them.
They usually judge you and make assumptions about who you are as a person.
Now, let me tell you.
Modeling, is not about beautiful guys and girls, that just shows off their bodies.
Modeling, at its core.
Is a human being that wears, or displays a product to other humans,
So that they can get an idea of how the product works,
or how it looks on a man or a woman.
Now if the product is good.
If it can be trusted, then there's nothing wrong,
to model the product, so that other people can see it.
Now, let's look at the bigger picture.
There's a lot of different types of models.
Like fashion models.
They're more unique-looking, usually very tall and very skinny.
And then you have plus-size models.
They're usually the bigger models.
Then you have young models, kids and babies.
Then you get fitness models.
Now they work the hardest to maintain a good physique, and motivate us to take better care of our bodies.
And then you get underwear models who usually always only do underwear.
I'm not one of them.
And then there's commercial models.
The classic, healthy looking guy or women.
I'm a commercial model.
These type of models are natural lifestyle type of models.
Now, these are just the basics.
There are a lot more different types of models.
You get hand models and the list just goes on.
The modeling industry, is a lot bigger than you think it is.
Being a model.
If you see somebody and they say that they're a model.
Don't make assumptions.
Don't think it's an uneducated guy or girl.
Who shows off their body just so the people can lust after them.
That's wrong.
Most models that I've met, usually only do modeling part time, and most of them have degrees.
Just something quick.
There's a stereotype that most people think models are not so, so smart.
But my friend here, from Argentina. He actually got a degree.
Yeah, what degree do you have again?
Environment.
Environment, Its a master's degree right?
Yes.
So modeling is not who we are, It's just what we do.
I have a degree also in psychology and one in theology.
So they're not uneducated people.
They just do it on the side because it's interesting.
Now, I do commercial modeling which is more natural lifestyle kind of modeling.
Where I do photo shoots.
TV commercials.
and sometimes fashion shows.
I've been traveling as an international male model for over 13 years.
And at the beginning I used to do underwear,
but then,
I didn't have peace anymore, and the Holy Spirit started to convict me, and I realized that it is wrong.
So I stopped.
It happened, especially when I read,
Romans 14:13
"It says therefore, let us not judge one another anymore,
But rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way."
So I started to be very picky, in the type of jobs that I did.
I started to say no, for a lot of jobs.
And if you're a model, or if you are in the entertainment industry,
you can say no.
Some people also ask me,
'But Daniel, how can you work in the modelling industry that is full of Godless people?'
Now, First of all, it is not full of godless people.
There are Christians in the modelling industry as well, and in the entertainment industry,
that are trying to make a difference.
And I can ask you the same question.
Why are you a lawyer?
Why are you a scientist?
Why are you a teacher?
There are godless people in every occupation, the list just goes on.
Jesus Christ did not come for those, who lived a perfect righteous life.
He came for sinners.
Luke 5:31 says,
"Jesus answered and said to them,
'Those who are well have no need of a physician,
But those who are sick.
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
You can find something wrong with almost every occupation.
if you're a lawyer, you work in a justice system that fail people.
That is not right.
If you are doctor or a nurse.
Sometimes you can only help people who have money or a medical aid.
What about those who don't?
You have to help everybody, don't you?
You're a Christian.
And let me not even start with the sales people.
Now just because you're in a certain occupation, it doesn't mean that you do, what they do.
Because we are in the world, but we are not part of it.
So we have to shine our light in the darkness.
You have to shine your light, in the type of work that you do.
So I shine my light in the modeling industry,
and I say no to a lot of things, and I stand firm, on Godly principles.
So then people can really see, not just by what I say, but what I do, that I am a reborn Christian.
Especially in the modeling industry, where most people are not Christian.
And they will never set foot in a church.
So the only contact they sometimes have is with the people in their industry.
And yes, there are a lot of bad things in the modeling industry, the entertainment industry.
But imagine, if all Godly men and women suddenly just went out.
Imagine what will happen.
Think about the consequences.
You get what I'm saying?
It's easy to sit back In your bubble and to judge other people.
Compared to actually making a difference, standing up.
Doing something to save people in the darkness.
So why did I start the DLM model lifestyle Channel?
Well, I started it over two years ago.
It has more than half a million subscribers now, and it gets 1 million views every month.
And I started it for a few different reasons.
The first reason was, because I didn't know how to create videos.
So I wanted to learn.
I knew I wanted to start the Christian Channel, but the Christian channel is so important.
It does not just bring value for temp, for this temporary world,
but it has eternal consequences.
So I needed to learn, how to create good quality content.
So I started the DLM model lifestyle to learn how to do it.
And second, I wanted to reach an audience all over the world.
You know not everybody go to the church these days,
and usually the people in the church,
are so quick to judge people today.
It's scary.
Most people are turned away from God, when they look at the lifestyles of Christians.
And that's not how it should be.
It should bring them closer to God.
So right now I reach an audience all over the world.
Even in places like Iraq, Iran, a lot of Asian countries.
People Who can't speak perfect English.
And that's also one of the reasons why, on most of the videos I try to make things very simple.
So that everyone can understand it.
