It was Mark's mother and his friends who urged him into modeling. But Mark never really thought he was model material, and he was intimidated by the whole idea.

That changed when Mark turned 19. His father and one of his best friends were really into photography and offered to take a couple of shots of Mark to see where the pictures might lead. Mark, now less intimidated, sent the photos to several agencies and took them down to New York for open calls at various other agencies. The response was good. But things didn' t really start happening unitil Mark got noticed by a very well known photographer in Washington Square Park. That photographer approached Mark and a friend and complimented them on their looks. He wondered if they were models, and asked if he could take their picture for "Tell Magazine." A few months later the picture appeared in the magazine, and Mark's career was launched. The picture is in the Gallery section of Mark's home page

The photographer had promised to help Mark further his career, and toward that end introduced him to all the right people. Mark attented fashion shows where he established relationships with movie stars, fashion designers, other models , and modeling agents.

In November 1994, Mark was signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. Since then it's all been great for Mark who spent several months in South Beach Miami, where he met with clients and recieved a good response to his work. In fact, reaction to his photographs was as good as it could have been for someone just starting out.

Striving to get to the top, Mark is the type of person who makes things happen rather than sitting around and waiting for opportunity to come to him. He is a very self-motivated person who thrives on a tight schedule...except on weekends. On the weekends, he just likes to kick back and unwind.

Mark is very into nutrition, and while he diets most of the time, he has fun on the weekends. His philosophy: As long as your fat intake is low, you don't have to worry much about caloric intake; your body will use the rest as energy. Mark works out at the gym about four to six days each week using free weights and then rollerblading for cardiopulmonary exercise.

Mark is planning to finish his last two years of college pursuing his interest in the healthcare field while also furthering his modeling career.

Mark considers turn-ons to be: Chanel Coco; when a woman calls him "Markus"; Calvin Klein Escape; mint chocolate chip; the way a woman carries herself; Scent of a Woman; Jazz music (Paul Hardcastle, Keith Washington, George Howard, R&B, Keith Sweat, Soul for Real, Brandy); one of his best friends, Pasta Shop, Billy's Pasta Cosi (he eats there three times a week) great food (It pumps you up); travel; cooking for women.

Turn-offs are: smokers, women with attitudes, fake, phony people; people who tear down others to make themselves look better.

Despite his tender age, Mark has learned some valuable lessons. Philosophically he concludes: Never compromise yourself for anyone and don't be eager to tell someone everything about yourself. Stay in school. Say "NO" to drugs because when you do drugs you'll be selling yourself short by losing the respect others have for you.

The most important things in life: Love, health and your family's respect. "If you have those," he concludes, "you've got it made, but if you don't, no matter what else you have, it doesn't make any difference."

On getting into modeling he advises: Start by getting some photographs of yourself, preferably head shots and at least one full body. Send them with your statistics (height, weight, chest, waist and hips) to any local or New York agency, then wait for a response. An established and reputable agency will give you an honest appraisal of your potential. Never pay an agency to get in. If it's a good agency, they'll invest in you. No matter what happens, always keep a level head. Never compromise your beliefs and take your time with everything. If it's meant to be, it'll happen.

Despite the rugged exterior and positive interior there are things that scare Mark. They are: spiders, snakes and the New York subway system.

He is single and available.

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