GOAL-ORIENTED MODEL AND TV-STAR

Years back, Don Benjamin applied for a job at the Guess Store and was rejected. 

Fame has come to Don Benjamin after the final of America’s Next Top Model in 2013. He didn’t win this show because, during one of the show’s tests, he had a panic attack while underwater photo shooting. Because of this, his pictures were not as good as the other contestants’ were, what the judges and show hosts did not like. Despite this, Don Benjamin became a very successful model after the show.

Benjamin gained modeling assignments for Guess apparel, True Religion jeans, and several other highly recognizable fashion brands. Now he’s on billboards everywhere as the star of the brand’s latest campaign. It’s a lesson in perseverance and positivity – something the LA living, Minnesota-born model can teach us a thing or two about.

The model had become the heart of the showbiz industry when he won Scare Famous season 1. Scared Famous is a famous horror reality television that has a prize of $100,000. After winning in the show, Don donated the amount to the charity Peace over violence. So he is not only a TV star and a model but also a man with a kind heart.

OPEN-HEARTED HIP-HOP ARTIST

In between signing with Wilhelmina Models and traveling the world as an influencer, Don is a musician and rapper. He joined the music scene as a recording artist, releasing a track called Across the Sky which appeared on the iTunes Overall Top Songs chart in 2012. It has also been heard on Big Brother, America’s Next Top Model, and various MTV programs.

“It’s smooth rap,” he declares. “I spit bars with an R&B feel. I didn’t want to do something typical. This isn’t your average hip-hop. It’s not about killing people or selling drugs. It’s about girls and relationships. I was always focused on finding love and everything that goes along with that. I’m telling my story honestly.”

In October 2014, he released ‘Jealous,’ a track he worked with Eric Bellinger. ‘Jealous’ tells about a dude who gives his girl all the time he can, but she’s still jealous. His next song was ‘Tonight,’ which was released in September 2015. In 2016, he put out two songs, ‘Touch My Body’ and ‘Hit the Snooze.’

In February 2018, Don released his debut EP, ‘M.P.L.S. – EP,’ independently. It has five songs, ‘Hometown,’ ‘No One,’ ‘Plane Jane,’ ‘Millions,’ and ‘Doing Something.’

Don attracts his listeners with his candid lyrics and different perspective. “The most important thing is for people to connect with the music and feel it,” he concludes. “I want them to see what’s happening in my lyrics and relate.”

MOVIE ACTOR

Benjamin made his acting debut in the episode A Mother’s Love of One Ten in 2014. In the same year, he made his cinematic debut, portraying Nathan in the thriller film Matthew 18.

In 2015, he was cast as Jason in the drama film Supermodel. Benjamin has also appeared in the drama film 3 am in Hollywood (2019), action-drama Bunny and Clyde, and horror Judgment.

AN INCURABLE ROMANTIC

Don Benjamin began dating Liane Valenzuela in 2015 and the two-run the collaborative YouTube channel Forever Us together, where they were showing their lifestyle with a huge portion of jokes.

“Our worlds never collide, but they align so we get to do a lot of work together. We get to do shoots together, we do trips together, we do music together, she’s a singer as well so it’s a beautiful thing to have this person inline with my work.” — said Don Benjamin.

He and Liane got engaged in August 2019. Don Benjamin  proposed to Liane on her birthday house-party in the Hawaiian style. He hid the proposal ring in the Loui Vuitton box to make Liane think that he was going to give her clothes for a present. When she opened the box, Don Benjamin stood on his knee, and everyone at the party guested that the proposal was going to happen. Liane dropped some tears of happiness, and after the words “Will you marry me,” jumped on Don Benjamin with emotional hugs. She accepted the proposal, Don put the ring on Liane’s finger, and her father blessed the couple. The proposal video was uploaded on their official channel of YouTube Forever Us.

But the wedding did not happen to occur. The couple got into a fight about having babies. Don wanted to have a baby, and Liane intended to take time and think about the pregnancy later. Liane later shared about their split in a video titled ‘Opening Up About Our Break Up’ in March 2020.

So it was a long-term relationship for five years. And the break up left the tangible mark on the heart of Don.

BOOK AUTHOR

In July 2020, Don Benjamin released his book My Truth about his life and relationships with Liane.

