Troy Velez

‘Never Give up On Yourself – Never Let Anyone Stop You From Dreaming’

Film star, Tommy Hilfiger, Ford, super model, lawyer, and linguist Troy Velez has reached supreme popularity in New York City’s gay night life, and I could certainly see why. Despite his good looks, hot body, and natural intelligence, he is a genuinely nice person. I found him warm, candid, outgoing and very sweet.

How was your New Year? Were you working?
Actually, I worked the club – if you consider that work. What’s your New Year’s resolution?

To lose weight, and yours?
I don’t have any. I have all my dirty baggage from 2015. I’m the same person.

I joined a gym for New Year’s.
That’s a good thing. I go frequently to the gym, but I know that I’ve seen people with better bodies than me, but it’s not so much about your appearance, it’s about how you feel within. If you feel good within, then it shows. That’s what I tell people when they get discouraged. I have 5% body fat, and I’m still always judging myself. But when someone comes up to you and says you look amazing, you’re losing weight, that’s what really counts.

5% body fat, that’s awesome.
I don’t really have any body fat.

So you’re a model?
I’ve been modeling since I was 13; now I’m 37. I modeled for Tommy Hilfiger. I’ve done it all, trust me. They pit me and my good friend, the black supermodel Tyson Beckford, up against one another; I was his direct competition for years. We both started young. I was 13, he was around 16. He modeled for Polo; I modeled for Tommy Hilfiger.

Are you still friends?
We’re friends. There was a few years that we didn’t speak. I left for a while and went to law school. I have a law degree, but I don’t practice. When I came back, he had become a diva. The last few years, we speak. We’re not as close, but we’re friends.

So how are you so well known?
Some people know me because I’m also an actor. Some people know me from modeling. Every bar owner in the city knows me. I’m just around.

What kind of acting do you do?
I have two major projects coming up. They are both Paramount films. I have some other projects. I did “Playgirl” in 2006, so it’s been about 10 years, so I’ll be doing that again. It should be out by April.

Where are you from?
I’m Puerto Rican and black. I’m from Puerto Rico.

Yes I detect a slight accent.
I tried to get rid of it, but I can’t. It’s hard when I’m acting and looking for that role. Can you imagine the takes that they have to do until I get rid of it? Some people say my accent is British. I’ve lived in London. Some say it’s Jamaican. I mean, I’ve lived in various places, so I picked up a little accent from everywhere. I lived in Tokyo, so I picked up a little Japanese accent. I speak fluent Japanese.

Do you really? That’s impressive. You do everything in the world!
My mother told me that my looks aren’t gonna last forever, so she wanted me to be well educated. My education, the things that I’ve learned, have to define me. I can’t just let my looks or my body define me. I just wanted to learn everything I could learn.

If you could say anything to people that know you, your friends, fans, followers, what would that be?
Never give up on yourself. Never let anyone stop you from dreaming.

You’re a new addition to a crayon box. What color are you?
That’s a good question. I’d be a mixture of red and white. My heart is pure, but I have a very fiery personality.

You do, I can tell. So you get pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they?
Oprah would be my mother. Everything she touches turns to gold. I think that I can learn a lot from her. For my father, I love Denzel Washington.

If you were a porn star, what would your name be?
No one has ever asked me that before. OMG. People would probably call me El Diablo. I have a fiery temper.

Troy, you are based in New York now?
Yes, part time. When I am filming I am bicoastal.

I have a feeling that we will revisit this interview again in the future.
Yes, when the projects come out. We can talk about other things, like me being molested. It brings awareness.

I don’t even know what to say to that.
It’s more expectable in society for a female to say she was molested. The shame of having a boy who is seven years old who was molested and had to live out his life trying not to let anyone find out. You know what, I was molested, but it’s not my fault. It happened. I could have let it destroy me, but instead it helped me be a bigger person. It gave me ammunition to live. I’m not going to say that money isn’t important, but the most important thing to me is being happy and living life the right way. Treating others how I want to be treated. That’s very important.

I agree. Now if you come up with anything new, text me.
I know you did an interview with Jeff from the Buff Boyz.

I love Jeff and his husband.
You know, he’s my best friend. We grew up together. He’s like my brother.

Well, you say hello for me.

Facebook:
Troy Velez

Instagram:
modeltroyvelez

Twitter:
@Modeltroyvelez

Photo By Rick Stockwell