"Zombie Boy" Rick Genest "Covers" Up For Dermablend

Rick Genest has quickly become the world's most popular male model.  Since appearing in designer Thierry Mugler's menswear show in January, he was instantly recognizable.  It's easy to see why...

In the following months, Rick has gained notoriety as an inspiration of sorts to Lady Gaga, making a featured appearance in her 'Born This Way' video.

It appears that "Zombie Boy" is branching out in his modeling endeavors lately.  A video has surfaced in the last week starring Genest, that is a departure from his normal modeling work.  In fact, if you didn't know any better, you would initially think that this commercial was filmed before he had any tattoos.  Take a look.

What an ad.

The brand is called Dermablend.  They currently offer three products:  a leg and body primer, a leg and body cover and a setting powder.  It appears to be a three step/layered process.  Each piece of the puzzle costs between $22 and $27.  Altogether for the set, you're looking at about $74.

In 2011, everyone has a tattoo.  Some people are able to hide them.  Others of us simply can't due to the size or location of their artwork.  While many of us cringe at the notion of having to cover up at work, we all know too well how difficult it is to find a decent paying job in today's economy.  

Other cosmetic companies have attempted to market their own "tattoo concealer", and have had little success.    Two years ago, Sephora introduced a product that was modeled by Kat Von D.  Photos later surfaced of Kat wearing the makeup, without a substantial amount of Photoshopping.  

This is how Sephora's ad campaign wanted you to believe their product worked:

This is what it really did to your skin:

Those aren't chemical burns.

On the surface (no pun intended), Dermablend seems to be the real deal.  According to Dermablend's site, their team used four 3.4 ounce tubes of leg and body cover to conceal his artwork.  The entire process was filmed in one take. 

Genest is taking advantage of the avenues that this cosmetic process is affording him.  Earlier this month, using the Dermablend products, makeup artists were able to create a "Zombie Boy 2.0" if you will, for a layout in Schön! Magazine.  The results were stunning.

Going beyond the cover, indeed.  What a beautiful man.

It Has Been An Wonderful Two Years. Thank You.

Note:  Please forgive me.  I have a lot on my mind.  This may not be the most well written article, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Tomorrow will be the start of the third year of "The Twitch".  I started the blog as a way to vent my frustrations. It was a journal of sorts.  A hobby that didn't involve shooting zombies.

The following two years have been nothing short of amazing.  The more I wrote, the more I started to become a writer.  To look back at some of the dribble that was typed out in the early days is embarrassing.  Please don't read the archives.  LOL.  The entire theme of my website has changed over time.  Looking at my page today, you would have no idea that I started by discussing my issues with Tourette's and PTSD.

I have taken a more active role in politics.  I have also stepped up, and become somewhat of an activist on LGBT issues, especially those that effect the bisexual community.  I even came out on this page.  More than anything, this page has become an outlet for me to discuss my religious upbringing, and the consequences that followed because of it.  I don't know where my mind would be without having this outlet.

Since September 2009, some posts have been more popular than others.  Believe it or not, a story about "Zombie Boy" Rick Genest, the tattooed gentleman in Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' video, is the most popular thus far.  Though the article was written in March of this year, it is responsible for almost 25% of all traffic to the website, since it's launch two years ago.  Six months after it's debut, it is still viewed six times for every click that the next most popular story receives each day.  Insane.

It was around that time that things really started to take off for "The Twitch".  In fact, 82% of my total site views have been since March 1st, and the page has 30 times the monthly views that it did at the beginning of the year.  This is no longer a hobby.  It is a profession.  I tell people that I am a blogger.

That's the reason why you may have noticed some changes to the page recently.  "The Daily Twitch", while a catchy title, was already taken as a URL.  Turns out, there is an advertising blog of the same name in Australia.  So, after 18+ months, it was time for a change.  "The Twitch Online" was born.  There may be a number of additional, minor changes coming soon in the way of layout.

I want to thank everyone for reading my page.  For getting a laugh every now and then.  For those that take time to comment.  Those who share my articles on Facebook and Twitter.

I would like to thank a few of the readers that have followed me early on (Those whose names I know, at least.)  Casey, Rachel and Melissa, thank you for sticking with me through some really shitty posts.  LOL.  To my subscribers, thank you for waking up with me.  Sometimes, I don't know what any of you see in this website, but it's nice to know that you see something worthwhile.

