QC Open Forum: Meet Target’s New Plus-Sized Model Zach Miko – Do Guys Like Him Have A Chance On Mainstream Gay Porn?
Professional male model Zach Miko, 26yo, is breaking some barriers in the fashion industry one catalog at the time. His inclusion as the face, and body, of Target’s clothing line surprised many because it showed not only the lack of diversity in fashion for men but also because it highlighted the insecurity many men face when it comes to buying clothes. As the founding editor of Chubstr (a magazine affiliated to Target that curates body-positive fashion for men ), noted “With everything that’s been going on with women’s fashion and body inclusivity and self-image, it’s interesting that male brands have stepping up to do the same thing.”
“He is kind of a unicorn. There’s not a lot of guys like that, especially if you’re looking at catalogs or websites.” Bruce Sturgell, founding editor of Chubstr Magazine.
Miko who is six feet, six inches, and has a 40-inch waist, has very photogenic face and as his wife remarked “you just get lost in his eyes” but modeling wasn’t his first intention it happened by serendipity as acting and music are his first love (Zach has appeared on The Wolf Of Wall Street and the tv show Limitless) and he says that it was not until he got the job that he learned to accept his body.
“”My main message to people is, “Why not now? Why can’t you feel attractive the way you are right now? It’s great to be more fit, more healthy, more active, but that doesn’t mean who you are right now is invalid, or that who you are right now isn’t an attractive person.” Zach Miko
Us being us, the more we looked at Zach Miko’s photos the more we started to wonder what happens in the porn industry in regard plus-sized performers we’re, after all, a gay porn blog. And the more we looked at his face the more we started to think that we have seen another porn guy that looks like him a bit. Then it hit us, he looks like Marko Lebeau‘s long-lost brother! Hope he doesn’t get mad, because it’s a compliment, perhaps not many will agree to put Marko under the “plus-size” label but he is a BIG guy. We’re sure that after you see them side by side you will agree. So this raised the question, why haven’t we seeing a plus-sized model in mainstream porn, you know like in big studios like Sean Cody or Corbin Fisher. Will this be the next taboo of mainstream porn? Are plus-size models forever relegated to niche sites? We don’t know the answers for all these questions but we’re very interested in getting to know what QC readers have to say about this. Do similar guys to Zach Miko or Marko Lebeau have a chance in mainstream gay porn? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to vote on the poll!