Jon Kortajarena

Career

Early life and career

Kortajarena was born in Bilbao, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. He was discovered in September 2003 while vacationing in Barcelona and accompanying a friend who was invited to attend a fashion show. While there, a booker noticed him and persuaded him to give the fashion world a go. His first professional experience was in a Madrid Fashion Week show for Roberto Verino. He left Bilbao, his hometown, and ventured into the fashion industry in Paris. In 2004, at the age of 18, Kortajarena became the face of Just Cavalli for Roberto Cavalli's spring campaign which quickly jet started his career. He made his international fashion show debut at the fall Milan and Paris fashion weeks for Emporio Armani and John Galliano. Two months later, in New York, Steven Meisel photographed him for Versace. Kortajarena's other runway credentials include walking for Chanel, Versace, Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Salvatore Ferragamo, Carolina Herrera, Giorgio Armani, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gautier, and Valentino in Milan and Paris. Kortajarena appeared in a commercial for the sugar-free Fanta Z "Mediterraneo", a TV ad in 2005 which poked fun at the departed Fanta Lite. Its content, though, quickly drew complaints in Britain and it eventually became restricted to the post-9 PM broadcasts.

2007–2009

In 2007, Kortajarena signed with Guess and renewed his contract again in 2008. With new campaigns on the stands, Terry Richardson photographed Kortajarena for Tom Ford alongside Noah Mills and became the label's signature male model for the next consecutive seasons. He was featured on the cover of the spring/summer 2008 issue of L'Officiel Hommes magazine, devoting him 200 pages, with the cover title reading "200 Pages of Fashion with Jon Kortajarena".

It was the first time a male model had achieved this and consequently it became a reference in the industry; other models to follow such honor were Andres Velencoso and Arthur Sales. For the 2009 spring men's wear and eyewear advertising campaigns Jon was art directed and photographed, for the first time, by Tom Ford himself.

On 26 June 2009, Forbes published its list of "The World's 10 Most Successful Male Models" ranking Kortajarena in 8th place. In November Kortajarena was named by German GQ as "Model of the Year". Spain's Marie Claire awards Prix de la Moda awarded him "Best Spanish Model" for 2009.

2010–present

Breaking into 2010 with ad campaigns for H&M, True Trussardi and Esprit; Kortajarena modeled alongside Alexa Chung for Pepe Jeans fall/winter Campaign. He was in the Next autumn/winter campaign and in its TV advert that launched on 10 September, alongside Emanuela de Paula.

In 2011 he was selected as one of the models to star in Lacoste's $66 million new advertising concept under the new tagline, "Unconventional Chic". The ads were shot by Mert and Marcus showing models wearing the iconic white Lacoste polo shirts worn over eveningwear. He fronted the cover of the March 2011 issue of Vogue Spain alongside Anja Rubik and compatriot Andres Velencoso. Described as "an icon of charm and masculinity", Kortajarena was chosen as the protagonist for the special video version of Roberto Cavalli Men's Spring/Summer 2012 runway and opened the show held at the Palazzo Serbelloni in Milan. For the fall campaigns he became the face of David Yurman for the third consecutive time and was photographed by legendary photographer Peter Lindbergh.

Kortajarena played Alex in one episode of the 2020 Amazon Prime Video series Tales from the Loop.

Personal life

Kortajarena speaks Basque, Spanish, and English. He went to an ikastola school until he was 10 years old, but due to traveling he went on to enroll in public, private, and Catholic schools thereafter. His mother is a hairdresser and she often styles his hair. If he was not modeling he would be a full-time actor; however, he notes that interior designing and photography are some fields he has always been curious about. His hobbies include watching films, reading books by Hermann Hesse, sunbathing, going to the mountains with friends, and listening to music. He describes himself as an 'ultimate romantic'. Some of his favorite novels include Perfume, The Wheel of Life by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and Siddhartha. Between 2014 and 2016, Kortajarena dated Welsh actor Luke Evans.

Ad campaigns

TV spot

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video

References

References

1. [http://www.tifdb.com/models/jon_kortajarena/330 The Internet Fashion Database – Jon Kortajarena] {{webarchive. link. (5 May 2010)
2. "StackPath".
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5. [https://www.forbes.com/2009/06/26/male-models-fashion-business-media-models_slide_9.html Forbes: The World's 10 Most Successful Male Models]
6. (14 May 2009). "Jon Kortajarena y Cristina Tosio". G+J España.
7. (13 February 2008). "Spanish Hottie Jon Kortajarena Nabs 200 Pages in 'L'Officiel Hommes'". New York Media LLC.
8. Pearlman, Julia. (6 July 2005). "er's Fanta Z TV ad gets restriction after kids copy spitting". Haymarket Media.
9. (16 February 2010). "It's Official!". models.com.
10. Plattner, Seth. (11 December 2008). "Models we love: Jon Kortajarena (and his foot fetish)". Out.com.
11. Steph, Alek. (10 March 2009). "WHERE THERE'S SHOES...".
12. Scheidnes, Jean. (3 February 2009). "Tom Ford, Lensman...". Fairchild Fashion Group.
13. "Jon Kortajarena is GQ Germany's Model of the Year!".
14. "Jon Kortajarena, Prix Marie Claire Mejor Modelo Español". Marie Claire.
15. Barker, Barbara. (14 January 2010). "Rising Stars: Young Celebrities on Their Way Up". Fairchild Fashion Group.
16. White, Belinda. (6 August 2010). "Alexa Chung upstaged by M.O.M (model of the moment)". The Daily Telegraph.
17. (10 September 2010). "Next goes continental for latest TV ad". Mad.co.uk.
18. (28 December 2010). "Memo Pad: Lacoste's New Look... Hail, Mario Testino...".
19. Odell, Amy. (4 March 2011). "Anja Rubik Covers Spanish Vogue All Smoky-Eyed; Martin Margiela Launches Fragrance".
20. Cavalli, Roberto. (27 June 2011). "Roberto Cavalli Man Spring Summer 2012 Fashion Show". Youtube.
21. "Roberto Cavalli Tweet".
22. Carl. (18 May 2011). "Q&A Exclusive: Jon Kortajarena for David Yurman Fall 2011 Campaign". The Fashionisto.
23. Segura, Aurora. (17 April 2011). "Jon Kortajarena". Magazine.
24. MONTES-FERNÁNDEZ, JESÚS MARÍA. (20 August 2009). "Jon Kortajarena: "El flequillo es mérito de mi madre, que es peluquera"". Unidad Editorial Internet, S.L..
25. Hernandez, Clara. (26 April 2010). "Jon Kortajarena: un hombre soltero... pero únicamente porque él quiere". Multiprensa & Mas S.L..
26. (29 January 2017). "Luke Evans splits from Jon Kortajarena From 2014 to 2016, Kortarajena was dating British actor Luke Evans and has been dating fellow actress Alejandra Onieva for several years.". The Times of India.