And the third reason was that, in this channel.
People think,
would think, that I would just talk about grooming and style,
and fitness,
everything that would just make themselves feel better about themselves.
But the real reason is, is that I wanted to bring value through the videos.
To bring a bigger message, through every single video.
And that is.
To think, not so much just about yourself,
But to start thinking differently about the world.
About your character.
What is the meaning of life?
I wanted to talk about normal things in such a way that would inspire people.
Motivate people to think about a bigger picture of life itself, and it is successful.
There's a lot of people who come over from the model lifestyle channel, to the Christian Channel.
I got some emails and messages of people saying,
'Daniel, I'm not really interested in Christianity,
But you said something about this and I and you said you're a Christian on the model lifestyle channel,
I thought this is interesting,
and I got curious.
So I came over to the Christian channel to see what you said, and I was blown away.
There's a lot of people that came to Christ in this way.
So many of them now are following both channels.
The Model lifestyle channel and also the Christian Lifestyle channel.
So God is using what I'm doing in the modeling industry to bring glory to Him,
and to change lives.
There's so many people that reach out to me that say,
'Thank you Daniel so much for changing my life'
But we know it's not me,
because we know that it is God who works in us, and through us.
Now, another question somebody asked me is,
'Daniel, why do you have half-naked photos of yourself?
Well, first of all, I never thought about it as half-naked.
Men who just take off their tops.
You see them at the beach.
When they work out.
When they do sports.
It's a normal thing.
And second, I don't have a lot of half-naked photos.
Now, when I go to the beach, or when I go to the swimming pool,
I'm not gonna swim in a jacket and clothes.
I'm gonna take off my top, because it's hot.
I'm from South Africa and that's what we do.
And in modeling, if I advertise some nice swimming shorts,
Or some workout equipment, and I have to show my body that I'm healthy, that I'm fit.
I want to promote a healthy lifestyle.
A healthy lifestyle where people actually take good care of their bodies.
Why?
Because it is the temple of God.
It is only a vessel.
That's all it is.
And of course it is so much more important to have inner beauty, than outer beauty.
And, yeah, we all understand that.
We have to grow spiritually and focus on a relationship with God,
But apart from that.
We have to take care of our bodies, because God gave it to us.
It is His temple.
So I'm going to take good care of my body, And so should you.
Now if I can't take off my shirt at the beach, or the pool,
or while I'm working out with some guys,
or just because it's just too hot.
Then where do you draw the line?
So the line that I draw, is when it comes to underwear.
I won't do that.
That's just a big no.
And I hope that answers your question.
And you know,
I believe God made me the way I am, to shine my light on the fashion industry,
and entertainment industry.
To shine a light on darkness, and also to bring in a whole new audience,
that will usually never go to church, from all over the world.
There's a lot of things that I'm against in the modeling industry, like,
over sexualizing magazines,
and TV shows,
Photographers who sexually abuse models, young models.
Who really don't know actually what they're doing, or getting themselves into.
It's a lot worse for female models.
So if you want to get into the modeling industry.
You need to be very, very strong in Christ.
You need to be a mature Christian.
If you're not I would rather say, don't do it, because it is not easy.
It is now.
Actually for me it is right nkow, it easy.
I have been doing it for over 13 years, but at the beginning it wasn't that easy.
But now it is, because I Know Who I am in Christ.
I know my identity.
But many young models get lost.
They get lost in this whole new world, where they try to be somebody that they are not.
Most models are not happy with the way that they look.
They get judged the most, people don't know this.
So last question people ask me is,
You know, what is it like to be a model?
And I think the answer that they're looking for is,
if you are a little bit skinnier, and you have shinier hair,
you will be so happy and fabulous.
Is the thing that we never say on camera, that I have never said on camera,
Is I am insecure.
And I'm insecure, because I have to think about what I look like every day.
And if you ever are wondering.
You know, if I have thinner thighs, and shinier hair, will I be happier?
You just need to meet a group of models,
because they have the thinnest thighs and the shiniest hair,
and the coolest clothes,
and the most physically insecure women probably on the planet.
You know it's funny, most of the time the fashion industry,
They push models to try to be perfect.
To be something they're not.
Even if you do photo shoots.
They would add a lot of makeup.
they would Photoshop it,
and they would make him look more skinny,
or your nose smaller, or all of these things.
And T=then the people at home, especially young girls who look at these photos of celebrities and models,
think like, wow!
Why can't I be like that?
But they never realize that it's all fake.
There's no way that young girls can look like that,
and they start to look at themselves in the mirror.
And I don't feel good enough.
They want to look prettier, because all the magazines and TV shows it tells them,
'If they look better, and more attractive, and more sexy,
then people will accept them.
It's a lie!
So yes,
I am staying in a modelling world, to shine my light on the darkness and to change lives.
And if there are any of you, that have a good product, that people can trust.
Then you can reach out to me, and maybe we can do something together.
And if there are any people here,
that are not happy with the way that they look, for some reason.
And you've never checked out my other channel.
Then watch the video here.
And I'll see you there.
Now remember, God loves you.
And I love you too.
Bye!
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