By Jorge Zavala | Creative Director
Sara Walker | Media Guru

The world of volleyball is a complex, intriguing, and adventurous one filled with confident, strong individuals full of talent and charisma. If you follow the world of volleyball, the name Marcus Nilsson will resonate with the aforementioned qualities in addition to assertive and cosmopolitan. Marcus Nils Jon Nilsson is a native of Torup, Sweden and the pride of the Swedish people.

The 33 year-old athlete received the acclaimed title of MVP during the European Champions League in 2012 and since has been a sensation to watch.

Growing up, Marcus probably didn't think he would become the international volleyball figure he is today. As a kid, he dabbled in all kinds of sports, everything from swimming, to soccer, tennis, and rugby. "Trying volleyball came very natural. When I got older and it came to choosing one sport it became volleyball just by chance because a relative of mine applied to the Swedish volleyball high school and thought I should do the same, which I did and got accepted," Marcus told PdM.

In a PdM exclusive, when asked about the inspiration and motivation behind his athletic career, Marcus was gleeful and honest.  "I really hate to lose...and in order to avoid losing I train more than my opponents. My motivation I've always felt is the support of my family and friends. Even though I've lived outside of Sweden for about 13 years now they continue to support what I'm doing and as long as they see that I'm happy, they're happy."

Marcus has mainly spent his volleyball career in Europe, and his last 3 seasons were spent in Siberia and Russia. Within Russia, he spent one year in Novosibirsk and two years in Kemerovo. However, he's also been in Kuwait, Dubai and Qatar for some short playoffs.

While the Swedish superstar admits he enjoys traveling, he stated that there is one place he holds dear to his heart: Paris. "Paris is definitely a favorite. I spent one year there having so much fun! I had a coach that year that was really cool and he allowed me, in addition to practice with some great people, go to a university to learn French and only practice in the evening. Consequently, that meant that I met a lot of "non-volleyballers" which gave me a super social life. Plus, Paris is one of the coolest cities in the world so I had a lot to do that year (and we won the championship, so just a perfect year)."

While Paris is definitely a place Marcus was influenced by, Greece is not too far behind on his adventure trail.

"Thessaloniki, Greece, is another favorite. I spent 3 years there and enjoyed it very much. Greek people love sports, so the atmosphere during the games is amazing. The weather is great and the mentality there is perfect if you are an athlete. They take really good care of you."

When asked about his opinion on the best place in Sweden to live, Marcus had great insights. "I would have to say Halmstad, which is the city I live in. It's a real summer city with one of the best beaches in Sweden. The city explodes during the summer with a lot of tourists.Then, of course, Stockholm is really pretty during the summer. There is so much water running through the city and it has everything from high end shopping to beautiful parks and historic old town."

In our opinion, this guy definitely knows where the party is and how to live the good life a la Swede.

When asked about Chicago, the wonderful city where PdM is based, Marcus smiled it off. "I've unfortunately never been to Chicago. The only thing I know about it is that it's one of the biggest cities in the U.S. It's a huge sports city with big teams in all the major sports, such as the Blackhawks, the Bulls, the Cubs and the White Sox. It's also called the Windy City. That's about it!"

The same way we've had the pleasure to visit Sweden, we're sure Marcus will have the opportunity to come to Chicago one day!

What's next for Marcus? Well, plenty, and, you guessed it, there's more volleyball magic to be made. "I'm getting back to playing in the European Champions League once again, which I won 3 years ago with my Siberian team and was also named the MVP of that competition then. It's going to be fun to see how far we can reach this time around with this new team in this competition. Moreover, I do enjoy languages and seeing different cultures so I'm gonna try to learn Turkish (because I will be living there next) and it's going to be great to experience more of the Turkish culture."

Looks like another adventure is soon-developing for the awesome Marcus! Lycka, bror, and we can't wait to receive updates from your experiences!

By Jorge Zavala | Creative Director
Photography by Jorge Zavala for #PdMModels

The modeling realm, while one of the most exciting and fast-moving industries in the world, is as diverse as the models encompassing it. Even Fjaestad, a native of Norway, spent a year of his high-school experience in Chicagoland making new friends, learning the ways of American teenagers, and simply living life to the fullest. Happy, social, and sporty, this Scandinavian sensation was discovered by #PdMModels while in transit back to Oslo, Norway. There is a certain positive energy whenever Even stares at the camera, and this radiates nothing but confidence.

Even, with the traditional glow of Scandinavia, shared his enthusiasm for travel, family, and life. When asked about studying in the United States, he responded gleefully. "I wanted to have a new experience and see how life in America is different from how it is in Norway." Even lived in the affluent Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, located approximately 15 miles northwest from downtown Chicago. While Even admits that he did not choose Park Ridge himself, he did meet nice and kind people all around and enjoyed the picturesque Chicago suburb along with big city life

One of the freshest faces in #PdMModels' campaign, Even is a natural at radiating an assertive fierceness that is not always present in new models. During his time in Chicagoland, he spent his time with both sports and academics. Even played football at Maine South High School and received the American high school experience first hand. However, while spending nearly a year in the States, he does admit to missing both his friends and family back home.

In addition to his upcoming success in the modeling world, Even plans to finish his last year of high school in Norway before taking part in his mandated military service. In most countries of Europe, a year of military service is required for young men. When asked about plans to return to the States, Even mentioned he doesn't have any concrete plans anytime soon to return but would make a trip in the near future if the opportunity arose.

Already one of the most popular fresh faces, Even is expected to have an exciting and memorable career in the world of fashion and lifestyle. Fantastisk!

By Sara Walker | Media Insider Guru

Sometimes, we have to take a step back and enjoy a ray of light, a cool summer breeze, and a margarita. The joie de vivre that makes life wonderful is something we, at times, take for granted. Not Chris, one of #PdMModel's international sensations, who makes every moment count.

A native of Spain, Chris Gisbert is both charismatic and talented. He was discovered by the #PdMModels team and is an avid enthusiast of travel, gastronomy, and the good life. Having some modeling experience in the past, Chris plans to balance work life, model life, and his personal life while having fun.

We asked Chris to describe himself, and he immediately felt comfortable using two of his most ambitious words. "I am a fun and daring person...I love the world of modeling, fashion, and photography."

In addition to being a handsome and stylish young man, the 20 year-old stud is also goal-oriented. "I am studying physiotherapy...it is my passion in addition to modeling."

Want to take Chris on a date? You may need to head over to the best pasta spot in the city because that is his favorite dish. How does he stay in shape, you may wonder? Well, Chris is a regular gym-goer, which is obvious by his wonderful physique.

To see more of Chris, visit his official model port. For bookings or inquiries, contact #PdMModels directly.