CJ BODE
Photography: IRVIN RIVERA
Model: CJ BODE
Grooming: ERIK TORPPE
Styling: JAYNE DO
Photo Asst: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG
Agency/Agencies: NIYA Model Management & TWO Management
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Nickname: CJ
Instagram: mrallinaday
Twitter: BodeJamesMWM
Tell us your story? Who is CJ?
Well I'm 21 years old. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. Specifically Murray. It's about 15 minutes south of downtown SLC. I went to Cottonwood High school. I never strayed too far away from home. All schools I went to weren't more than 3 miles away from my house. I was quite the handful growing up. Lol. I was always getting into something with my friends. I played about every sport you can name and excelled in all. I was most prestigious in Baseball & Wrestling. I also started skiing when I was 3 years old and that was actually what took me away from pursuing deeper into the sports aspect. I became obsessed with freestyle skiing and started competing in ever competition possible through my teen years. It's when I started placing on the podium every comp. that I started to gain a following. I was like a local legend by the age of 17 lol. But all good things come to an end. After I turned 18 and mom & dad wouldn't fork out so easy for the season pass, everything changed. I slowly stopped going so much and started pursing other things. Now out of all the talents I have, I've become a model! But long story short CJ is a charismatic, ambitious, dedicated, fun & hard working young man!
Tell us about your hometown.
Salt Lake City is so beautiful. My back yard was the Wasatch front. Waking up to that everyday was more than I could ever ask for. It's a very green place in the summer as well as really hot but it's more of a dry hot. So some may say it's more tolerable but I would beg to differ haha. It gets SO beautiful in the spring & fall. The winters can be viscous lol. Very cold and lots of snow. The people are ok. A lot of very opinionated adults. Not many know how to mind there business.
Where are you based now? Do you like it?
I'm based in Los Angeles, California! And I honestly.. LOVE IT! It's so amazing. I used to dream of living here now the best part is I don't have to dream. Everyday I wake up in my own paradise. It's amazing. So blessed to be where I am.
What inspired you to be a model?
Funny story. I grew up & went to school with a girl named Katherine White. She got a badass camera in about 10th grade I want to say. Well one day she brought it to school. I wanna say it was just after Christmas and everyone was back from C shristmas/New Years break. Anyway we went outside after school and just started taking pictures walking around in the beautiful white snow. It's was so fun! I knew at that moment I had found a new hobby. Which later I would come to know this was actually something else to add to the list of talents!
How long have you been modeling?
I've only been modeling for about a year. So I'm still very new to all this!
What’s your favorite part in being a model?
The fashion as well as the people I meet everyday. Also you could say one of my favorite parts is taking pictures for a living! Lol.
Your most memorable experience in modeling so far.
Being put on hold for the Versace 2016 autumn collection runway show in Milan, Italy (which I had only been modeling about 5 months)
How do you manage your time as a model?
Well that's something I'm still trying to master haha. I have a lot of extra time. But now that I'm in California I get to surf which I love. It keeps me in shape even when I'm not in the gym! But I also write & make music. My friends and I love to adventure too. We call them manventures lol, because we get pretty crazy. We like to push things to the craziest level possible before getting hurt haha.
If you can compare your modeling experiences with food, what would it be?
Making my moms homemade pizza by scratch cause it takes so damn long and you have to have a lot of patience.
Your favorite food.
Italian food (My moms lasagna specifically)
Book that you’re currently reading.
None. But I should be reading "how to save money for dummies" lol
What else keeps you busy aside from modeling?
Physical activity. Surfing, Longboarding, gym, music
What comes next after modeling?
My wife and a family
Dream project?
Campaign with Versace
Dream Client?
Calvin Klein
Tell us a secret.
I'll tell you the best secret you ever needed to know. It's also like a gift lol. Next time you get some fries mix ketchup and mayonnaise and dip your fries in that. It's called fry sauce and it originated in Utah. Thank me later!
Currently binge watching
Sons of Anarchy
If you’re gonna have a book what title would it be?
“What do you do when you don't know what to do?”
If you will be given the chance and opportunity to help a specific charity, what would it be and why?
Food for the poor to help the less fortunate. No one deserves to starve because of there financial situation.