Written By Cheryl Hines (who normally writes for The insight Fashion magazine)
Supermodel Sam poses at the Louis Vuitton Series 2 in Hollywood California
Sam on the set “Average Dad” a series he’s co starring in with Actress Jamie Pressly this year
Sam Spotted in London at Hotel Verta with model London it girl at the moment Lauren Cofi and celebrity stylist Raphaelle Marshall
Sam and UK model Lauren Cofi fashion shoot at Hotel Verta in London both wearing all Long Boy clothing Sam Jewelry by KD LUXE
I’m sitting on set at Stream TV studios in Hollywood, California, where brother and sister combination Sam and June Sarpong are doing an in depth interview for their documentary “Sam and June Across the pond,” which is being produced by Rynixbay for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network. This is my second day on set. Yesterday there was a communication mix up and June was a no show which caused the bro and sister to have their first blow up argument in over a decade. June has been a Television Superstar in the UK for well over a decade and is known as one of the most influential people in pop culture and politics in the duration of her career. Prime minister Tony Blair once stated, “June would be a perfect replacement for me but we need her on Tv.” AS we watch Sam and June interact and joke during the interview it appears he is the more flashy one and June is the more quiet and laid back one.
Sam and Sister June filming for their documentry airing next year “Sam and June: Across the Pond”
Sam arrives on set with 6 cameras following him. They are filming him for his 15 year documentary “Life of an Entertainer,” which he has spent upwards of over $400,000.00 in production dollars over the years and is now being fought over by every studio in Hollywood. “God gave me this idea years ago when there was no reality TV, but I knew people would see my journey and struggle and be inspired one day and now we are getting calls left and right for distribution, it’s awesome.”
Sam and his trainer Carmela enjoy his 5am workouts at Barry’s Bootcamp
Sam and Actress Cortney Palm close the Andre Soriano Fashion show
Exclusive shot for La Splash magazine
Sam Sarpong is a Male Supermodel/Actor/Television Host/ and recording artist and as I did my research for this story I soon found he’s one of the most well diverse talents this industry has to offer. He started his career as a struggling actor in Highschool doing bit parts until one day his manager sent him on a casting for a new Tommy Hilfiger campaign. Tommy was the hottest designers. Singer Aaliyah, Naughty by Nature and Lenny Kravitz were just a few celebrities working with the brand at the time. “I had never modeled a day in my life or ever thought about being one. I was a little skinny kid from Africa in my head. Guess God had other plans.” Sam stated. Joy Maine who was one of Sam’s managers at the time states, “He always had the it factor where when he walks in a room Sam changes the dynamic with his presence. You can’t teach that, you are born with it.” Actress/model Patricia Bryant who did the famous Levi’s vintage classic shoot with Sam states, hes ‘s one of her closest friends in the industry, “Sam is an amazing man with natural charm and it’s very hard not to fall for him, but he is so respectful of women and has this mystique about him, that’s why I love him so much. Just a good human being.” Drew Sidora who along with Dreamgirls star Keith Robinson, Sam calls his two closest real friends in the industry, stated for entertainment blog Celebrity pop culture, “I ask Sam for advice on anything big that has to do with the industry. He dressed me in his Chosen One collection for my TLC press tour and I’m the official brand ambassador for chosen one whether he knows it or not,” Drew said while cracking up.
