The Timeless Charm: Meet the 91-Year-Old Male Model Embodying Classic Cinema Glamour
The 91-year-old male model, known as 'The Spanish King,' has transformed his life and gained a massive online following, all thanks to the photography skills of his granddaughter, Celine Van Heel
The Spanish King is one of the oldest working models in Europeand only started three years ago. Pictured here: his campaign for Schott NYC in Europe.
Celine van Heel
With a distinct air of nonchalance and a natural sun-kissed allure, the effortlessly cool and youthful 91-year-old Spanish King, whose real name is Andrés García-Carro, unexpectedly found himself in the world of modeling. It all began three years ago when his granddaughter, Celine van Heel, started capturing his moments and decided to bestow upon him the moniker for his Instagram.
García-Caro possesses the photogenic allure of a timeless film icon, with his strong, captivating gaze and sharply defined features. As an esteemed model with a significant presence on social media, and having successfully collaborated with renowned brands like Zara and adidas, he holds the distinction of being one of Europe's longest-serving models still actively working.
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"He has a natural talent for posing. It's almost as if he was born with it," van Heel commented during a phone conversation from Gran Canaria, where she and her grandfather were capturing images for an upcoming campaign. "No matter what you dress him in, he always looks stunning."
In an email, GarcÃa-Caro expressed how comfortable he felt from the very beginning of working with Celine. "I wish I had pursued this career 20 years ago," he remarked.
Celine van Heel began photographing her grandfather while staying with him during Covid-19 lockdowns. Now he has tens of thousands of followers online.
In a campaign for moto outerwear brand Schott NYC, Celine van Heel captured a captivating image of Garcia-Carro. This image, one of The Spanish Kings most striking to date, made waves across Europe last year. Photographed in a retro bowling alley, Garcia-Carro exudes attitude as he effortlessly drapes a red varsity jacket over his shoulders. With his thumbs tucked behind his belt buckle and the waistband of his slouchy khakis, highlighted strands of hair gracefully cascade across his face. Schott NYC accompanied the image with captions that emphasized the importance of attitude in their social media promotions.
"His gaze, the way he fixes his eyes on the camera - it's simple yet truly encapsulates his essence," remarked van Heel while commenting on the photograph. In other images from the campaign, GarcÃa-Caro is seen posing alongside younger models, effortlessly standing out due to his imposing presence. However, behind the scenes, her grandfather revealed a playful side, engaging in a genuine bowling game during breaks from the photoshoot. "It was incredibly enjoyable. He always manages to surprise me," she expressed.
A new life
Van Heel reveals that she has always had a close connection with her grandfather, but their bond strengthened during the Covid-19 lockdowns in spring 2020. To ensure they wouldn't be alone, she opted to stay with him and her grandmother in Spain for an extended period. At the time, she worked as an executive assistant at the French fashion magazine LOfficiel and had never explored photography as a potential career. Nevertheless, being confined to their home provided the opportunity for Van Heel to experiment with styling and capturing images of GarcÃa-Carro. As a result, she curated an Instagram account dedicated to him, which quickly gained a following.
According to Van Heel, her grandfather has always possessed an impeccable sense of style. Even in his youth, he could be seen donning long fur coats reminiscent of Macklemore and stylish aviator sunglasses.
Courtesy Celine van Heel
García-Carro has led a varied life, taking on roles as a rancher in Argentina, a restaurant owner in Uruguay, and a real estate agent in Spain. In 2020, he made his debut as a model with an editorial shoot for Van Heels that was featured in L'Officiel China. This accomplishment opened doors for him, leading to collaborations with other publications and brands such as Zara. His partnership with Zara resulted in a capsule collection featuring items like a silk robe, pajamas, jeans, and sunglasses.
Despite being in his nineties, García-Carro maintains a youthful appearance, which he jokingly attributes to "making a deal with the devil." He continues to smoke and tan regularly, but his late-in-life modeling career has rejuvenated him and given him a newfound zeal. He states, "I look even younger than before! What I find the most fulfilling about modeling is interacting with young people, acquiring new knowledge, and remaining active. I don't want to be idle and watch life pass me by from the comfort of my living room."
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Van Heel perceives that his aesthetic and vitality are striking a chord with the fashion industry, which is increasingly embracing more mature models. Carmen DellOrefice, widely regarded as the oldest active supermodel at 91, continues to grace magazine covers and left an indelible impression by concluding Guo Pei's Paris couture show in 2017. Additionally, Iris Apfel, a 101-year-old textile and interior designer, has achieved fashion icon status.
Van Heel holds the belief that one's grandfather serves as an impeccable illustration for disregarding societal expectations surrounding age.
"At the age of 70 or 80, one's life does not come to an end, nor does it demand embracing the stereotypes of being a docile and elderly grandmother," she expressed. "Regardless of one's age, the possibilities for accomplishment are boundless."
