Quick confession - Matyáš Hložek: Dad is planning a duet with me!

Matyáš, tell me how a young man aged around twenty has the idea to take part in a male beauty contest?

It happened by chance. I was training at the gym with my friend and we were talking about modelling, because I had recently had fresh photos taken. He was encouraging me to try submitting them to an agency, I was sceptical. I like letting things flow. I don’t push issues like this. And he had the idea of entering the Man of the Year contest. He said it was a contest made for me, because I’m really an exhibitionist. I looked at the contest website on my telephone while we were at the gym and I found that casting was the day after tomorrow. So I went. Just to try out, without much hope of success.

What does it feel like standing half naked in your underwear among tens of other men. Isn’t it weird?

I don’t think its weird. Things are different now. Most men take a lot of care with their appearance, so I think its absolutely ok.

Has anybody joked that you are gay for instance?

Of course I have experienced various nasty insinuations. But I never took them seriously. I think that the people who said I am gay for example, because only gays enter contests like these obviously, were maybe just envious. It is actually quite a success and people in the Czech Republic don’t forgive success. On the other hand I also understand because I think that the contest cannot get rid of this reputation.

Mezonetový zařízený byt 5+kk na pronájem-Praha, Praha 1

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What did your parents think about it?

They were very enthusiastic and supported me. And they continue to support me.

Were you surprised to win?

I couldn’t believe it, I went into the finals with the aim of just enjoying myself, thinking that it would be an evening that I would remember for the rest of my life. I thought that I could never win with my name. I hoped to place in the first four, I really wanted to travel the world and represent the Czech Republic at an international contest. That was my dream.

And your dream came true. Where are you flying to on 20 April?

To Myanmar. I am looking forward to it very much. This will be the farthest I have flown so far. We will be staying in the city of Yangon, which is beautiful and clean apparently. We will be there for nearly two weeks. The top world contest Mr International will be taking place there.

What ambitions are you flying there with?

It’s difficult to say....Most importantly I will be representing the Czech Republic and I naturally don’t want to embarrass myself. I will try to do my best.

I have to ask how interested women are after you won the contest, after the media massage you experienced and thanks to which you became a little famous. Apparently you broke up with your girlfriend at the time....

Yes, there was some conflict there. We broke up, got back together again and then broke up again. But we have broken up definitely now. It is true that there is more interest in me, the media have an effect.

Are you glad?

I’m not saying it isn’t pleasant....But I received hundreds of friend requests a day and I didn’t want to give people I didn’t know access to my private information so I suddenly had to establish a fan page.

So do I have it right, are you single?

Well... no, not actually... I have a new girlfriend.

Really? One of your fans?

Good grief I don’t know if she was my fan. We never talked about it.

You didn’t? So how did she chat you up?

I don’t really know if she chatted me up. I liked her, she’s beautiful. We started talking and found out that we understood each other, we have plenty of things in common and that is really nice. But we have only been together for a short time, just under two months. We met at a fashion show. We both enjoy fashion a lot.

What about interest from men?

There is certainly interest, but unfortunately I was born hetero.

Matyáš, have you always wanted to work as a fitness trainer?

I never really thought about it. I have always done sports. I have played hockey, tennis and football since I was small. A little of everything. I even made a living out of playing hockey for a while. I took a trainer’s course while I was playing when I was about eighteen, with the understanding that it would come in useful sometime. And I started to enjoy it. I train at the Synergy Club at Anděl. I share my experience with people, I have been doing sports actively on some level since I was four years old, so I know how the body works. I can help people a lot and I do. I can see the results and I can see that they enjoy it. I do this job while I studying. I will be taking my bachelor’s examinations soon. But I don’t feel that I will be doing this as a permanent job. I am open to everything, I have a desire to do music, moderate, model.

Prodej luxusního rodinného domu na Praze 6, Praha 6

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You seem to have inherited it from your father (laughter)

I just enjoy being on the podium rather than under it. (laughter)

Are your clients mostly men or women?

Yes, I admit that most of my clients are women, actually they are all women. (laughter)

How come?

I don’t know. I had some men....I even worked as a fitness trainer for football players for one season, when I had a group of men and I really worked them hard. (laughter). But I have only had three or four men at the gym as clients.

Do you feel that your female clients are attracted to you?

I don’t know...

I think I would be embarrassed to train in front of you...

That’s what a lot of my friends tell me, that they would be embarrassed to train in front of me, but I don’t understand why? I don’t consider being attracted to the woman and wanting her physically. If someone wants to train, then I am there for them, I will train with them, create a schedule and share some experience with them. I will improve their confidence. I am a professional. I am not one of those trainers who sleeps with his clients. I don’t consider it some sort of dating opportunity. What’s more, I have just fallen in love. (smile)

I wish you all the best. But in the quick confession you said that the girl of your dreams has to be pretty. I understand that means that you don‘t like plump women and I assume that your girlfriend is beautiful.

Yes, she is a fashion model. And yes fashion models usually have beautiful figures, but I don’t think that plump women are ugly. I would never dare say something like that.

Let’s talk about fashion...

I love fashion and I love shopping. I know there are not many men who enjoy doing that but I really do. My girlfriend and I see eye to eye in this.

Where do you like shopping?

I buy most of my clothes in Zara. I have 90% of my stuff from there. Really.

I thought that deluxe clothes like Versace, Gucci, etc. would be more up your street....

I have a few designer items, like a coat from Lagerfeld, my winter jackets are mostly more expensive.

Clothes are an expensive hobby. Do you earn the money by training or do you receive items by bartering, for free?

I am lucky to barter for some things or receive them in return for promotion and then I also have offers for shows and moderating or I sing somewhere and that lets me earn money to buy things. I am glad to be able to do this.

How do you take care of yourself?

I used to visit Yes Visage, where they take care of me from the aspect of hair removal. I have the hair on my chest removed. I am also negotiating collaboration with the Epilace Prague clinic. I only visit Petr Pity for cosmetic treatment.

I noticed your hair...

I visit the hairdresser every week, I have a shave at the barber shop, my hair and beard cut, I love that, I make sure to take care of that.

Are you afraid when they pull the razor out?

Not at all, on the contrary, I really enjoy it. I always leave there feeling nice and clean.

We talked about travel, which destination is your dream destination?

I have Myanmar soon. I am really looking forward to that. Then I would really like to visit the Maldives. Relax with my partner. That is my dream. According to the photographs it is really beautiful there, people who have been there say it is super.

What do you do when you are not training or working?

I am a coffee-shop layabout, I really love coffee. I cannot image my life without it.

You said you enjoy music...

I am at the phase when I would like to release a single, but I am at the very beginning of this project. We are discussing who would write it, who would do the music....I would sing it. When I was little I used to sing in a choir, I played the piano, I danced streetdance...I love music, I could not live without it.

What does your dad say?

He says we should sing a duet. (laughter)

Super!

But right now it’s just an idea, I am focusing on the contest right now. Things will work out depending on the result, then I have my state examinations....I have other things to worry about right now.

Matyáš I am keeping my fingers crossed and wish you success. Thanks for the interview.