Discovered on the streets of Germany at just 18 years old, Frank Christians began modeling in the late 1980s and went on to build an international career spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With a background in economics, he represents a pre-digital generation of models whose careers were defined by in-person casting, print campaigns, and agency networks rather than personal branding or social media.
Later in his career, Christians expanded into acting and television, including roles in German series and more than a decade as a live TV host with thousands of broadcast hours. Today, he continues to model within the growing “best-ager” category while living outside the major fashion capitals, offering a perspective shaped by both industry longevity and distance from its current pace.
In this conversation with Esquire Vietnam, he reflects on a life shaped by constant movement, the shifting definitions of visibility and identity in fashion, and the quiet clarity he’s found in stepping away from it all.
Esquire Vietnam: Frank, you have had an impressive international career: You have been working as a model since 1988, collaborating with the fashion industry in the US, Australia, Europe, China and Dubai. You earned a master’s degree in economics in Germany, appeared in a German soap opera in the 1990s, and later became a TV host on commercial channels. Looking back at this journey, which moments do you consider the most important and defining?
Frank Christians: When I started modeling in the late 80ies it was the dream job you could do. Traveling, getting paid for it even, meeting people from all over the world and get to the hot spot cities of the fashion industry with the chance of – in between go-sees and castings and jobs – to attend sports clubs, dance clubs etc. all for free beeing on every guest lists your agency puts you on.
Models looked like models so it was really a privileged status everywhere you went. And you could tell right away where was a casting e.g. in Milan all beautiful people heading to. In the 90ies I was playing in a famous german soap opera a completely different situation there.
After I was seen on TV so many people knew me… whispering when you pass somewhere or go out and even know your name. That’s what I preferred and still prefer about modeling… nobody knows your name but people wonder where they know you from (maybe saw you in a commercial or catalogue)… but as an actor you are always under observation. Anyway I am happy I had the chance to get into both careers already very early, teaching me as well that I don’t care about what people say or envy as long as I am happy myself with my decisions and life.
You have been working in the fashion industry for almost 40 years. At the beginning of your career the industry was very different: there were no social media, no online castings and no global digital environment like today. From your perspective, which of these changes have been truly transformative? And do you think it was easier or harder to build a modeling career when you started?
It was way harder to work as a model when I started cause if you wouldn’t meet the specifications as height and body and features you wouldn’t even had the chance to get an audition at an agency. Not to compare with nowadays and social “influencers” working as “models” but this has nothing to do with real models.
Moreover the editing of pictures was almost not possible so if you looked not like a model in real you wouldn’t have had the chance to look like a model on pictures! Even a sit on your face right at the shooting (which is a click today) would have had to be given to a professional retoucher to remove/erase with paint on the print itself. At castings live polaroids were taken and books with your model pictures were sent out to the clients by post.
Which of your roles brings you the greatest creative satisfaction today — modeling, acting, or television? What continues to inspire you in your profession? Are there projects or directions you would still like to explore?
I still prefer good model jobs to all other. I love to see the results when you see the pictures on the screen. Acting is fun and to play different roles – even though I am most times casted for doctors, lawyers or bosses (hah hah)… typecast I would say. Hosting a show is nice as well but very routined since I work since 2010 as a TV host for different shopping channels with a resume of more than 5.000 live TV-show hours at least. My TV jobs next to hosting were more in daily formats like soap opera or daily TV I would like to play in a movie once.
You have worked in many countries around the world. Are there places or fashion markets that left the strongest impression on you?
I love to work most in countries I can enjoy the county itself in between the job. Dubai is super exciting and impressive, Oman I liked a lot but as well the not so far countries like Austria.
You have managed to build a long international career while maintaining a strong family life. Today you live on a farm surrounded by animals and nature. After decades of traveling the world, what does this calm lifestyle give you?
My home is my castle… I love to live on my farm and I would never want to exchange it to live on the country side with the nature towards a life in a city… no matter how great this city would be. To go there from time to time is super nice but I get my energy from the calm countryside life.
**Creative Team**
Model: Frank Christians @frank.christians
Photographer: Manny Fontanilla @mannyfontanilla_
Production: @say__media
