What's Going On With The Zombie Boy Rick Genest?

Just in case you're wondering  if you have seen him before, yeah, you did. Rick Genest has had an appearance in Lady Gaga's Born This Way Video. Remember, the zombie scene?

Rick Genest, The Zombie Boy, Vogue Hommes Japan

Now, whats new? Lately, Mugler's male muse has modeled in a special spread for Vogue Hommes Japan. Moshi moshi!

The all black-and-white Mariano Vivanco-helmed photo shoot has featured the zombie-marked model styled by no less than his fairy-grandmother (lover?), Mugler's creative director and House of Gaga's designer, Nicola Formichetti.

Rick Genest, The Zombie Boy, Vogue Hommes Japan

I admit i have this weird fascination for Rick Genest. The fully tattooed model, dubbed as the Zombie Boy, for me is a real bad ass.

Well, how The Zombie Model was discovered may interest you. Did you know that Rick has this crazy rugs to riches story?

Rick Genest and Mugler's Nicola Formichetti

It goes like this, Rick was homeless back in Montreal, Canada, sleeping on the street until Formichetti stumbled upon a photo of him on Google.
Nicola got so inspired just by looking at his photos, he changed Mugler's design from clean to dark and gothic-ky. (Talk about influence)
He then managed to find Genest on Facebook and then later secured a passport for him to be able to go to Paris with him and strut his weird swag on the runway.

The rest was history. The Zombie Model (Rick Genest)
Thanks god, Genest was born that way, had he not been a "zombie" - who knows. What do you think?