Deafinitely <\/p>\n
By Daniel A. Kusner – Life+Style Editor <\/p>\n
Aug 21, 2008 – 6:29:34 PM<\/p>\n
Queer Texan Martin Ritchie hopes to impress Janice Dickinson. He\u2019s
\ngot one advantage the other models don\u2019t \u2014 he can\u2019t hear her
\nscream <\/p>\n
Rejection can\u2019t stop Martin Ritchie from achieving his dreams.
\nNeither can being hearing impaired nor being gay. Four years ago, the
\n20-year-old moved from Austin to Los Angeles to start a professional
\nmodeling career and serve as a positive role model for people with
\ndisabilities. <\/p>\n
His mom still lives in Austin, and while he never went to college,
\nRitchie says if he wasn\u2019t modeling he would have tried to study
\ndentistry at the University of Texas. <\/p>\n
After he moved to Hollywood, he struggled with trying to get his
\nmodeling career off the ground and worked at an Abercrombie & Fitch
\nstore at local mall. <\/p>\n
Then he was discovered by the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. But
\nduring his audition, Dickinson rejected him \u2014 because he had a
\n\u201cmuffin top,\u201d which meant he needed to work on his abs. <\/p>\n
He did. And on Tuesday, he\u2019s selected as one of the agencies \u201cnew
\nmodels,\u201d who gets picked to live in a Hollywood mansion. <\/p>\n
Since Ritchie works with an interpreter, Dallas Voice caught up with
\nhim via e-mail earlier this week. <\/p>\n
Were you born in Texas? No, I was born in Lakeland, Fla. Although I
\nfeel like I was born in Austin. Austin represents the easy life
\nwe\u2019re all supposed to have \u2014 the beautiful view of Town Lake; so
\nmany people running and kayaking under the bridge \u2026 <\/p>\n
Are you an expert at seducing a guy with your eyes? Probably. People
\nalways came to me and say, \u201cWow, you have Jane Seymour\u2019s eyes.\u201d <\/p>\n
How could they gay community improve how they interact with their
\ndeaf brothers and sisters? Show some good affection, communicate with
\nthem all the time and share your emotional moments. <\/p>\n
What\u2019s your idea of an ideal date? Just a simple romantic dinner. <\/p>\n
What\u2019s your idea of a date from hell? Broken chairs and tables. <\/p>\n
Is sarcasm hard to pick up on? Not really. But it depends on the
\nperson, you know? <\/p>\n
What can deaf gay guys do better than gay guys with perfect hearing?
\nDeaf gay guys know how to use eye contact, which is powerful because
\nwe all communicate through our eyes. <\/p>\n
Because you can\u2019t hear, are any of your other senses \u2014 sight,
\ntouch, taste \u2014 superior? Absolutely! I am very sensitive with my
\ntaste and smell. <\/p>\n
Can you hear anything at all? Yes, I can hear in my left ear. <\/p>\n
Were you born that way? Yes. Although I felt like I was born hearing
\nuntil I was a few weeks old. I really don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n
When Janice previously rejected you and told you to shape up, how did
\nyou react? I thought, \u201cOh, my gosh!\u201d I decided to build up some
\nmuscle mass and, of course, I\u2019ve had to change my attitude. <\/p>\n
How did improve your physique? I worked on my arms and chest.
\nHowever, I\u2019m still struggling with my abs. But I have this wonderful
\ntrainer I work with, and he\u2019s going to completely transform me. So,
\nyou guys better watch out! <\/p>\n
Does Janice scare you? Oh, not at all. I\u2019ve dealt with many people.
\nAnd comparing Janice to those people \u2014 she is such a sweetheart and
\na lady. Yes, she likes to open herself to others all the time. She
\nshowed us that she really cares about us in the house. <\/p>\n
If you could have perfect hearing for four hours, what would you want
\nto do? I would ask my date to go out with me to the beach during the
\nsunset, where I can hear everything \u2026 peacefully. And I would just
\ntell him to tell me something funny or some love stories. <\/p>\n
What modeling assignments have you landed? I\u2019ve modeled for Logan
\nMilan, and I recently landed a job for Kentucky Jeans. My next goal is
\nbe gracing the Dolce & Gabbana billboards around the world. <\/p>\n
If Janice granted you an ultimate modeling wish \u2014 you could do
\nanything you wanted \u2014 what would that assignment be like? A
\npermanent full-time model for Guess and Kenneth Cole.<\/p>\n
**TUNE IN Season four of \u201dThe Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency\u201d
\npremieres Tuesday, Aug 26 at 9 p.m. on Oxygen. **<\/p>\n
Source: http:\/\/www.dallasvoice.com\/artman\/publish\/article_9613.php<\/p>\n
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Deafinitely By Daniel A. Kusner – Life+Style Editor Aug 21, 2008 – 6:29:34 PM Queer Texan Martin Ritchie hopes to impress Janice Dickinson. He\u2019s got one advantage the other models don\u2019t \u2014 he can\u2019t hear her scream Rejection can\u2019t stop…<\/p>\n