Here's to another fantastic year.

Lady Gaga Premieres 'Government Hooker' At Mugler Show

Lady Gaga has padded her resume' quite a bit over the last couple of years.  Grammy Award winning singer, activist, philanthropist.  As of yesterday, you can add runway model to the list.  The "mother monster" herself walked the catwalk at Thierry Mugler's Paris women's collection.

The catwalk layout was impressive, to say the least, featuring an immense network of gothic wooden archways.  The models criss crossed each other, back and forth, as they made their way toward those in attendance.  The soundtrack was provided by Gaga, featuring a new track entitled 'Government Hooker', reportedly recorded specifically for the event.  It was then followed by a remix of 'Born This Way'.  Toward the end of the show, even "Zombie Boy", Rick Genest made an appearance on the catwalk.



In the last few weeks, one thing has become abundantly clear in the fashion industry:  Thierry Mugler and designer Nicola Formichetti know how to put on one hell of a show.

Who Is Lady Gaga's New Tattooed Muse?

Who is this man?

That is a question that has been floating around the internet for the last six weeks.  He first achieved notoriety when he was featured in Gaga's remix video for 'Scheiße', in collaboration with Thierry Mugler's recent men's fashion show (in which he was also a featured model).  As many of us of seen the video for 'Born This Way', he's prominently featured in what may possibly be the most popular video of the year, if not, the era.  Not only has this individual become an obvious muse for both Gaga and Mugler, but at the moment, he is the most in demand and most talked about male model in the fashion industry.  Who is he.

His name is Rick Genest.  The tattoo/body modification world knows him as "Zombie Boy".  He has actually been somewhat of a celebrity within body mod circles for the last five or six years, garnering press in practically every tattoo magazine and body modification blog on earth.  By many, he is considered the most tattooed man on the planet.

He keeps his personal information pretty close to the chest.  Though many articles and interviews have been written in the last 5 years on Rick, chronicling the progress of his artwork, not much has been written about Rick himself.  Numerous pieces are quoted to call him "twenty something", although at this time, he looks like he could pass for 30.  Earlier articles refer to him as "Rick from Montreal", but nothing is said about where he hails from currently.  He is an enigma.  Perhaps that is how he prefers it.  To think that someone that so obviously stands out can have such a personal life.  This is one of the only pictures know to exist of Rick Genest before his amazing transformation.  He is the gentleman on the left.

The tattoo world really started to take notice of Rick in the later part of 2006.  His artist at the time, Frank, at Derm FX Tattoo, in Montreal, submitted a couple photos of Mr. Genest to BME, a body modification blog and e-zine.  They immediately posted a piece about what they saw:

"Damn!!!! I really think this is the most intense facial tattoo I’ve ever seen in terms of radically transforming a person’s interaction with the rest of the world… and speaking as someone with a facial tattoo, I definitely feel like this is going to be a shock to his system. Very, very intense; I’m seriously impressed at the size of his FTW balls… Turning your face into a death mask is, just… wow…"

At the time, I don't think BME, or the rest of the world for that matter, understood the extent of the journey that Rick had in mind.  This was going to become more than just a facial tattoo.  This was a transformation.  He was becoming a new identity; an evolved form of the modern man.  By June 2008, it was reported that he had spent nearly $4,100 dollars Canadian on tattoos and over 24 hours in the artists chair.

Since then, it is apparent that he has still had extensive artwork done to complete the vision of himself.  I read in an interview that was done with Bizarre Magazine in 2008, that his mom cried when he first received tattoos on the tops of his hands.  She was afraid that he would never be able to find a job.  He is currently the most recognizable male fashion model on earth, and likely to be sign a multi-million dollar modeling contract by year's end.

 Rick Genest is truly one of the most unique and most beautiful men I have ever had the privilege of seeing in my 35 years of life.  He is an outstanding example that "different" can be extraordinary, and that, what one perceives as "ugly", others can see as sublime.  Every time I see a photo of him, I have to stop to take him in. He is more than human at this point.  He has become a piece of art.  He is a combination of everything that makes him grotesque, resplendent, shocking, poetic, and grand.  He is Rick Genest.