Victor Antonio Ross II, Model/Actor/Poet/Artist & Father to River Aydn Sullivan-Ross
Where are you from and where do you live now?
Military family, Born in Monterey California, lived in Germany 2 years and then was raised in Missouri. A little town an hour east of Kansas City. Did I really say raised like I was a farm animal or a flower.
How has fatherhood changed you?
I would like to think that it hasn’t changed me, that I was always meant to be a father and now here I am. But the reality is that it's all about the evolution. That this job shifts its importance of roles. I’m no longer in the changing diapers and nurturing everything faze. Now I see the fruit of all the patience and work. Teaching him his letters and how to read and get along with others and share. Now I get to witness how well he is doing in school on his own and being his own independent person. My job isn’t to nurture certain aspects anymore, now I get to support and applaud him and maneuver and help shape and guide the person he wants to be. I get to shift his moods and make him laugh. Help him maneuver feelings and emotions he doesn’t know how to handle just yet. Just listen to all the cray things he says out of his mouth. This goofball didn’t fall far from the nut tree.
I cuss less and listen more.
What’s your favorite thing about being a Dad?
I have a constant buddy, I get to relive firsts. I get to be a part of his world. I tell him all the time I feel privileged that I get to be his Dad. I’m fortunate enough to be one of the people in his world that introduces him to lessons on how to navigate this place. I have somebody, my own son, to help guide into this world. I get to take what I learned and also recognize what didn’t work from how my parents parented and morph all of that plus what I have gained from my experiences and from that do my absolute best to guide him. I always give him options so he has the power to choose and I also always let him know his actions have a rippling effect. Ultimately I let him know he can be, act and operate how ever he wants in this world . . . just don’t be an asshole, the world already has too many of those, be a gentleman, those are rare.
Describe your style.
Funky, cool, fresh, modern classic, simple with flare, daring, not caring what anybody thinks.
Has becoming a Dad changed your style? How?
I used to be a lot more flashy. I was 20 when I had my boy, so I was still figuring out who the hell I was.
On a Friday night out, we might find you in ____________.
Simple Tee probably with holes in them, or denim button down with black skinny slacks or denim, black blazer, definitely my green fedora. Handkerchief in back right pocket, black shoes or boat shoes.
P.S. this would be the same outfit I’ve been wearing since Tuesday. I shower !!! . . . I just put the same gear on.
On a Sunday afternoon, we might find you in ____________.
Friday’s outfit, maybe have shifted to drop crotch pants. OR a speedo at the beach playing volleyball, beach hat.
Where does your fashion inspiration come from?
I grew up in a rural town in Missouri as a biracial kid, so I had Lenny Kravitz and Prince and James Brown, to check out their styles and imitate what I saw. I have also been a model since I was 15 and traveled and worked with a lot of designers and clients over the years from that experience I’ve just picked ideas and styles from what I’ve seen.
Posted on 05/06/2015 at 07:30 AM