Interview by Jeremy Kinser
Photography by John Skalicky
www.skalickyphoto.com

A big dork is probably not the first description that comes to mind when you look at our handsome cover model Daniel Miagany, but that’s how he describes himself. A popular print model and ubiquitous presence as a dancer at gay events, Daniel also works for a clothing company as a visual designer. To learn more about him, visit www.myspace.com/e_daniel.

Daniel, are you a native Angeleno?

I was born in Los Angeles, but my father is Uruguayan and my mother is Puerto Rican. When I was 14, I moved to South America to live with my father. I went to the same high school my father attended.

How did you adjust to the new culture?

I’d visited my father there every year so I knew what I was getting into. I loved it. I was an only child living here with my mom, but there I had three half-siblings and learned to share. It was the family life I longed for because I went from apartment to apartment and school to school here living with a single mother.

When did you begin modeling?

I started right out of high school in South America. When I moved back to L.A. in ‘98, I contacted a photographer from an ad in one of the weeklies. I stopped for a while and went to school and started again two or three years ago when I got approached by another photographer at the gym.

What reignited your interest?

I’d always had some interest but didn’t take it seriously because I don’t want to go on auditions and be disappointed. Some people play sports on the weekend, and I like to pose for photographers on the weekend. A photographer came up to me at the gym and asked if I wanted to pose for him. I landed a cover two weeks later and that one magazine has brought me all this work. It’s amazing. This will be my tenth cover.

Since you’ve been photographed so often, people must frequently recognize you.

Yeah, whenever I go out I know the next morning I’ll have some messages on myspace saying “I saw you.” I was in San Francisco this summer and people recognized me. I was in Texas and Chicago and was out dancing and people recognized me there. The crazy thing is, people in Finland and Australia will write that they saw me in DNA or Blue magazine. (Laughs) It’s insane. I live in a very small neighborhood in Monterey Park and I do this on the side. I love the attention.

Wow. Maybe you should consider making modeling your career.

I’ve thought about it. As a kid, I was into it. I don’t do high fashion, I just do print work. In the states they want guys who are 6 feet and I’m 5’ 10”. I don’t want to do it full time because I don’t want to deal with the rejection, I guess. I have a good full-time job and I love it. Modeling is just something I do on the weekends or in my free time. I won’t be doing it forever, so I’m just enjoying it while I can.

What's something about you people would be surprised to learn?

I’m a big dork. I belong to a book club with older gay guys and a few girls. We read spiritual books and tap into different religions and cultures.

A pretty face with a brain. I love it.

(Laughs) I have fun, but I try not to get into the “West Hollywood scene.” That’s why I don’t live in WeHo. I know we gay boys can get involved in drama. I live ten minutes away from my sister and my parents live nearby. I haven’t had a boyfriend in years.

What do you do for kicks when you’re not working?

I like going to the movies and I work out every day. I love to go out. You can see me out every weekend in West Hollywood. I love dancing to Latin music so whenever there’s a Papi event...