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View Winners → Archive Jan 06, 2017
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Say hello to our BAE of the day, Captain Barto *insert heart eye emojis here*. The 24 year old surfer, model, photographer and certified “zaddy” was randomly scouted at the Agenda convention in Long Beach last year and has been making waves since then in the modeling world. We had a chance to ask Captain Barto a few questions and yes.. his personality is just as amazing as his face. Check it out below:
LAC: What was it like being discovered at Agenda? Was it surreal?
Captain Barto: Not so much surreal, as it was coincidence, luck, and the perfect way to be discovered. The main reason I went to Agenda that day was to see my friends who were exhibiting their company. They have a rad clothing line called DUVIN that they run out of Florida. I was having a shit day and running behind. I jumped in the car to go to Agenda way later than planned, then hit traffic. I almost just called it quits and turned around. I powered through and made it to Agenda 1 hour before close. I literally walked in the show, took 3 steps, and this random lady jumped in my face and started asking me all these questions. I was so caught off guard and first, then she told me she was scouting for FORD. Everything just clicked and it felt right. I tend to stick to the philosophy that if it feels right, then do it. Plus, I’m a huge surfer and grew up skating and snowboarding. I couldn’t ask for a better way to be discovered than at a trade show for all of those things.
LAC: What has been your favorite campaign thus far?
CB: I haven’t shot too many campaigns yet. Just a mix of fashion magazine editorials. I’m just getting started. But one campaign that was cool to do was ecommerce for Swell.com. Again, Swell is the main place I shopped for all of my clothing and gear growing up and it was so cool to see me on their site and newsletters. It also kinda sucked because all my boys rag on me in the group chats for it. LMAO!
LAC: If you had to choose between photography, modeling, and surfing, which of your passions would you say is the greatest?
CB: Surfing, then Photography, then Modeling. Surfing has been a part of my life the longest and is pure passion. Nothing feels better in this world then coming out of a stand up barrel in a faraway land like Indonesia with no one else around but your best friends. Photography is so amazing and I love that I am able to create things I believe in and get paid for it. Modeling just kind of happened and is still fresh for me. I hope to use it as a way to create, meet cool like-minded people, and fuse all of my passions together. It should be one hell of a ride, I am so excited for 2017 and what the future holds.
LAC: Can you share something your followers might not know about you.
CB: This city life is still so new to me. I grew up in a small country town. Salisbury, Maryland. My life consisted of sports and surfing, literally surrounded by corn fields. Luckily my family was very passionate about surfing and traveling and I had that instilled an adventurous and explorative spirit in me from a young age.
Also, I almost lost my right eye in a surfing accident a year ago. I was surfing Malibu and my leash snapped my board back into my eye. I got 13 stitches in my eyelid and it was swollen shut for a month. I then had a limo eye lid for another 4 months. I am so blessed to have a full recovery and no serious damage, except a cool scar and story. I definitely wouldn’t be modeling, and possibly not photography or surfing if my board would have hit me even just a millimeter lower.
LAC: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
CB: I am just getting started. In 2017 I hope to build my personal brand and really have a strong presence on all social media applications- and possibly start creating videos on a YouTube channel. I hope to collaborate with brands I believe in on capsule collections, and then launch my own brand(s) by the end of the year. I will be focusing much more on modeling and booking jobs with brands that fit me and my style. Doing all of this while traveling the world and creating. And many adventures with my wonderful girlfriend.
LAC: Name one thing that you do in LA that you can’t do anywhere else in the world?
CB: Living in Los Angeles is so unique in the aspect that I could surf in the morning, go drive to the mountains to snowboard in the afternoon, then come back and go out for a night in the city, all in one day. It has everything and anything you could desire.
LAC: What’s your favorite food spot in LA?
CB: I seem to always find myself posted up at Erewhon. If you don’t know it, look it up immediately! :). I’m also always on the hunt for a good chocolate croissant. Le Petite Four on Sunset is a go-to brunch spot. And Republiqué is pretty awesome.
LAC: What’s your favorite beach to surf in LA?
CB: Anything in the Malibu area. I love it there. It’s definitely my go-to escape from the city. The summer at the point by the pier, and the winter at Zuma for those beach break barrels like I grew up surfing back in Maryland.
Be sure to check out the Agenda convention this year for your chance to be scouted as well! You never know, it might be your lucky day!
If you want to find out more about Captain Barto or if you’re like us and simply want to stare at his perfect face some more… Check him out @CaptainBarto on IG.
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