User:Sportfan5000/Monfret

Willy Monfret (born in France on 3 October 1982) is a French Caribbean model, actor, DJ and former athlete. Affter he moved to New York City from Europe in 2010, he was discovered by singer, and rapper Nicki Minaj to star in her video that summer, "Right Thru Me," which has over 48 million views as of February 2014. He continues to travel and perform internationally as both a model and DJ.

Early life
He is the only child of a French mother and a French Caribbean father from the island of Guadeloupe. He was raised in Paris and studied at the French business school Ecole de Management Léonard De Vinci graduating with a Master's Degree in Management. Around the same time he graduated, he had an injury that stopped his athletics carreer.

Sports
Between 2002 and 2007, he trained as an athlete with the French national team juniors, heading towards a career as a track and field athlete in sprint and relays particularly in 110m hurdles and 4x100 metres.

Monfret competed at Young 3 level between 2002 and 2003 and in 2005 in INT A: 1 level with the French clubs Essonne Athletic (from 2004 to 2006 and in Are Montgeron in 2007. He took part in track and field athletic events held in Spain, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Estonia and Russia. He got injured forcing him to quit his athletic career. He trained under the supervision of coached Patrick Morth - Renaud Longuèvre


 * Accolades:
 * 2001: Junior National Champion - 110m hurdles
 * 2002: Espoire 2nd National Champion - 110m hurdles
 * 2003: Espoire National Champion - 60m hurdles
 * 2003: Espoire National Champion - 110m hurdles
 * 2004: Espoire National Champion - 60m hurdles
 * 2005: Senior 4 Elite National Champion - 110m hurdles

Modelling career
When Monfret was 19, he got discovered as a model on the streets of Paris. It was not what he was looking for but the income lowed him to more easily pursue school and sports. After his first shoot for WAD magazine, he was booked for appearances in well-known publications like Vogue and Benetton. In 2004, he appeared on the annual Dieux du stade: Le making of du calendrier 2004 amongst other athletes. he is also featured in Amor Causa by photographer François Rousseau, Sleepless by Thomas Synnamon, and Modelland by Tyra Banks.

For his international modelling career, Monfret did campaigns for brands like L’Oreal, Ralph Lauren and Sean John, advertisements of Macy’s, Giordano, Carrera and he has been on the covers of GQ, PREF mag and Men's Health.

After moving to New York, he was recruited by rapper and singer Nicki Minaj. He was spotted walking along the streets and was recruited, the video has over 48 million views. Monfret starred in her video for "Right Thru Me", where he played her love interest, it released October 27, 2010 on MTV.

Due in part to his French-Caribbean origin and his international profile, Monfret was hired as the touristic spokesman of Guadeloupe Islands. He made a series of five episodes by the Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board titled "Let me show you my Islands" in which he gave an insider's look at the Guadeloupe Islands touristic venues.

Music career
Monfret has also shown great interest in music and DJ’ing. In 2011 he released his first track "Fux" featuring GLOWINTHEDARK on the Dirty Dutch Music label. The track was picked as a track in dance compilation albums like Dirty Dutch Ibiza 2011 and Ultimate Dutch Dance Anthems compilations. Starting as an open format DJ, he later switched to house music. His musical style can be described as Latin house with a French/Caribbean twist.

He has opened for events during the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 and has had several residencies like Club Volar (Hong Kong). and Greenhouse (New York). For his DJ career he has played in several night venues in Australia, Asia, United States of America, and South Africa,.

Discography

 * Singles


 * Remixes
 * 2011
 * "Sexy and I Know It" – DJ Kash, Fame Luck and Willy Monfret (Booty Remix)
 * Eric Morillo vs Chuckie – Willy Monfret remix
 * Kaskade vs Congorock – Willy Monfret remix


 * 2012
 * Jaguar Drum live – Willy Monfret rework
 * Epic Conga Bootleg – DJ Kash, Fame Luck and Willy Monfret
 * Calvin Harris - "Feel So Close" – Willy Monfret (sexy bootleg)


 * 2013
 * Circus (Fame Luck & Willy Monfret) vs Rita Ora (RIP)
 * Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Can't Hold Us" – Fame Luck & Willy Monfret remix

Acting career
Monfret had the lead role in Love Bug, a short film directed by Ramazan Nanayev. It premiered on 9 January 2014 at the Tribeca Screening Room. In this romantic comedy, he plays a guy who is bitten by an exotic bug and contracts a rare disease that makes him fall for every woman at first sight.