Trevor Signorino is one of the most recognizable male models in the world and is from right here in the United States. He has modeled for Charlie swimwear and became a household name when he starred in the VERSACE Dylan Blue campaign opposite with Gigi Hadid. He has also starred in Balmain and Moschino ADs along with gracing the cover of numerous magazines. Now, the man who helped launch fragrances, swimwear and luxury hair care products for some of the biggest brands globally is launching his own training brand, TSFit. Photographer Peter Tamlin captures Trevor in his element at GHOST Brooklyn, exclusively for Metropolis Sport. Our editor Seth Travis caught up with Trevor after the shoot.
How old were you when you first became an athlete, and when did you make the switch from just picking up a sport and playing to training in the weight room and adjusting your diet?
It honestly feels like I came out of the womb striving to accomplish great things athletically. For as long as I can remember, I have been in love with sports. That holds true to this day. I would say the switch really began in college. I came to the point where I decided to move on from competitive sports, and that’s when training and nutrition became my new passion.
PHOTOGRAPHER Peter Tamlin
Metropolis Sport starring Trevor Signorino
Modeling is a competitive business especially in the fitness world. How did you get your start in the business and how did modeling change the way you workout and eat now?
I know all about competition. I’ve lived and breathed it my whole life and I can honestly say that, at times, modeling has felt as competitive as any sport. The beginning of my modeling career can be summed up by the famous adage of being in the right place at the right time. A scout discovered me in the streets of NYC, presented me with his card, and my path began. Although I was already training and studying nutrition before modeling arrived on the scene, it still presented a steep learning curve at first. I had to change up my training regimen and tweak my diet in order to cut down my weight and mass, yet still maintain a strong, lean physique. Even now, I am continually learning and discovering new tricks to advance myself and my body. That’s what I love so much about health and wellness. There’s always room for growth, education, and improvement.
What is the TSfit mission and training philosophy?
The driving idea behind my training company is simple. I want everyone who comes in to feel that they have a real shot at becoming the best version of themselves, and one major facet of that is nutrition and fitness. It’s not simply about looking the best, but, more importantly, feeling like the best version of yourself. That’s not to say I don’t love working day in and day out to see positive results shown physically and feel a sense of pride around all of that hard work, but there’s more to overall health than just the physical aspect. I have attained so much around mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and fitness has certainly been a driving force behind that. I truly want other people to experience that, as well. More now than ever before, we need to feel good about ourselves. We need to feel great from the inside out, and through my training programs and my fitness app I know people can achieve that.
Walking into a GNC or any type of health and wellness supplement store can be overwhelming. Multivitamins, protein powder and bars line the shelf, then there are fat burner pills. What is your take on all that and how can we navigate these places better to make informed decisions?
That’s a great point, and definitely something I have dealt with in my early years of training. My advice is to stick with what works. Keep supplements to a minimum, and only utilize them if you are deficient in certain areas of your diet. Most of the time it is the label that sells the product. We get caught up in these clever and catchy marketing phrases, when in reality the ingredients that make up the product are not wise to ingest and absorb into our bodies. It sounds cliche, but the best “supplement” one can take is simply having a true, organic, whole food diet filled with real macronutrients and micronutrients.
OK, back to TSfit and training. If you look at the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 00s physique trends change. What do guys want to focus on the most right now and why? (You can talk to certain muscles of the body, and aesthetic looks, CrossFit, MMA, Cycling all these body types and the training necessary to achieve them?
Every person has their own perception of what the “perfect” body looks like, or what they want to achieve. The current trend in popularity is around a lean, V-taper aesthetic look. A set of broad shoulders and skinny waist that produce a V shape from the top down. It’s a great athletic look and, although it takes a lot of time in the gym and clean eating, is well worth the journey. As they say, “Rome was not built in a day.” Neither was the perfect body. What makes it possible is being strategic, intentional, and consistent day in and day out.
Follow-up: Aside from trends and looking a particular way, what is something guys continue to overlook in the weight room?
I think that cardio is such an overlooked aspect of training. People tend to shy away from it, or put it on the back burner far too often. Of course, lifting weights is vital to gaining muscle and burning fat, but cardio enhances those gains. I’m not talking about 5 minutes on the treadmill at a brisk walking pace. I’m talking about 15-20 minutes of moderate to high intensity intervals. Moral of the story is, get out there and sweat. Stop avoiding cardio!
What makes you passionate about TSfit right now?
The fact that each day I get to help someone. Sometimes it’s only for a short period of time, others have been for over a year or more. In the end, I love that I had the opportunity to make a positive influence in someone’s life. That’s what matters most to me. I want you to see results of course, but the fact that I get the opportunity to help you achieve something positive for yourself and your health is all the motivation and passion I need. TSFit gives me that opportunity every single day, and I am beyond grateful for that.
A lot of guys look up to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and other icons of weight lifting. Is there an athlete you grew up admiring or someone today that has really inspired you to grow TSfit?
To this day, my favorite collection of films is the “Rocky” series. My dad introduced me to the movies at a young age, and I fell in love with them immediately. It was so cool to see how far Rocky (played by the amazing Sylvester Stallone) came from the beginning to the end of his journey. I have a lot of respect for movie stars that are willing to do whatever it takes to create a physique that represents a specific character. It’s something that has played a large part in keeping me motivated for modeling. At any given moment, you want to be able to present your best self to the world. Creating TSFit has only enhanced that motivation for myself.
Outside of fitness where do you draw your inspiration from?
My family and faith play huge roles in inspiring me. They have really helped shape me as an individual. We all have those certain people that mean the most in our lives. They are there to lift you up when you are down, and they humble you when you get lost in the rat race. I would be lost without those people, and wouldn’t have made it as far as I have without them.
Goal Setting is important. What goal have you set for yourself that you want to share with us, and how is that going?
I’ll give you two different goals. The first one is to help as many people as possible truly make a difference in their lives through health and fitness. Whether that’s losing weight, gaining muscle, or just creating a healthier lifestyle. I’m not all the way there yet, but it’s been a great start thus far. The second goal is a little more flashy. Ever since I started modeling, I always wanted to star in a Calvin Klein campaign. It’s such an iconic brand, and I would love to join the pantheon of campaign stars attached to it.
We are all navigating uncertain times and many use fitness as therapy. Can you offer some words of encouragement to us?
A favorite quote of mine is “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” I think that now more than ever, our world feels like it’s in a never-ending storm. However, we can’t let that storm be the reason we don’t move forward. Fitness is all around us. Opportunities abound. If we can adapt to our situations, then we can keep pressing forward. So let’s all keep the faith, gather some grit, and get after it.
Man of Metropolis presents an all-new Metropolis Sport exclusive featuring Trevor Signorino by Peter Tamlin shot on location at GHOST Brooklyn PHOTOGRAPHER Peter Tamlin MODEL Trevor Signorino, Good Talent Management GROOMING Walton Núñez, SEE Management using Jones Road Beauty LOCATION GHOST Brooklyn EDITOR Seth Travis