Sam and Producer Adam Cook arrive at Louis Vuitton Series
Sam and Supernatural Actress Chelsea Hobbs attend the star studded 2015 Tom Ford Fall Collection Fashion show
Sam and Louis Vuitton Talent relations Marco Mailo at his private tour at the new store in Beverly Hills
Today I’m following Sam at the Innovative film festival in West Hollywood where his movie/TVseries “Life of an Entertainer” is the headline film along with Soprano star James Gandolfini’s movie “Club Soda.” I arrive early and it’s very apparent to me Sam’s main fan base is women, as we see tons of female fans outside who claim they were invited to the screening via Facebook. “Sam knows me one tells the lady out front with the list” and the more and more crowded it gets with real industry invited guests the more people walking by try to get in. Sam finally arrives to do the carpet, no entourage, no model, just him and his $20,000.00 dollar custom bike made for him by Masterworks Wood Cycles. In all my thirty-five years as a journalist covering it all from the Emmy’s, Grammy’s, Rolling Stone, concerts, Jackson’s victory tour, this was one of the most creative entrances I’ve ever seen. Tonight’s screening has executives from Lions Gate Films, OWN Network, BET, production companies who have all come to see a taste of what Sam and his executive producer Adam Cook from Rynixbay have been working on. “We don’t sugar coat anything on this show,” says Adam. The documentary also focuses on his career as a male Supermodel and one of the most recognisable and consistent faces in fashion the past decade.
Sam and london’s it girl model Karina White arriving at the Velsvoir 2015 Fall Men’s collection
Sam interviewing Jack Black backstage at Staple Center the two contested a charity event for the LA Sparks basketball team
Sam recieves BMW & Men Style Fashion Star of the Year award in Beverly Hills CA
His first year as a Tommy Hilfiger model he won five fashion awards including the Details Magazine “New Male Model of The Year” award. He then later the same year won the prestigious MAA Magazines “Agency Association” award for “New Male model of the Year,” being the second African American male model besides Tyson Beckford to win that award. In 2004 along with Jared Leto, Leonardo DiCaprio and Taye Diggs, he was named by the popular teeny bopper magazine YM as one of the fifty most beautiful people in the world. Sam’s career took off for the next five years. He was everyone’s roundup hot list from Paper Magazine to Vibe, they all featured him. “It was a great time in my life to go from High school to buying my own place and living with my childhood friends and going to the best A list parties.” While his modelling career took off, acting soon followed getting his break in the film “Street Kings” playing opposite Selena star Jon Seda in which he won the AFI independent film award for the best supporting actor in 2002 for his first lead ever. He then went on to star in such films as MTV’s “Carmen the Hip Hop Era” with Beyonce, “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” with Nick Cannon, “Keepin Up With the Steins” with Jeremy Pivins and “Masked and Anonymous” with Penelope Cruz and Jessica Lang. Last year Sam received the BMW & Men Style Fashion magazine “Star of the Year” award and the “Icon Fashion Award” at the BEFTTA Awards in the UK. Today I meet Sam on set of his latest gig, he’s playing Thomas Saltz this season on the Fox hit “Bones,” which is in it’s 10th season. Sam plays an x-con who’s now trying to live his life straight and raise his son, but still there is that temptation of the quick easy money he once knew. We are on location in Culver City and I’m watching Sam get his fake tattoos on in the makeup trailer. As Sam gets into discussion with the makeup artists about relationships, I can see why women are fans of his. He offers a very interesting real perspective from a male point of view and why they think how they do.
Sam and Emily Deschanel on the set of Fox’s “Bones”
Sam with Actor David Boreanaz on the set of the fox hot “Bones” he will be playing Thomas Shultz this season on the show
Sam snapped leaving the set of Bones outside Fox Studios
Now we are back in Sam’s trailer where after being here for three hours, having lunch with him and going through hair and makeup, he says he only has fifteen more minutes with me because he has a big scene coming up with Bones star David Boreanaz and “I have to give it to him in the scene so I gotta go get focused.” 2015 is Sam’s breakout year, ask anyone who’s important in Hollywood and they will tell you so. Ken Kokin who produced the legendary film “Usual Suspects,” “Way of the Gun” and the award winning documentary on Toms Shoes says, “it’s been a long time coming, he’s one of the hardest working people I know in our industry and the possibilities are endless for him.”
