Meet Mario Price | Runway & Editorial Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mario Price and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mario, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. I’m the baby on both sides of my family but I never liked depending on people. I have had an independent mindset since birth if you ask me. Growing up, people have always told me that I had a model walk or I should think about modeling in the future. I truly could not escape the compliment. It got to the point where I found myself doing mini photoshoots with my close friends in high school every day afterschool. Once I graduated from Raleigh Egypt High School in 2021, I knew my strongest passion in this world was modeling. I began my college career at Valdosta State University the same year in the Fall majoring in Theater Performance. A few days into the orientation week they had set for freshmen, I met two amazing people who happened to be twins. They introduced me to a modeling troupe by the name of ViaJesus at the time and asked if I wanted to attend their troupe’s model call to compete in VSU’s Next Top Model Season 4 competition. I didn’t turn that opportunity down! Once I touched that runway, I always found a way to make it to another one. I faced many challenges during the competition, from trying to get more creative with my craft, staying on top of my schoolwork, and even stubbing 3 toes the week before the season finale show. I did not win season 4, however I was given the opportunity to battle for crowd favorite title. This pushed me to go harder to become the next season’s winner. Fall 2022 rolled around and I was locked in to take that title of Mr. Season 5. I started off the season strong by winning the first photoshoot challenge. This season was filled with personal challenges. While competing, I was a Resident Assistant for my university and began my new major in Mass Media because Theater Performance no longer felt like the correct place for me. As the Season 5 finale came closer, I knew I needed to get creative and shock the crowd. The biggest element I used this season was the element of surprise. The night before the show, I went to get my hair and eyebrows dyed half blonde and half hot pink to compliment my head-turning outfits. All my efforts paid off leading me to be tied with another male model and battle him for the title of Mr. Season 5. Directly after I won and left the show, the executive board members of the troupe reached out to offer me the position of Model Director for the next semester. Nervous of the responsibilities but more excited for the future, I took the position and even helped the troupe rebrand ‘ViaJesus’ into ‘The Divinity’, alongside my executive board in the Spring of 2023. As we grew in numbers, we became a well-known organization here on our campus. I am proud to look back at how far I have come as a Model Director of my troupe, and I am even more proud to be taking the role of President in the Fall of 2024. My background has taught me to always hustle and move forward no matter the situation while looking good as I do it!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My passion for and skill set in modeling is what sets me apart from others. I am proud to hold the title of Mr. VSU Next Top Model Season 5 and being able to bring up The Next Top Model for Season 6 last fall! I am excited for next semester, to discover who will be Mr. or Ms. Season 7.

It was not easy getting to the place I am in with my modeling career. It took practice, creativity, and patience with myself to do the things I have done to get to my current status. The challenges I had to overcome the most would have to be leaving people who were a distraction from my path alone. Once I cleared the distractions, I began to stride towards my goals.

What the world needs to know about me is that, I look good in anything I put my mind to.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If they were visiting me in Memphis, I would definitely suggest going Downtown to sight see along the river near Mud Island. I love exploring different food places, the best place to go in my opinion, at least for the first day, would have to be Reservations Bar & Bistro. I love artwork as well so I would suggest visiting one of the many museums here in Memphis to attend.

Now if they were visiting me in Valdosta, I would suggest enjoying a day in the sun at Wild Adventures Theme Park. Restaurant wise I would highly suggest Las Brazas Mexican Cuisine. If you know about that tower, then you know why I love it!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The organization I want to shout out is The Divinity Modeling Troupe. This on campus organization at my university has helped me build my modeling portfolio and gain experience in the field I was born to thrive in. I joined my freshman year of college when it was under the name of ViaJesus and have been a member of the troupe ever since. Becoming a winner of VSU’s Next Top Model Season 5, lead me to take the position of model director and helping with the troupe rebrand into “The Divine” troupe it is today. Now, I will be taking the roll of President of the organization in the Fall Semester of 2024. As President, I want to do the same for other aspiring models that this troupe has done for me, and that’s believing in my potential.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immar.iii?igsh=MTdtd3VkdGZrZm40MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-price-13245a21a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mario.price.37625?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLSd9aWF6IS3lgw1RINNj8g

Image Credits
@yh.prod
@eyesofmarivisuals
@dwitdacam
@tse.productions
@_.i.capture_