reviews_and_ramblings | Man Candy Day: Edílson Nascimento

Edílson Nascimento (full name: Edílson do Nascimento Azevedo) was born on April 1, 1986 to a family of modest means in the northeastern state of Paraíba, Brazil. He grew up in the state capital, João Pessoa, in the Mangabeira neighborhood. From a very young age he loved sports, particularly the martial arts. He learned judo and eventually earned the highly coveted black belt. It was at a judo competition where Elian Gallardo, owner of Elian Gallardo Model agency in the city of Recife (capital of Pernambuco state), spotted him and immediately recognized his potential as a model. Elian approached Edílson and invited him to sign with his agency.

At age 16, Edilson took his first steps as a model during Paraíba Fashion Week, earning praise from the media. Due to the time he was dedicating to judo competitions, he withdrew from modeling for a while. However, destiny had singled him out for a modeling career and Elian Gallardo found him again some time later by searching internet sites and personal blogs and discovered that Edilson had entered a modeling contest in João Pessoa. Elian wasted no time; he went immediately to João Pessoa to find Edílson, and discovered that he was earning a living delivering mineral water to clients by motorcycle. The two renewed their acquaintance over lunch and that very day, Edílson's career as a model actually began. His first appearance was at a women's fashion show at Santa Contemporânea department store in João Pessoa; Edílson kicked off the fashion parade wearing only a Speedo and the women in the audience went wild. His career has blossomed ever since. He has participated in fashion shows and other events, and has modeled clothes for major labels in his hometown. He competed in the Mr. Brazil 2007 contest; he didn't win the title but the other contestants voted him the title of "Mr. Simpatia" ("Mr. Congeniality"), a well-deserved tribute to his warm, friendly, easy-going personality.

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Edilson Nascimento for TETU Magazine by Greg Vaughan

Soon thereafter, Elian Gallardo Model launched a new section of its website called "Uva e Banana" ("Grape and Banana", featuring sensual photography of the agency's models) and Edílson was the first model to be photographed for this site. As soon as these photos were posted on the EG Model site, they rocketed around the world via internet and were posted on innumerable sites and blogs (you will find these photos in the Portfolios section of this website). Edílson became an overnight sensation on the internet and was soon spotted by professional photographers and modeling agencies in the United States, including the Steven Klein Studio and Major Model Management, who immediately recognized his potential and invited him to New York in February 2008. He signed with Major Model Management and has since signed with Vision Model Management in Los Angeles. He is currently working in the United States.

Edílson has also become quite a sensation on YouTube, where fans have posted video homages to him (you will find some of them in the Video Gallery of this website) and have bestowed on him the enviable title of "Dream Boy". The meteoric rise of Edílson Nascimento's career is just the beginning. Stay tuned!