Sam on his The best me i can be tour highschool tour
Sam performing on his BOY LONDON “Mr Fashion” Tour in Los Angeles
Sam hitting the red carpet for the People Magazine Awards, which aired live on NBC
Sam attends the Rolling Stone magazine 2014 “Hot 100 List” party sponsored by Fiat
This year Sam was named to the Rolling Stone magazine “Hot 100” list last year and was also recently awarded the “Renaissance Man of the Year” award by the Elite Man magazine. Exactly two weeks after I see Sam on the Bones set I meet up with him at the Brix restaurant downtown LA where he’s filming interviews for his documentary, “Life of an Entertainer.” Today he is way more calm and laid back than the Sam I interviewed three weeks ago at the Stream TV studios. His beautiful publicist Lucie who looks like Charlize Theron and could be a model herself says, “we are really selective with Sam’s career choices. Now he’s building an empire Books, Tours, Music, Clothing and Films. The next two years are so crucial.” Sam’s personal manager Steve who has been on board with Sam from the beginning says, “He will make big money in 2015. We have so many deals on the table, especially for the book and his motivational speaking.” He also knows the biggest profit for Sam will be his Chosen One Collection. He sold-out boutiques in hours in Asia on his group “The Leagues” “Alta Ego”’ tour. Scream Famous a celebrity hot spot in Los Angeles for buying the latest trending fashion owner Jonan says, “We can’t keep his custom jackets in the store more than a day or two, they sell out at $600 to $700 dollars a pop because they’re one of a kind.”
Sam on set for his video music video “Make Through” always handling his business
Sam and Ex-Pussycat Doll Vanessa Curry in the recording studio
Sam and We TV American it Girl star Rahi Mannai spotted in Los Angeles filming for his up coming documentary series “Life of an Entertainer” Both walked in Andre Soriano’s show for LA Fashion week
photo by Yana Kovas
Sam and his good friend. actor Arnold Oceng from the hit film “The Good Lie
Sam states, “My main focus is the Chosen One Collection this year. I’m going to blow it up so big by 2016. I’ll have my Flagship Chosen One concept store, which will also carry other hot brands that I discover from my travels around the world, and I also want to help break new hot designers like my friend Petra Dahlin, my sweedish friend who designs for Chosen One, but also has her own collection, she’s amazing.” Given his track record in fashion, his fashion line being worth over 100 million dollars by 2020 is a realistic dream. He helped turn Ed Hardy into a multi million dollar company by being the spokes person for the brand for five years and touring with Ed Hardy owner, Christian Audigier across the country to department stores, clubs and trade fashions to get the name out. “Sam helped me build my empire. He was the first supermodel/celebrity to come on board with me and he helped me get my clothing on other celebrities. He knows branding. I was very blessed to have him from the beginning, especially my first runway show.” stated Christian Audiegier while being interviewed for Sam’s “Life of an Entertainer documentary.
Sam Sarpong opener big for LA Splash magazine article
TVRadio personality Kerri Kasem wears long sleeve italian leather Chosen One
Sam and Scream Famous owner Canan Ayer Fraser at the store where his Chosen One Collection is sold filming for his show “Life of an Entertainer”
“The three ways in fashion your clothes take off are to have a good product, great marketing budget and most important know celebrities who will wear the brand and I have all three.” Steve said it best, “he’s helped make all these companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, Ed hardy, Enyce and Jean Philippe millions and millions of dollars. Now it’s time to do that for his own brand.” As I sit down with Sam at the Brix restaurant I asked him, “you have all this but what makes you happy?” Without even blinking he says “My Chosen One The Best me I Can be Tour,” where he travels across the country and speaks to Jr high, high school and college kids. I accompanied him to one of his tour dates earlier in the month where he spoke to 3000 USC college students for the United Negro College Fund and Wells Fargo bank. By the time he left professors and parents were all singing his praise. “Everything I do in entertainment is for this motivational speaking is my calling and the industry just gives me the platform.” While speaking to the youth a few years ago in Taiwan, Sam’s music group “The Leagues” manager, Toney Chang said, “I see him as the Tony Robbins for the youth and with the right company behind him he’s going to be a global phenomenon.”
