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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

From Coeur d’Alene to international model

Phil Blank, 18, of Coeur d'Alene, is pictured here in a photo from his portfolio. The 2016 Lake City High grad now works in New York City for one of the top modeling agencies in the world. (Courtesy photo via Coeur d'Alene Press)
Phil Blank, 18, of Coeur d'Alene, is pictured here in a photo from his portfolio. The 2016 Lake City High grad now works in New York City for one of the top modeling agencies in the world. (Courtesy photo via Coeur d'Alene Press)

Phil Blank woke up early Monday morning, ate a semi-healthy breakfast and left his New York City apartment for an obligatory gym session.

Most 18-year-old men are inherently tight-bodied, but Blank is an atypical case. The former Lake City High School wide receiver has to maintain a physique worthy of casting calls from Gotham clothing lines, magazines and fashion shows. He gets about 20 a week.

When the blue eyes above Blank's high cheekbones aren't locked on to a camera lens, though, they're taking in the city's ample amenities.

"After work you have the freedom to do whatever you want," said Blank, a male model for Wilhelmina, a world-renowned talent agency. "You can skateboard, play basketball, visit Times Square, the Empire State Building. You name it."

Sharing a $13,000-per-month apartment with a group of other male models was something the lifelong Coeur d'Alene resident never fathomed a few months ago when planning to attend Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston while playing for the area's club football team.

A trip to Target in Hayden threw a wrench in those plans/Ryan Collingwood, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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