Age: 27
Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa
Occupation: Model
There’s much more to Travis Lee Ferguson than what meets the eye. His portfolio clearly shows he’s been climbing his way to magazine covers and runway shows, but the back story is much different than your typical handsome face gone model.
It was before his senior year at Iowa State University that Travis took a trip to Chicago when someone approached him and asked had he ever thought about modeling. In that very week, Travis Lee Ferguson, the model, was born.
Travis was a double major who played defensive end at Iowa State at the time. He had no idea how the vision for himself would change in a simple question by a stranger.
“My five year goal in college was to be in the NFL,” he says. “I was all about football and then modeling came out of nowhere. Now, I’ve gotten into this and this is my passion now. This is what I do.”
Travis says he does primarily high fashion, but has covered fitness, business wear, underwear and runway modeling, in addition to gracing the covers of romance novels. He’s been featured in Juice Magazine and participated in promotional work for clothing lines. Although he plans to try his hand at the big screen, modeling is his main focus. As the dad of a six-year-old son, Travis prides himself on being a family man before anything else.
“We have a really close relationship,” he admits. “I mean essentially, he’s my best friend. So, that always comes first no matter what.”
Travis is also a business man who took his passion of modeling to another level. He serves as a coach and model advocate for aspiring models, helping them build portfolios and gain experience in the industry. However, Travis Lee Ferguson wouldn't simply call himself a “modern day Renaissance man.” Instead, he calls it “ambition.”
He’s made it known he dislikes getting his make-up done and slow drivers on social media, but on the flip side, he enjoys positive energy.
“I’ve had my share of ups and down in life,” Travis admits. “I’ve been around a lot of negativity and one thing that I’ve learned is negativity is so contagious. When you’re around it and that’s all you see, it’s easy to get pulled into it and put a negative spin on anything.”
The Iowa native also likes to promote a healthy lifestyle on Twitter. The model and athlete openly admits his diet when not preparing for a shoot is horrible, but still maintains a regular workout routine. He gave GMO the skinny on his unique ritual before photoshoots.
“I usually start a pretty regimented diet starting maybe a week before the shoot, and as I get closer to the shoot, it gets more and more strict,” he confesses. “As far as my workout goes, along with my diet, that gets more intense as I get closer to the shoot.”
Wondering how Travis maintains his physique? He normally exercises twice a day and at least 5 days a week. Travis’s morning workouts begin at 4:45 a.m. with cardio and toning with lightweight heavy reps, while evenings consist of heavy lifting. The former football player says he works out to the tunes of Waka Flocka Flame.
“When that dude gets into my headphones, I go bananas in the gym,” he admits. “I don’t know why, but he just gets me really geeked up.”
Whether it’s modeling, athletics, fitness or family, Travis says he’s a passionate person.
“I just want them to think of me as a family man and a business man with goals, dreams and aspirations just like everybody else,” he adds. “I’ll show them firsthand how to chase [their] dreams relentlessly.”
Trivia Time with Travis
What are some special talents many people don’t know about?
I can skateboard.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Right now, ice cream and Oreos, but I’m a lover of everything caramel.
How many tattoos do you have?
12 or 13
What’s your favorite music to listen to?
Music that I can relate to: I like Hip Hop, like T.I., Nas, and Common. I’m not a fan of the newer Hip Hop artists.
What’s your favorite food?
I love to eat. My favorite food is anything that comes off the grill.
What’s your favorite city to visit?
Chicago! I love Chicago! Shout out to Chi-Town. What I’ve noticed about Chicago is the people are so nice. I just love to visit that city. There’s a lot of history in that city, and it’s a beautiful city.
What’s your favorite activity to do with your son?
Sports and Legos, but everything that I do with him is my favorite activity.
Before, you were asked what your plan was for the next 5-10 years and you said your goal was to not have a goal. Has that changed?
It changes every day and essentially, that’s my outlook on life. The road to success is not a straight line and I try not to plan because anything can happen. Who knows what opportunities might present themselves tomorrow? My five-year goal is to be happy, to be a good father, to be a good Christian and a good family man. Anything besides that is extra.
