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Fabio's Unexpected Fame: Romance Covers to Butter Ads
23 Sep
Summary
- Fabio modeled for romance novel covers unknowingly at first.
- He was discovered by romance writers who wanted their heroes to look like him.
- Fabio embraced his fame with humor, notably in butter commercials.
Fabio is looking back on his nearly four-decade career, which launched with romance novel covers shortly after he arrived in the U.S. at age 19.
His modeling career began immediately after arriving in New York City, with an early campaign for The Gap in 1978 and appearances in magazines like GQ. Fabio's fame escalated when he started posing for romance novel covers, a role he initially undertook without fully understanding its significance.
He recounted how romance writers requested his likeness for their heroes, leading to thousands of book covers featuring him. Fabio eventually discovered his widespread recognition when fans approached him in a Miami nightclub, showing him books with his image.
Fabio embraced his romantic image with humor, most notably through his long-standing involvement in "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" commercials. He stated that he never took himself too seriously, appreciating the brand's tongue-in-cheek approach.