The annotation of the book says:

“Fashion model, actor, and musician, Don Benjamin gets vulnerable and gives you a look into his life story and his journey through success and personal relationships.”

Don has added potent thoughtful questions at the end of every chapter that everyone should ask themselves. These questions will help you better understand your journey and how you can release past pain and live with the intention and faith”.

We hope that soon this book will be available on Payphone X.

FANS’ LOVER

Don Benjamin has 2.1 million followers on Instagram and communicates with fans personally via Payphone X. On the platform, Don makes and sends the video-greetings to his fans with the birthday and wedding and shares some tips of the photo posing and music hitmaking.

Fans can even chat with Don Benjamin via Payphone X app. He is so openhearted that he shares his personal experience in relationships and gives support for those who are broken-hearted too.

“I try to give my followers a bit of everything. I want my fans to be able to connect with me as much as possible”, — Don Benjamin.

Go by the link to experience an exclusive connection with America’s Next Top Model star Don Benjamin.

The post Who Is Don Benjamin As Not Only The Model? appeared first on Fanzine by Payphone.

This curly-haired mischief-maker is loved for his quirky and charming personality. Miltos Yerolemou is a very kindhearted man who is burning with the passion of youth. He keeps on winning the hearts of everyone by consistently being a nice and helpful personality.

Here are 7 facts about Miltos you might not know:

FENCING MASTER FROM GAME OF THRONES

Miltos is mostly known for his role in the world-famous Game of Thrones series. Many of you might already have this series in your favorites’ list. Miltos played the character of Syrio Forel, the First Sword of Braavos. Syrio was hired by Lord Eddard Stark to be Arya’s teacher, and this man became an instant favorite of every fan. With his lovable acting skills, Miltos managed to gather a huge fan-following as Arya’s dance master. He is the one who said the words that appear to be one of the most popular Game of Thrones quotes: 

“There is only one god, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: not today.”

STARRED IN STAR WARS

Miltos’s acting skills are unparalleled as he can perfectly portray almost any character. This man is mostly known for his beautifully portrayed action sequences. This guy also played a part in the world-famous film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He portrayed a bar patron in the castle of Maz Kanata on Takodana when the First Order attacked the planet. Though his role wasn’t big, Miltos’s performance contributed to the overall success of the movie, which raised over $2 billion worldwide.

PLAYS ONLY FOREIGNERS

One quite interesting thing about Miltos’s acting career is the fact that he mostly plays very special characters which are considered foreign in the story itself. The actor talks and walks in very special ways to perfectly portray each character. In the words of Miltos himself, “The only thing about typecasting I will say is that I always play foreign characters. When I say ‘foreign’: alien in Star Wars, a French psychiatrist in a Danish film [in ‘The Danish Girl’], [and] a Dutch baker in [the upcoming drama/romance film] ‘Tulip Fever.’”

BRITISH WITH CYPRIOT ORIGIN

Looking at his name, you might find the fact strange that Miltos Yerolemou is a British actor. Well, yes, it is absolutely true! But he is a special type of British actor with a Cypriot origin. Miltos is the son of Greek Cypriot parents; that is why this man’s name sounds so “Greek.” However, Mr. Yerolemou was born in London and grew up in the United Kingdom.

NEVER STUDIED ACTING

Unlike every other actor, Miltos never really took any acting lessons after his graduation. He learned everything he knows from first-hand experience! Miltos is a self-taught man who knows how this world works as he practiced at different stage-plays. Miltos kept on going and became the amazing actor that he is today. 

We can never know what Konstantin Stanislavski would say if he saw Miltos Yerolemou’s acting. However, I can tell you for sure: when I see him performing, I have just one thought: “I do believe!” 

PLAYS IN THE THEATER

Most recently, in 2016, Miltos Yerolemou played in a King Lear performance in the Talawa Theatre Company and Royal Exchange Manchester co-production. Despite the fact that the role was of the episodic character The Fool, he represented himself as a brilliant actor, renewing the meaning of Shakespeare’s metaphors. His success is confirmed by praise from critics.

“Special mention must go to Miltos Yerolemou as The Fool, whose extraordinary despair in the storm scene matches the brilliant comic timing he manages to display throughout.”—The Guardian, in a review of the King Lear performance.

