Colin Steers Credit: Bravo photo
Last summer, Colin Steers was a 21-year-old bookworm huddled in the University’s neuroscience department and might have been considered a late bloomer. But when his flower bloomed, it bloomed big—on a Bravo reality show. Steers went from studying the neurological effect of stroke and epilepsy in Dr. Kevin Lee’s lab to being cast as the “hot nerd” on this season’s Make Me a Supermodel. Although he was eliminated by the judges after eight episodes, Steers says the experience was worthwhile.
“There’s no way I didn’t grow from this,” Steers says. “It was a pretty ridiculous life experience. I didn’t realize I needed it, but I did.”
On the show, Steers occupied a Clark Kent role, the bespectacled scientist with a strong chin and weak knees around girls. But he made for good TV with his sharp wit, self-deprecating jokes and musings on his virginity.
“When I signed up for this show, I knew I was different from most characters you see on reality TV,” Steers says. “I don’t like referring to myself as a character, but that’s what it is. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t sit around talking about my virginity all day.”
Steers, whose father is the chair of the urology department at U.Va., was on track to become a doctor. He studied hard and spent summers in various labs. He was supposed to be applying to medical schools this coming year. Instead, he’ll be moving to New York City to try to land a contract at a modeling agency. “I definitely want to pursue modeling now and strike while the iron’s hot,” says Steers, fully aware of the fleeting nature of reality star fame. “I always planned on taking a couple years off before medical school, and now, if I go back, maybe I’ll be able to pay for it myself.”
It might seem counter-intuitive that someone as academically driven as Steers would be fulfilled by modeling, but he insists that he is. “My physical self never had any impact on my grades, but that’s half of me, how I look. Now I have a totally different skill set. I’m working toward a more fully realized self.”
Since the show, Steers says he is more positive and outgoing. “I didn’t realize the kind of image I was projecting. It’s something I never really analyzed.”
Sandhurst Miggins and Colin Steers from Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel Season 2. Credit: Bravo photo
On the show, Steers’ appearance was analyzed constantly and in front of a large national audience. Each week, he modeled in themed photo shoots, the settings of which ran the gamut from the Old West to underwater. The judges, including supermodel Tyson Beckford, ultimately decided Steers was a neuroscientist in a male model’s clothes.
Steers agrees. “I was acting like a male model, faking it until I made it, because that was all I had to go on. But I didn’t know that until I looked at the footage. I didn’t realize really what was involved in modeling until the very end.”
Steers has come a long way from the kid who had to ask his mother’s permission to drive to New York for the audition, which he kept secret from his father. Now his dad is one of his biggest fans. “He reads online forums about the show every day and forwards me comments he thinks are funny,” Steers says. “I haven’t asked him, but I think he appreciates the time off [from academia] I’m getting right now.”
Steers is unsure where he’ll end up in the next few years—in a lab coat or on the runway. “I’m not worried,” Steers says. “Whichever path pulls me harder, I’ll go there.”
Comments
"Steers, whose father is the chair of the urology department at U.Va., was on track to become a doctor. He studied hard and spent summers in various labs. He was supposed to be applying to medical schools this coming year. Instead, he’ll be moving to New York City to try to land a contract at a modeling agency". His old man must be doing back flips. What a letdown! And this guy wants to strike while the iron's hot!! He wouldn't know a hot iron from a steam bath. Very. very uninspirational. And let's not blame these mindless reality shows. They are what they are. What puzzles me is what made a future neuroscientist make such a mindless choice.
you know, I really don't think this is the sort of story that best showcases the prospects and possibilities afforded to those who seek to pursue the intellectual and professional possibilities afforded to U.Va. students. Truly, I would think that my alma mater is above touting the success of one of its students as a reality television star. Frankly, it's rather gauche.
Lighten up, people. The idea that only serious academic work is a worthwhile experience is false.
Lighten up folks! The world is full of experiences - some silly and some serious. This article might just inspire someone to spread their wings and become a happier human being.