Sam stops by the Puma entertainment offices in London
Sam man on the road arriving at LAX from London last week as Paparazzi shoots his arrival
Arriving at the 2014 Innovative Film Festival with my new custom bike made by @martinwoodbicycle.
Sam’s management team have also brought on more fire power to make sure 2015 is the year. Everyone knows it will be. He recently signed a deal with powerhouse Kings Road Multimedia to expand his brand with more marketing and also land more major endorsement deals. He also just recently signed with the indie record label Dj Central records who will help promote four singles along with music videos and an album to follow in fall 2015 entitled “Mr Fashion.” Everything in the cards says next year is his breakout year. He will co-star in the comedy “Average Dad” opposite “My Name is Ear”l star Jamie Pressly. He will also Star in the Dish network series “Sangre Negra” with Eric Roberts and Erik Estrada where he will play an ex supermodel who now runs the top modeling agency in the world and yes, the Chosen One collection will be featured on all the models. He also was just picked to be the main host for the new BWE Studios and CW show “Hot Video Countdown” which will be a music video countdown shot at Dave & Busters at the Hollywood and Highland complex and air five days a week on the CW. “The main reason I know I’m ready to launch my brand worldwide next year is because of my project with Karen Brystedt.”
Sam birthday weekend at Playhouse and Boy London custom cake and the roxx got the the party started
Sam and Supermodel Karina White pose at Oxford Circus for Localize magazine Man about town in London issue
As a journalist who has been in this entertainment industry for over thirty years I’m very aware of celebrity photographer/Artists. Bystedt who has shot every major celebrity before they were famous and then they became famous after she shot them. The list includes Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Jared Leto and Nicolas Cage. To many to even name and she shot the very famous picture of Andy Warhol, who she’s now teamed up with Chris Brown to do a calibration with, to add to the Warhol photograph she shot. Her series on Sam will be called “Sam Sarpong the Hollywood Renaissance Man” and feature ten stylistic shots of him in his element from the recording studio, on set, speaking to kids, designing his collection and performing on stage. It will be shown this spring in an art exhibit in Beverly Hills.
Sam and Ed Hardy owner Christian Audigier at Diesel Jeans New years eve party
Sam was one of few special invited celebrity guest at the private Chris Brown and Karen Bystedt art show benefiting the Symphonic Love Foundation. Karen will be doing a series on Sam called “The Hollywood Renaissance Man”
BWE Studios and the CW announce the cast of the new show Hot Video Countdown coming fall 2015
photo by party by 5
Another project he’s excited about is his sit-down one on one interview he did with the Jackson’s at the family home which will also air next spring 2015. People will see Sam everywhere next year from his four films due out in 2015, Boy London Campaigns, editorials, CW show, three different TV series including, Bones, his music, motivational speaking tour and the documentary. “Were going, after all it’s been fifteen years in the making and the world needs to see a positive fresh light in the industry,” states his manager Steve and I couldn’t agree more. That is why Sam Sarpong is my new favorite entertainer after a month with him on and off set, I’m now his biggest fan.
Sam and Model/Actress Eugenia Kuzmina shoot the cover of the Elite Man magazine up coming spring issue
Sam and Supermodel Karina White shoot a 10 page Fashion spread for Avant Garde magazine Fashion Special
Sam and Stephanie,Nicholette, Jennifer,featured in fashion spread for YYZ magazine
Photo credit: eGlamour photography, Supa Star Flix, PMBryant Studios, Celebrity Snapshots, Estelle Marshall Party by 5, JB Pro Images, Curtis Sabir, Burris Agency, Michael Fisher, Koi Sojer, Solomon Augusteyn, Finally free media, Jack Alexander, David Kerr, Kyle B. Photography
Sam personal styling by Raphael Marshall
thesoulmagazine 
You must be logged in to post a comment.