ALWAYS UP TO TALK TO HIS FANS

Every fan of Star Wars and Game of Thrones can have a digital photo with an autograph by Miltos Yerolemou, as well as chat with him and even have a video conversation. The only thing required is downloading the Payphone X app. Yerolemou is so friendly and open-hearted that he doesn’t leave questions unanswered, regarding his roles in all of his famous movies. During a personal video call, Miltos might also give you some tips to kick-start your own career as a professional actor. 

Another good thing is that everyone can order a personalized video from him to cheer up friends or even make an awesome marriage proposal. When fans receive a video shoutout from Miltos Yerolemou, they scream with the excitement of such a gift. 

If Miltos Yerolemou is on Payphone X, why aren’t you there?

The post 7 Curiosities About Miltos Yerolemou appeared first on Fanzine by Payphone.

MISSED CHILDHOOD SWAMP

Our route starts from the Missed Childhood swamp. Here you can see 2-years old June Shannon crying because of her parents’ divorce. Luckily, she’s not lonely, because she has three siblings: Joanne “Doe Doe” Shannon, Joanie Shannon (now McDonald), and James Edward Shannon. She also has two half-sisters, Michelle Shannon and Nicole Shannon.

The tour guide comes to a slow down, because we are going through the mist of June’s Legal Blindness. It is a zone of low visibility due to June’s childhood cataracts that went untreated.

Missed Childhood swamp abruptly ends, as June Shannon dropped out of school after becoming pregnant with her first daughter, Anna, at the age of 14.

THE HOLLOW OF SEX OFFENDERS

No time to relax! You need to be circumspect and careful since, in this part of June’s life route, sex offenders appear unexpectedly.

Michael Anthony Ford (b. 1977), who was found guilty of trying to exploit oral sex from an online female minor, is the father of June’s daughters Jessica and Lauryn.

June dated Mark McDaniel who was convicted of abusing her eldest daughter, Anna.

In the hollow of June’s life, you never know what will shock yo

Actually, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson gave first fame to Mama June. She was a child beauty pageant contestant and the star of the very popular TLC series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which June also took a part in as a caring mother.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE TO RECOVERY

Out of breath after the above experienced events? Take it easy. You can stop, take a deep breath, and drink some water. Suspension Bridge to Recovery is ahead. You need to stay calm and focused to travel through it.

Stepping on the bridge, know you will never be the same again, and some of us will even lose weight. June struggled with being morbidly obese, weighing 460 pounds at her heaviest. After having part of her stomach removed, she lost more than 300 pounds thanks to the surgery and the help of dieting and her personal trainer, Kenya Crooks.

Like the sun leaving behind pretty freckles during this extreme tour, Mama June improved her appearance with the use of cosmetic surgery, spending $75,000. As we reach this point, take a selfie! June Shannon made her weight loss journey the basis of the reality TV show Mama June: From Not to Hot on We TV.

MAMA AMA CRIMINAL CLIFF

Be especially attentive in this part of our extreme tour through Mama June’s life. One wrong step on the Mama Ama Criminal cliff and you can completely ruin your life.

The sharpest part of Mama June’s life is her relationship with Geno Doak. Doak has a criminal record, having served jail time for burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property, and in March 2019, Mana June and Doak were both arrested for felony drug possession in Alabama.

Hold your wallets tight, because it can be an expensive loss when you’re hanging upside down! Mama June spent $2,500 a day on her methamphetamine addiction. In other words, she probably consumed a couple of ounces of drugs a day. Because of that, she ended up selling her family’s house without telling any member of the family. How does the Shannon family handle these problems? You can watch and find out at home (if you still own it) in the reality show Mama June: Family Crisis, which is aired on We TV.

PAYPHONE X LAGOON

The extreme tour ends here. Get some rest and have fun in the marvelous Payphone X lagoon, lighted with thousands of celebrities and opinion leaders from all over the world.

In this fan paradise, you can have a chat and video-meeting with Mama June personally. You can even celebrate your daughter’s birthday with personal wishes from the beloved TV-star.

In her recent Instagram post, Mama June urged her followers to call her to talk about “love, relationships, and family.” However, you can discuss not only love but every hard episode of your lives, as Mama June truly knows how to overcome the rough and tumble of life.