Agree, quit being so obtuse. He said he learned a lot from the experience, which is all that matters. I applaude him for taking time away from the rigors of academics to learn a new skill set. Further, note that Colin was never a student, but worked in the lab. His family supported him on this show 110%, and he originally applied for this show as a joke. Since when did UVA alums become so stiff?!?
Give him a break--sounds like this is a financial decision and an attempt at independence. Scientists are human too and need space: he'll be a better doctor/researcher as a result (unless he's on the verge of some breakthrough and in that case...he should think carefully about his choices).
You can always go back and become a nerdy neuroscientist at Uva. Colin would be a real nerd for not taking a shot at being a model,given his notoriety that he earned.
Hey, the chance to make money - real money - at 21 can't be passed up. Besides, wouldn't it be refreshing if all physicians gained some "real world" experience before actually practicing medicine? The vast majority of the "Kindergarten-MD" set are the most boring, homogenized, stereotypically aloof people I know, so having a doc with a sense for how the world REALLY works would be quite refreshing.
I'm not intimidated by the cried to "lighten up" -- that Colin could simply abandon medical studies to pursue some meretricious off-shoot of television at its most crass and vulgar is something akin to a Ben Stiller or Sasha Baron Cohen movie. Just what exactly has he "learned" from this experience that's remotely worthwhile? The man is deluding himself, and it is a pity the magazine is colluding in his delusion by presenting this froth as though it were a story of achievement worth emulating.
Congrats to Colin for having an adventure so off the beaten path of academia! While UVa isn't generally noted for producing reality stars, it is noted for being home to and encouraging people who think outside the box, which is exactly what Colin is doing. Taking time off before medical school is a great idea, and if Colin can earn enough to finance his medical career, what's the loss? If he ever goes to med school, he won't end up being one more burned-out student, especially one who regrets never having taken a chance on an opportunity to learn about an area of life that's new and intriguing to him.
Could we have a little truth in advertising? Colin is not a neuroscientist--yet.
I'm not exactly sure how "real world" modeling is--it certainly isn't Wall Street or Main Street. I wish Colin all the best but I'm not really sure a male supermodel actually exists. After trying his hand at modelling he may not want to go to med school, and there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, we don't need another miserable doctor on our hands!
Sounds like Philip is jealous. Betcha wish you were that cute and smart! Why not take every opportunity you can? At least his life won't be boring.
Why shouldn't he do things while he is young and make money too! A voice of experience, if you wait there is not later because life happens, responsibilities, etc. etc. I think it's great he's going to take a break, possible make money to support himself for the future. I don't think he should be put down for it and think some need to open their minds because it seems it got stuck in a book somewhere closed to anything. "lighten up" was quite befitting.
I appreciate that there are some people out there who have more dimensions to their personalities than just academics. Sounds like some of you out there could afford to learn more about yourselves. If you need an academic way to understand that there is more to life beyond academics perhaps you should read "Wit."
How entirely unsurprising. An assortment of graduates that are getting their butt hurt over this person having fun with his life. Best of luck to Colin.
"Just what exactly has he “learned” from this experience that’s remotely worthwhile?" How not to be a stuck up prig, for starters. I know models, and here's what they learn: they learn how to manage their time. They learn how to manage their money, pay self-employment taxes, deal with agents, deal with clients who try to stiff them on payment (on the assumption that they are just dumb models), travel to other places, and perhaps most importantly, work pleasantly with people who are different from them and who they may not like. In short, many of the same kinds of things that are learned by young people who take time off to be ski instructors or wait tables or backpack through Europe. Life isn't either/or. Med school isn't cheap. This young man has an option most of us do not. He can always go back to school. Anyone who wants to do research in neuroscience would be well-served to observe how non-academic types think. As a bit of a hottie rock star himself in the day, TJ would be proud.
Wow! Let's bash a kid for taking a chance, shall we? What did he learn? It was something so foreign to him; merely interacting with so many different people from 'all walks of life’…seeing new places...what is not to learn? Shame on anyone for condemning a person for trying; exploring and just 'going for it'. I guess there are lots of 'ugly nerds' out there who are just so spiteful; and I bet they are all crying tears of jealousy on the inside. (BTW: Well said dagger.)
