John Economou, a 20 year old who ran away from home to model but ended up homeless, has had a change of fate, thanks to queens of the runway, Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner and star of the silver screen, Ansel Elgort
Economou’s story went viral recently. Here it is.
“They looked all presentable and good looking. I saw bodyguards at the corner. I thought they were police at first and I thought ‘What are they doing?’. Then I saw seagulls swarming around the girls because they brought the food out, and I started walking over there to shoo them away. One of the girls said to me, ‘You’re cute,’ so I turned around and we struck up conversation. I didn’t realize who I was speaking to at first and it finally clicked who it was: [Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Ansel Elgort, and Kendall’s manager, Ashleah Gonzales.]
We were just talking and they said I should take up modeling here in LA. I told them my story, I told them how I was a model back home [in Milwaukee] and how I came here to follow my dream and try and get an agency, how I’m living the hippie life, living out on the beach crashing on the sand right now. They said they could help me out and get me an agency and they got me with Two Management, the agency I signed with. Kendall was cool, she was super down to earth and chill. We were just having a normal conversation talking about life, acting, modeling, personal lives. It’s a crazy story. I’m super grateful. I was just in the right place at the right time.” – credit to Elle magazine
Kendall Jenner has now shared her side of the story, “the legit version of how it happened.” Take a look.
“Gigi, actor Ansel Elgort and I were in Venice shooting for “Vogue” earlier this year, and during our lunch break, we decided to have a picnic on the beach instead of on the concrete next to the wardrobe trailer. We saw this kid just sitting on a sand dune. I was like, “He’s kinda cute,” so Gigi and I kept looking over at him. Seagulls started attacking us or something, so he came over and asked if we were all good.
We asked him his name (John) and what he was doing. He told us he was homeless—so we were obviously like, “OK, please sit with us!” After talking, we found out that he’s 20; he ran away from home and came to L.A. to model. After we got back from lunch, we gave him my agent’s info and Ansel was so sweet and suggested we bring him more food. When Ansel went over, John was so happy! Later on, John and my agent got in contact and now he’s a “Romeo” with a contract—amazing.”- credit to Elle magazine.
John is confirmed to be working in that agency, but is still sleeping on Venice beach. We wish him the best of luck in his aspirations and hope he fulfils his dream.
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