And keep in mind, when you order anything from Mama June via Payphone X, you help her buy a new home and change her life for the better. She deserves it!

Images courtesy of June Shannon

The post Extreme Tour Through Mama June’s Life appeared first on Fanzine by Payphone.

Included in this select few is JLouis Mills, an up-and-coming star mainly known for his role as the snarky yet loveable anesthesiologist in Heartbeat, a hit medical drama on NBC.

To say that Mills has led an eventful life would be an understatement. So, to get to know him better, here are seven little-known yet interesting facts about him:

1. Mills wears an eye patch because he lost his vision

One of Mills’s defining characteristics is the eye patch he wears over his left eye. As a child, the actor struggled with Kawasaki Syndrome, a disease that causes inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body. He underwent retinal reattachment surgery in 2001 and permanently lost vision in his left eye in 2013 following complications from surgery.

“In February 2013, I had cataract surgery on my eye,” he explains. “After the complications, I was unable to work, and I lost my vision in that eye.” He adds, “Not being able to work and not being able to take care of myself, I pretty much lost who I was.”

It was this incident that left Mills homeless and without a job, but fortunately, the actor was able to pick himself up and come back stronger than ever.

“I did it. I got up. I dusted myself off. And you can do it too,” he says.

2. He used to be a homeless caretaker

Before landing his breakout role as Dr. Forrester in the NBC medical drama Heartbeat, Mills worked as a caretaker for an elderly couple with Alzheimer’s Disease. Unable to keep up with the skyrocketing rent in Los Angeles, Mills stuffed a backpack with his clothes and lived on the streets.

“It was a very humbling thing to be homeless,” says Mills in an interview. “I just really had to make a decision one day—what’s gonna stop this? How am I going to get out of this?” 

3. JLouis played an anesthesiologist in Heartbeat

In Heartbeat, Mills took on the role of Dr. Forrester, the resident anesthesiologist who is blind in one eye. Featured in eight out of ten episodes, Mills worked on the show alongside other emerging names in Hollywood, including Melissa George, Dave Annable, and Don Harry. 

4. He’s an actor and a producer

Not content with just acting and memorizing lines, Mills sought to have a deeper understanding of Hollywood and the film industry by working behind the scenes. He was an associate producer on the 2016 short film Beyond Approval as well as a production assistant on the 2011 coming-of-age movie Birds of a Feather.

5. Mills starred as a villain in a Snoop Dogg video

You might have recognized Mills from the 2015 music video Snoop Dogg: So Many Pros, which starred the world-famous hip hop artist as well as chart-topping singer Pharell Williams. Mills played one of the villains in the music video, which had been styled to evoke old-timey spy movies and film posters. It went on to earn Best Art Direction during that year’s MTV Video Music Awards.

6. He also starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

In the Quentin Tarantino blockbuster that featured some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, Mills played Land Pirate J on the set of Lancer, which also starred Ramon Franco as another land pirate and Marco Rodriguez as a bartender.

7. JLouis loves to talk with his fans one-on-one

JLouis Mills went through thorns to become a star and did not turn into an arrogant celebrity. He is so open-hearted that any fan can chat or have a video call with him personally through the Payphone X app. When texting, the actor doesn’t only accept admirations but also supports others through providing advice and motivating those who are dealing with difficult times. He himself overcame many obstacles and, despite all the challenges, was able to become a renowned TV star. So, he can find the right words to give others wings to fly to new heights.

On the Payphone X platform, JLouis Mills also congratulates fans on their birthdays, weddings, and other important life events and sometimes even shoots a personalized video where he just brilliantly jokes as he used to do in the role of Dr. Forrester in the Heartbeat series. 

Talking to such a wonderful person is too exciting, so be sure to snag this opportunity and take a look at JLouis’s profile on Payphone X. 

The post 7 Facts You Don’t Know About the Up-And-Coming Actor, JLouis Mills appeared first on Fanzine by Payphone.

Joseph R. Gannascoli played the iconic role of a mafia member named “Vito Spatafore” in one of the greatest shows in Television history, HBO’s The Sopranos. He has starred in more than 20 movies and TV shows. 

Before appearing on The Sopranos, Joseph appeared in many films, including Law and Order and Kelly Makin’s Mickey Blue Eyes, in which he played the role of Jimmy alongside Hugh Grant and James Caan. 