There is a time limit on modeling, there is none on becoming a doctor. After Colin is done with his modeling career, he can go back to med school and not live life with regrets.
I think this article is great. Especially for undergrads. You do not have to follow a set path. He has set himself up for a great life. He can follow his passion either way. I'm sure some will see his ability to "fall back" on his neuroscience degree negatively as opposed to this being is first choice, but this is something many people emphasize to athletes all the time and there does not seem to be much of a problem with it then. I see this as a great opportunity that anyone would be happy to have.
One of my classmates in grad school was also a model. She did the Paris and Milan shows only. It paid for school. No one thought less of her because she modeled. She was bright, articulate and more aware of the world than the rest of us. In the end, it made her a better professional. Good luck Colin!
I hope critics of Colin don’t seriously think he has decided to forgo his future as a doctor so he can become a model. Please give Colin and his family more credit than that. They have done an excellent job raising him thus far so let’s not pass judgment so quickly. Finally, my sister modeled with Ford Models, Inc. before medical school. She is entering residency at Yale. I think she made the right choice, and it would be foolish for Colin to throw away such a great opportunity.
Great read! Thanks UVA mag!
I, for one, hope he goes out and recruits more models to enter the study of neuroscience. What field couldn't use a few more pretty faces? Colin is an ambassador to beautiful people everywhere and I think he should be treated as such. Free parking at the Rotunda and diplomatic immunity on the runway.
As a UVa grad and scientist, I applaud Colin's decision to give modeling a shot. I spent my "time off" between undergrad and grad school working in a lab. I did have a leg up when I got to grad school, but it wasn't critical to my development as a scientist. I wish I had done something completely different, or just traveled more, because once you are in grad school or med school that's pretty much that. You never have the freedom you have in those few years after college again. So to all those undergrads reading this article - go do something crazy! Grad school/med school/law school/whatever can wait a year.
As a residency director, I have no problem with Colin's decision to round out his life experience prior to pursuit of a medical career. The psychosocial moratorium induced by the lock step traditional educational route leaves many residents ill prepared to deal with the interpersonal demands of training. I do find the juxtaposition of stories on human trafficking and reality TV modeling fascinating. I think society underestimates the tacit support that the current epidemic of mass voyeurism lends to human exploitation.
I'm surprised that noone commented on the obvious lesson he learned: what it's like to be "under a microscope". Colin's dad is a wonderful role model, professor, physician and friend who treats patients with utmost respect. Whatever Colin discovers about notoriety and peddling flesh he will analyze and evaluate with the UVA metality. He could very well be on the verge of some breakthrough and without self-actualization not see the big picture. I say give the young man our respect and vote of confidence as he grapples with life's decision-making process. It would be a hypocrisy of the values and ideals we learned at UVA to wish him anything less than real success.
His practice is going to get swamped by female patients!
Perhaps this is excellent training: The new Dean of the Medical School is a "Rock Star of Science" and a (rather frumpy by comparison) male model in a recent GQ. Not very many of us can predict at 21 what life will look like at 51, and Colin's hasn't burned any bridges with this move. It's a tad distressing to see so many folks who rush to judgment--the kid obviously has involved parents who can advise him!
Wow - what a range of comments! I agree with the people who are cheering on Colin. At 21, you need some time to figure out who you actually are and become who you're supposed to be. I think through my year or two of life experiences between college and grad school, I learned a LOT about myself and how strong I actually was. I know that translates into a more rounded personality and ability to deal with a variety of situations and people. Who wants another doctor who doesn't know how to deal with people or understand how others think? I'm sure that Colin, through interacting with so many different people from all walks of life, has learned a lot about himself, and that is an absolute necessity to really be content with oneself and where you end up in life and with the decisions one has made. Go for it, Colin!
OMG did you know this guy went to UVA?!?!?!?!
Colin didn't go to UVa, he wasn't a student. He couldn't find work so his connections landed him some busy work in a lab while he took classes at a community college.
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