He’s Modeled for TB12 and Walked Paris Fashion Week - Providence’s Sanders Jr. Has Even Bigger Plans
GoLocalProv News Editor Kate Nagle
He’s Modeled for TB12 and Walked Paris Fashion Week - Providence’s Sanders Jr. Has Even Bigger Plans
And while he continues to expand his portfolio, which includes modeling for TB12 (Tom Brady’s company) and Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown’s line “7uice,” Sanders says that music has always been his true love - and plans to return to his roots this year and release new songs.
After putting out his single and video for "Coping" in 2023 and working to expand his modeling career (all on top of a day job), Sanders, Jr. said it was taking time off to refocus that has put him on a clearer path.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“My number one goal this year, fashion-wise, is to get signed internationally,” said Sanders.
Music as First Love
“I was born and raised here in Providence. Growing up around the East Side, there was this rap class that I was in around - I’d go to the YMCA,” said Sanders, who said it was then his “parents found that I loved writing.”
And along with his cousins, he produced a rap CD.
“I still have the cover,” laughed Sanders.
As he grew up splitting time between Providence and North Providence, Sanders said he pursued his writing and music, and learned how to play the guitar. “I just love music,” he said.
And while he claims that while he played sports, he was “never the jock” in high school - but his path led him to Tri-Force MMA in Pawtucket, where he studied Muay Thai, a martial art known as the "Art of 8 Limbs."
“That was the first thing in my life that I ever grew real confidence from, just because it was the first thing I ever felt like a winner in,” said Sanders. “People were like wow, you’re really good with this.”
Sanders said that when he had gotten a few fights under his belt and invited people he knew to come watch, he decided to get photos taken.
“Prior to that, I wasn’t really on social media; and I posted these photos and I remember I got like 100 likes or something, it was crazy. The aunties and uncles and whatnot were like, 'Hey, you know, these came out nice,'" laughed Sanders.
And that, said Sanders, is how he got into fashion eight years ago.
“So I started sending out headshots to a bunch of places, and I didn’t hear back at first. Then I went to an open call in Boston, where someone recommended a new place to me. And that was my first agent, Maggie Inc. I didn’t get any gigs for that first year…but then, then they started to come in,” Sanders.
And Sanders' first big job?
“A Tom Brady gig,” said Sanders, who recalled the first time seeing his modeling photo with Brady’s brand. “I remember walking into the TB12 store [on Newbury Street in Boston]. I almost shed a tear.”
Sanders says he then went on to do fashion shows with Puma and Reebok, and says that his favorite show was New Balance, where he was able to interact with even more contacts in the modeling industry.
“It was at their new track in Boston; they had Jack Harlow perform. It was super cool,” says Sanders.
Sanders said things got difficult during the COVID pandemic.
“I was a little discouraged. There are such long, cold seasons…I try to be realistic,” he said.
And for Sanders, that meant creating his own future in the industry - and supporting his home state of Rhode Island, when he launched the “New England Extravaganza” fashion show.
“I reached out to Aldo’s House of Formals here, and I said hey, I’d love you to be a designer in this fashion show I’m throwing,” said Sanders.
As it turns out, Aldo’s could not do Sanders’ show - they were busy getting ready to put on their own in Paris Fashion Week.
Sanders said that he knew he had to seize the moment.
“I said hey, are you going to need any more models? They didn’t really, but I said if I could come to Paris and try on some pieces to see if they 'fit,'" he said.
And that led to Sanders walking in the show - and his photo running in fashion bible Elle Magazine.
Growing His Empire
Sanders has also modeled for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s brand “7uice,” and has gotten to know Brown’s personal team so well, that he was invited to Brown's birthday party at the State Room in Boston.
All the while, Sanders has been honing his music, and plans to release new songs this year, after he took what he said was a much-needed hiatus.
“In Coping, I was talking about a time in my life where I was going through so many emotions that I couldn’t process at a young age. Even in the video, it’s a like Neo moment [from the movie The Matrix] with the red pill, like which route are you going to go?” said Sanders.
“I’m finally at a point now where I feel really energized,” said Sanders. “I feel a lot more grounded now.”
For those who know Sanders’ music, he said there’s a “spoiler” about his upcoming release.
“We’re really getting into different genres,” said Sanders.
Stay tuned for what Sanders has in store.