Sao Paolo-born Pedro is a 6’2" god with a lithe frame, Cupid curls, and eyes of an indeterminate color (makeup artist Lala Flores laughingly insists that one eye is green while the other is hazel). Of Italian descent, Pedro collects some breath as he goes underwater for Oxygen’s newest print ads and TV commercials, their most ambitious campaign since Oxygen was first launched in 1996 as a T-shirt brand (their last campaign featured another bronzed hunk, Derek Ramsey). The brand moved on to creating hard-core club wear a few years later before settling down with more subtle designs in the last couple of years. With Pedro, Oxygen hopes to stake claim as a main provider of trendy urbanwear for the stylish city slicker. Success is heavily predicted.
YSTYLE: What’s your full name?
PEDRO FUSCO: Pedro Henrique Fusco. My mom got my name from a commercial. This mom would call to her child, "Pedro Henrique, come here!" and my mother was like, "Oh, that’s my son." So, that’s it. My name was taken from a commercial.
What, aside from oxygen, keeps you alive?
Modeling keeps me alive. I’m also into hosting – I have a gift for it. I host events and parties in New York. I also have a passion for sports.
What sports are you into?
Right now, I swim about three times a week. I live in New York and I surf there – there is surfing in New York. I’ve been surfing since I was a teenager in Brazil.
How long have you been modeling?
I’ve been modeling in the fashion industry since I was 14 but I’ve been doing commercials since I was six in Brazil.
Where in Brazil are you from?
Sao Paolo. It’s a big city. I was born there.
You’re from Sao Paolo. You must be a big soccer fan then…
Yes, I am. In fact, I played soccer professionally before. We had this team and we would travel to different places to compete. I even had an opportunity to go and compete in England. I was there for eight months to compete and to study. That’s where I learned English. It was a great experience.
What made you decide to choose modeling over soccer?
I like the rewards of modelling better. I like to interact with the public through modeling rather than sports.
Tell me about your family.
I have three sisters, all older than I am. I’m the only son so my dad is proud to have me. I’m really spoiled because of my sisters. My parents are still together. They’ve been together for 32 years, 28 years married. Basically we’re a traditional Italian family.
Italian?
Yes. I was born in Brazil, my parents were born in Brazil, but my grandparents came from Italy. I grew up in Brazil but I’m one hundred percent Italian.
That explains the curls…
Yes, and the fair skin.
So, you’re an Italian who was born and who grew up in Brazil, studied in England, and is now living in New York. That’s pretty interesting…
Yes it is. I don’t know where life is taking me next. Now I’m in Asia and I’ll be staying here for a while.
What’s your ultimate destination?
I’d like to work in the Asian market. My dream is to be able to get to Indonesia.
When did you move to New York?
2001. Exactly August 29. I’ve been modelling full-time since then.
What campaigns have you done in New York?
I’ve done campaigns for this jeans and underwear brand, which gave me good exposure since it was nationwide. I’ve done fashion shows for Sean John and Bruno Milani. Besides that, I’ve done fashion editorials for GQ, Glamour, and other local magazines.
We’re told that you’re a devout Catholic. How religious are you exactly?
I don’t really consider myself religious. I’m more of a believer. It’s just a matter of appreciating what you get. Religion for me is not an obsession; it’s just part of who I am. My parents raised me this way.
And you’re supposedly fasting for the entire Lenten period?
Well, I’ve stopped taking meat, sweets, coffee, and alcohol. These are things that I can easily take during the rest of the year. I also don’t eat anything after six p.m.
Do you this every year?
No, this is the first year I’m doing this. I believe that I’m ready for it. This is something of a sacrifice and to show appreciation for everything that I’ve received this year, things that other people aren’t too fortunate to have.
You did an underwater shoot for Oxygen that lasted three days, how did you manage to stay underwater for so long a time?
How did I manage to keep my eyes open underwater for such a long time! It was pretty difficult.
This shoot must have been really strenuous…
Yeah. I was running, I was swimming… I felt I was in a triathlon instead of a shoot.
At least you get to wear cool clothes…
Yes. These are good quality clothes, very fashionable from an international point of view. It’s become my pleasure to wear Oxygen.
Oxygen has stores in Glorietta and Megamall.