Only 151 days until Christmas! I sat down Monday afternoon in the SiriusXM Canada studios to tape an exclusive interview with Fashion Santa – aka Canadian supermodel Paul Mason – for The Shaun Proulx Show.
Paul’s storied three decade career, after being discovered at Ryerson University, has seen him walk the runways of Paris, Tokyo, New York City, London and Milan for the likes Versace, Armani, Dolce & Gabanna, and Dior. His image has been used by these labels and many others in countless fashion campaigns since the 1980’s.
And then he grew a beard and his career really took off. Inspired by his intriguing new image, Paul dreamed up a character called “Fashion Santa”, pitching it to several retailers, ultimately working with the upscale Toronto mall Yorkdale during the 2014 holiday season.
Paul’s genius creation, an elegant and luxurious take on the jolly old elf took – took the world by storm. Mason, posing for selfies with fans and Canadian shoppers as Fashion Santa, became a global viral sensation, garnering over 2 billion impression – even Justin Bieber had to have a selfie with Mason.
That Christmas, Fashion Santa broke the Internet.
Then, Yorkdale hired a new Santa. International gossip outlets the likes of TMZ were all over the switcheroo; Mason learned he was out when a reporter came knocking on his door.
So… now what?
Last week here on ShaunProulx.com we touched on the idea of embracing – saying yes to – the “unwanted” things that are happening to you – and that always will – that you are saying “no” to. Saying yes even to the unwanted is the only way out of the unwanted. When you go downstream you go where the solutions are, the rendezvous, the ideas and inspiration are waiting.
Like Paul is right now, I learned, this #SummerOfYes. Listen to my exclusive chat with him, and hear the story behind how Fashion Santa came to be, how that world-famous beard even happened (it’s such a divine story) and why Bieber grabbed the cell-phone away from Mason during their selfie shoot.
Plus, Paul shares what the experience of being grinched out of a role he created has been like like, and how he’s saying YES to it all – anyway.
#ThoughtRevolution subscribers just go to your July 27th newsletter and click to listen.
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