- Story by Sean McIntyreStyling by Shai ThompsonPhotography by Lia Crowe

North SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Connor Way is a rising star on both the football field and the runway. Here, he talks to Pearl Magazine about these two seemingly polar worlds B次元官网网址� and presents spring fashion that is sure to put some prep in your step.

B次元官网网址�

Twelve months ago, 17-year-old Connor Way was on his way back from Texas, where he had joined the worldB次元官网网址檚 best high school football prospects at the International Bowl.

Connor still has a passion for the game and, with high school graduation and university application deadlines closing in, heB次元官网网址檚 already been courted by colleges south of the border.

Yet Connor finds himself suddenly with more than just scholarship offers to choose from this spring.

Not long after his return to North Saanich following last yearB次元官网网址檚 big game down in Dallas, the Claremont Secondary School student embarked on something entirely new when he seized an opportunity to do some modelling work. Never one to step away from a challenge, Connor has tackled his budding modelling career head on.

B次元官网网址淎s much as football is hard, the game comes easy to me,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲hen I started modelling, it required getting to know a whole different thing.B次元官网网址�

He recalls the hilariously challenging modelling practise of producing 30 facial expressions in 30 seconds. Walking on a runway, too, it turns out, was also a whole lot different then playing defensive safety for various BC teams.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 actually been really humbling to see how far my work has come,B次元官网网址� he says.

And Connor has come a very long way. Within the past year, heB次元官网网址檚 gone from doing some local photo shoots to signing a contract with Coultish Management, a Victoria-based agency thatB次元官网网址檚 managed the successful careers of hundreds of models since it was established in 1987.

B次元官网网址�

Connor is regularly booked for photoshoots in both Victoria and Vancouver, and heB次元官网网址檚 slated to make his second appearance at Vancouver Fashion Week in March. He also acts part-time, has appeared in seven movies, a commercial and a soon-to-be launched music video.

The highlight of his rookie season in the fashion world, however, came late last year when Connor won the 2018 Senior Champion Male Model of the World competition at WCOPA (World Centre of the Performing Arts) in Long Beach, California. Competing against contestants aged 16 and up from 62 countries, Connor also won gold medals in the casual, formal, spokesmodel and photo categories.

According to ConnorB次元官网网址檚 mother, Shauna Dorko, the competition is akin to the B次元官网网址渢alent OlympicsB次元官网网址� and features performers in categories that include vocals, dance, modelling and acting. To Dorko, who spends about three hours per day managing her sonB次元官网网址檚 busy modelling career, the event was about so much more than winning medals. Being in Los Angeles, a major hub in the modelling universe, gave Connor the chance to sit down and meet with representatives from modelling agencies, casting agents and directors.

Dorko, who runs her own business, never imagined her sonB次元官网网址檚 ascendancy in the fashion world. She believed he had what it takes, but sheB次元官网网址檚 continually amazed at how quickly the process has evolved. Given how far heB次元官网网址檚 come in a year, Connor and his mother already have plans to head back to Southern California to follow up on some of the successful networking leads theyB次元官网网址檝e established.

B次元官网网址淭he minute we were in LA, we saw how things were playing out on a whole different scale,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭here are a few people who want us to come back and meet with them.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址�

Given his meteoric rise, Connor has stayed remarkably grounded. Within minutes of speaking with him, it becomes clear that his confidence, maturity and respectful demeanour are a major reason for his success.

In the notoriously competitive field of fashion and elite sports, itB次元官网网址檚 refreshing to hear an aspiring star speak of camaraderie and brotherhood. Rather than pit himself against those around him, Connor seems genuinely interested in their success. His competitive streak is bred not from how he ranks in relation to others, but with regard to how he looks at himself. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a valuable lesson to have mastered so early in life.

B次元官网网址淚 respect whatB次元官网网址檚 best for everyone, and I love to see people succeed,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been super nervous. Nothing really stresses me out because I feel I can turn to people if IB次元官网网址檓 lost.B次元官网网址�

He credits his mother and strong network of friends for his success. Teachers and tutors, he adds, have shown great flexibility and patience with helping him fit schoolwork into a busy schedule that sees him travel extensively for one job and train relentlessly for the other. Despite all the excitement, he fully realizes that itB次元官网网址檚 nearly time to make a choice.

B次元官网网址淚 still havenB次元官网网址檛 made the switch from football to modelling, but itB次元官网网址檚 time for making decisions,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淣ow I need to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life.B次元官网网址�

Given his attitude, heB次元官网网址檚 likely to make the best of whichever pathway he chooses.

Special thanks to local skateboarder Zachary Wilkinson.

Photographed on location at the Sidney Lawn Bowling Club, Tulista Park and Iroquois Park. A huge thank you to the Sidney Lawn Bowling Club for hosting our team.

B次元官网网址