Survival of the Coolest
from latimes.com
‘Survivor: Africa’ winner goes native in Perry Ellis and Jane Seymour tries on a new role for New York’s Fashion Week.
By MICHAEL QUINTANILLA, TIMES STAFF WRITER
NEW YORK–For 39 days, Ethan Zohn, the $1-million winner of CBS’ “Survivor: Africa,” unabashedly paraded on the tube in basic shorts and not much else. But when it came time for Zohn, 28, to change into Perry Ellis wear for his first modeling gig on a runway, the shy guy hid behind a rack of clothes.
“It’s pretty daunting being back here,” Zohn said after the show about the experience. “This is the last place on Earth I’d ever thought I’d be–but the clothes are very cool.”
Not much of a clotheshorse, Zohn, a professional soccer player, prefers sportswear off the field too. “During ‘Survivor,’ all I was allowed to pack was one T-shirt, one pair of shorts, one pair of pants, one sweatshirt, one hat and two pairs of socks.” Zohn still likes to keep his look simple. “I just wear what’s comfortable–not much. Besides, what I really liked I never was able to afford.”
But, hey, you’ve got a million bucks now, buddy.
“That money is in the bank,” he said and then quickly added, “but there are some pretty nice suits back here I’d like to take a look at.”