Joseph first appeared in Ramon Menendez’s 1993 film Money for Nothing starring John Cusack, where he received his big break in acting from renowned actor and producer, Benicio del Toro. When del Toro made his directional debut with his film Submission, he cast Joseph, who played the role of Eddie. Joseph also played a minor role in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood. 

But the signature role that made him outstanding was Vito Spatafore in The Sopranos from season 2 to season 6. No character from The Sopranos grabbed people’s attention more than his role as Vito Spatafore, a gay member of the mob. Joseph nailed that role. In a recent interview, he said, “It was a tremendous thrill,” referring to how he went from having a role of a bakery shop patron to later having a whole season dedicated to his character, Vito Spatafore, on the TV show.

MEAL’N’READ

Prior to his acting, Joseph was a chef—a rather professional one—and had opened a restaurant called Soup As Art Restaurant in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, as well as other eateries from Manhattan to New Orleans. 

Alongside his many talents, Joseph is also a writer. In fact, Joseph has co-written two books, one being a cookbook named Dinner with the FoodFellas, which he wrote along with Tony Darrow and Vincent Pastore. 

His second book is a fictional novel, A Meal to Die For: A Culinary Novel of Crime, which he wrote with assistance from Allen C. Kupfer. The novel received a lot of positive reviews from readers. A Meal to Die For is a skillfully written, tasty slice of mob life that explores the story of a fictional character named Benny Lacoco who turns his cooking talents for the mob and must prepare and serve remarkable meals for unknown guests, who turn out to be criminal associates. It is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of mystery, crime fiction, thriller, and mob life.

EAT, PRAY, COVID

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Sopranos star wasn’t doing any writing or acting. Instead, he was out there bringing food to the front-line workers of COVID-19. Joseph made more than 100 food deliveries to his neighborhood’s New York hospitals, post offices, police stations, and many healthcare facilities. 

Joseph first began doing this when his niece, who was a front-line healthcare worker, got tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, she did recover, but ever since then, Joseph felt the need to support front-line workers, as his sister-in-law also works as a nurse in Long Island, New York. Joseph has raised more than $30,000 on his GoFundMe page to deliver food to front-line workers amidst the coronavirus pandemic. 

In an article by NY Post, he says, “I’m helping the restaurants, hopefully, to survive or at least to pop some money into them, and I’m helping all these people.

It makes me feel good. I’m just trying to make a difference, something I can teach my daughter.” 

When Joseph picked up his 104-year-old aunt after she beat coronavirus, he made sure the staff of the hospital that cared for her and other coronavirus patients were well fed. Joseph talks about his aunt in one of his Instagram posts and shares that she has sadly passed away two weeks after recovering. Nonetheless, he is glad that she met everyone back at home.

Joseph R. Gannascoli proved to his fans that he is not only a great actor, writer, and chef but also a great human being who is risking his life to help front-line workers amidst the pandemic.

FUN FOR FANS

The last series of The Sopranos was released 13 years ago. Nowadays, fans can not only see Vito on the screens but also have a live chat with him.

Joseph R. Gannascoli appeared on the Payphone X platform to be closer to his fans and make some money to survive during the quarantine. 

Being a great actor, he sends exclusive video greetings to his fans in the role of a real gangster Vito. It is a real volcano of emotions when Joseph R. Gannascoli wishes love and patience on his fans’ wedding day with a huge cigar in his hand and an aggressive tone of voice. Everyone can order a personal video from Joseph and make the best gift to the loved ones. Or celebrate the weekdays with best wishes from Vito.

Personalized video is not the only thing that Joseph R. Gannascoli offers for fan’s pleasure. He also offers his photo with an autograph exclusively for Payphone X users. What is more, fans can even get a Soprano’s T-shirt with three signed pictures from Vito, plus an opportunity to chat with him and also have a phone call via the Payphone X app.

A talented actor and a person with a huge heart give happiness and motivation for so many people. And there are so many reasons to express admiration and say “thank you” to Joseph R. Gannascoli.

Contact him via Payphone X and have fun.

The post Joseph R. Gannascoli: From Chef to Starring in One of The Greatest TV-Shows appeared first on Fanzine by Payphone.