Mario Adrion trades catwalk for stand-up comedy stage
BY VICTOR MELAMED
Mario Adrion, the Wilhelmina fashion model, made national news last year for his comical audition on American Idol, where he wowed judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, performing his song in a skimpy speedo. Now the jokester is trading the runway for the stand-up comedy stage in a revealing act where he discusses life as male model—the endless rejection, what really goes on in model apartments, and the importance of the “big bulge”—all while wearing his infamous speedo.
“I love reflecting on my time as a male model,” he explains. “I was really a fish out of water, an innocent kid from a small town in Germany, living in New York City. The scenario is filled with incredible comedy and irony.”
There is a dark side to the fashion industry, too, and Adrion dives head first into it in his act, discussing the numerous inappropriate sexual propositions he has encountered and even the time he was drugged and sexually assaulted by a photographer. “I don’t make light of the experience,” he confirms. “There is nothing funny about rape. But sharing my story openly and publicly has helped in the healing process. It has given the assault purpose. I don’t regret what happened if it can help others to avoid being victims,” he says.
Adrion grew up in a town of 800 people, near Switzerland and France. His parents divorced when he was five years old. At 18, while studying at university, he posted a few shirtless photos in a Facebook group for “hot German boys.” A model scout from New York found him and suggested he fly to Manhattan for a test shoot. After the shoot, Adrion was offered his first international modeling contract. He shot campaigns in Asia for Tommy Hilfiger, Puma and Gucci, and worked with Banana Republic and Bloomingdales in New York.
“People think I’m a wild partier… I’m the opposite. I am so vanilla! I eat my vegetables, wake up every morning at seven for yoga and meditation… I simply enjoy having fun and making people laugh.”
Adrion enjoyed the travel associated with modeling, as well as meeting new, interesting people. What he didn’t like was the constant rejection. “For every job I booked, 100 turned me down,” he recalls.
A show booker happened to catch Adrion’s comedy routine that included a song he wrote about his life as a model. The booker asked him if he might want to perform the song on American Idol as an “audition.” Adrion jumped at the opportunity and, at the last minute, decided to add the infamous speedo to his act. “I thought it would help me to stand out and also emphasize the fact that I’m a model,” he explains.
He was surprised by how much the judges loved his outfit and his energy. Especially Katy Perry, who played along and challenged Adrion to a model walk off. It became one of the most memorable moments of the season. “They got that I wasn’t some arrogant douchebag model that was trying to show off his pecs. They understood I was being playful while also spreading a message of body positivity and self-love.”
In actuality, it had taken Adrion three years to get to the point where he loved himself. His esteem was severely damaged after the sexual assault. “As a man, it is difficult to admit to being sexually violated. For a long time, I blamed myself. Why did I put myself in a position to be assaulted? Did I not say ‘no’ clearly enough?” It took Adrion a lot of time and trust to get to a place where he views sex as something beautiful that he wants to share with his partner.
“People think I’m a wild partier,” he ruminates. “I’m the opposite. I am so vanilla! I eat my vegetables, wake up every morning at seven for yoga and meditation.”
“I simply enjoy having fun and making people laugh,” he continues. Many of his comical stunts and stand-up routines can be viewed on Youtube and Instagram. For the racier, uncensored content, Adrion has set up an OnlyFans page. “I love having a place where I have absolute creative freedom and don’t have to worry about algorithms, time of day, and community guidelines,” he explains. “On OnlyFans, I can be more artistic and outrageous and if that includes the occasional posting of nudes from my modeling shoots, that’s ok, too,” he adds with an impish grin.
M
ario Adrion, the Wilhelmina fashion model, made national news last year for his comical audition on American Idol, where he wowed judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, performing his song in a skimpy speedo. Now the jokester is trading the runway for the stand-up comedy stage in a revealing act where he discusses life as male model—the endless rejection, what really goes on in model apartments, and the importance of the “big bulge”—all while wearing his infamous speedo.
“I love reflecting on my time as a male model,” he explains. “I was really a fish out of water, an innocent kid from a small town in Germany, living in New York City. The scenario is filled with incredible comedy and irony.”
There is a dark side to the fashion industry, too, and Adrion dives head first into it in his act, discussing the numerous inappropriate sexual propositions he has encountered and even the time he was drugged and sexually assaulted by a photographer. “I don’t make light of the experience,” he confirms. “There is nothing funny about rape. But sharing my story openly and publicly has helped in the healing process. It has given the assault purpose. I don’t regret what happened if it can help others to avoid being victims,” he says.
Adrion grew up in a town of 800 people, near Switzerland and France. His parents divorced when he was five years old. At 18, while studying at university, he posted a few shirtless photos in a Facebook group for “hot German boys.” A model scout from New York found him and suggested he fly to Manhattan for a test shoot. After the shoot, Adrion was offered his first international modeling contract. He shot campaigns in Asia for Tommy Hilfiger, Puma and Gucci, and worked with Banana Republic and Bloomingdales in New York.
Adrion enjoyed the travel associated with modeling, as well as meeting new, interesting people. What he didn’t like was the constant rejection. “For every job I booked, 100 turned me down,” he recalls.
A show booker happened to catch Adrion’s comedy routine that included a song he wrote about his life as a model. The booker asked him if he might want to perform the song on American Idol as an “audition.” Adrion jumped at the opportunity and, at the last minute, decided to add the infamous speedo to his act. “I thought it would help me to stand out and also emphasize the fact that I’m a model,” he explains.
He was surprised by how much the judges loved his outfit and his energy. Especially Katy Perry, who played along and challenged Adrion to a model walk off. It became one of the most memorable moments of the season. “They got that I wasn’t some arrogant douchebag model that was trying to show off his pecs. They understood I was being playful while also spreading a message of body positivity and self-love.”
In actuality, it had taken Adrion three years to get to the point where he loved himself. His esteem was severely damaged after the sexual assault. “As a man, it is difficult to admit to being sexually violated. For a long time, I blamed myself. Why did I put myself in a position to be assaulted? Did I not say ‘no’ clearly enough?” It took Adrion a lot of time and trust to get to a place where he views sex as something beautiful that he wants to share with his partner.
“People think I’m a wild partier,” he ruminates. “I’m the opposite. I am so vanilla! I eat my vegetables, wake up every morning at seven for yoga and meditation.”
“I simply enjoy having fun and making people laugh,” he continues. Many of his comical stunts and stand-up routines can be viewed on Youtube and Instagram. For the racier, uncensored content, Adrion has set up an OnlyFans page. “I love having a place where I have absolute creative freedom and don’t have to worry about algorithms, time of day, and community guidelines,” he explains. “On OnlyFans, I can be more artistic and outrageous and if that includes the occasional posting of nudes from my modeling shoots, that’s ok, too,” he adds with an impish grin.
IG: @marioadrion
