OHLALA BOYS!

PARIS BLOGGERS ALEK AND STEPH TAKE ON WEHO

By Brad Oliphant

Aleksandar and Stephane

Over two million people each month log onto OhLaLaMag.com, the internationally acclaimed blog magazine about fabulous people, style, culture, entertainment, and travel. What began in early 2003 as a journal for founders Aleksandar Tomovic and Stephane Marquet, has grown into a multimedia empire with seven spin-off niche blogs including HotinHollywood.tv, Manchic.com and Outnext.com.

But there's more to Aleksandar and Stephane - the OhLaLa boys, as they are affectionately known â than their popular blogs.   Since moving their company headquarters from Paris to California, the stylish pair have given fans something else to say Ohlala! about: their photography of gorgeous men.

How did you become the OhLaLa boys?

Alek: In 2003, we had an idea to launch a blog called OhLaLaParis. It was before most people even knew what blogs were.  It started as a travel diary for our friends where we would share stories and photos from our daily adventures.

Steph:  Then the blog became more popular with people we didnât know.  All of a sudden, we were getting recognized on the street and being written about in Paris newspapers.  But the US media were the first to start calling us the OhLaLa Boys. We like it.

Were you surprised by the success of OhLaLaParis.com?

Alek: We were stunned by the success and five years later, we still are! Itâs incredible.

Why did you change the name of the blog to OhLaLaMag.com?

Steph: The blog's identity is simply evolving with us.  Since we spend most of our time traveling out of Paris, it was no longer accurate to keep the name to one location.

Alek: Our subjects are international; our readers are too.  We changed the name to reflect that.  

In addition to OhLaLaMag, you produce several other blogs including OutinHollywood.tv and ManChic.com.

Steph: We have a wide range of interests â from design to fashion to movies.  It would be too much to combine everything into one blog.  Outnext.com focuses on design, architecture, decoration and gadgets. ManChic.com is the ultimate male fashion guide and HotInHollywood.tv is about the amazing city of Los Angeles!

How do you find the time to produce all of the blogs?

Steph: Weâve found the secret to extending the 24 hour day.  Traveling between Paris and LA adds nine hours!  Itâs great!

Alek: Seriously, we spend an unhealthy amount of time in front of our computers, but itâs worth it.  We love what we do and we love being our own bosses.  We donât have to answer to anybody except each other.   

In the past few months, you have also become recognized for your photography. 

Steph: I have actually been a photographer for over ten years.  But only recently have I begun to explore it as a new business.

What is the ultimate mission in your work?

Alek: We are trying to discover the meaning of real beauty.

Would you classify yourselves as label queens?

Alek: Not really. We live in a world that is overcrowded with labels, and we have nothing against it, but we think that the most important thing is individuality and uniqueness.

You photograph your models in D&G and Louis Vuitton.  Can guys look just as good in Levis and The Gap?

Steph: I actually love Levis and some seasons, The Gap actually produces some interesting items!

Alek: What clothing does Steph look best in? 

Alek: Steph looks great in anything or nothing!  I think he looks best in jeans and v-neck t-shirt.

Steph: What clothing does Steph look best in? 

Steph: Armani, but then who doesnât look their best in Armani?

What three tips would you offer to the well groomed guy?

Steph: Keep it natural. If you have body hair, don't try to get rid of it.  If you have grey hair, don't color it. The worst thing I see on guys are over-waxed eyebrows. I think Julian McMahon from Nip Tuck is a good example of really hot looking guy who should leave the wax aside. When a model arrives and apologizes for not shaving or trimming his hair, I always say the same thing: "Perfect!  Don't touch anything!"

Alek: I donate like clothing that is oversized. It's important that clothes fit. 

Can unattractive men make themselves attractive?

Steph: Definitely.  Attitude is most important, Self confidence is essential, as long as it doesnât fall into arrogance. We have a friend who is really good looking but never gets noticed because he doesnât feel good about his looks.   You have to work the room.

What attracted you to shoot our cover model, Brett?

Steph: Brett Novek is a really talented actor and has more than just looks. He is an amazing person.  We had a lot of fun working with him.

How was the shoot?

Alek: It takes some time for a photographer to create a connection with a model. The first photos rarely turn out to be the best ones, but with Brett, he was perfect from the first image.

Who are some of the best male models working today?

Steph: Chad White is doing a great job.  He is a hard worker and has a great look, plus heâs funny!  Gaylen is an up-and-coming model.  I think this will be his year.

Is there anyone you would love to shoot?

Steph: I have to admit that I love shooting unknown models as much as famous people; but we met Channing Tatum and man, I would love to shoot him!

Alek: I would love to do a photo session with Madonna. I know that is so gay of me, but I think the older she gets, the more beautiful she is.

How do you select the designers that you feature in your shoots?

Steph: It depends on the magazine you shoot for. Some won't show this or that brand, and some want to show a specific brand. So most of the time, it is not up to us.

What trends will be big this summer?

Alek: The colors will be white, light grey, beige, gold and silver.

Steph:  Bikinis will be hot for men this summer.  Every great designer is introducing new sleek bikinis.

Where do you see menâs style going in the next year?

Steph: Next winter will be all about designer Johm Galliano.  His fashions are really innovative - casual yet classy.

Will you be featuring him in your newest online venture, Bellomag.com?

Alek:  Without a doubt.  Bellomag.comâs tagline is âThe Alphabet for Modern Menâ.  It covers fashion, cars, gadgets, accessories, grooming - and subscriptions are free! 

Is paper going the way of the cd?  Do you think style magazines will soon go digital?

Alek:  Digital is the way to go.  It is more convenient and ecologically friendlier.

Steph:  But we still buy the paper magazines, at least for now.

What's next for the OhLaLa empire?

Steph:  We have something really ambitious planned, but we canât unveil it yet.

Alek:  Let's just say that our jet lag will not be over soon.

What's next for Alek and Steph?

Alek:  We are working on a photography book and an exhibition. 

Steph:  And get used to seeing more and more of us here in California.  We love it here!  The sunsets are our great inspiration.

For additional info on the OhLaLa Boys, visit alekandsteph.com.

Los Angeles, and to an even greater degree, West Hollywood, for Gay men in particular, worships the young, chiseled male.  Many of us strive to emulate the poster boys we see in the books, magazines, and billboards all around us.

Last week I turned 40.   I suppose I should have accepted my fate like the adult that I now am, but DAMNIT!  IT SUCKS! 

My profile:  I came out at 19, and the first time I set foot in a gay club I was the center of attention.  It was a new experience for a small-town loner like myself, and I began to develop an addiction.  The club life helped bring me out of my shell.  I was never so naive as to think that these people who hadn't seen any deeper than my skin were interested in me as a person, but it felt good getting all that stroking, (literally and figuratively). 

When I moved to Los Angeles, I quickly blended in with the many faceless bodies, so I decided I'd better at least have a faceless body with muscles.  I hit the gym with the voracity of a tiger, and within a couple of years gained nearly 30 lbs of mass and attained "the look" that everyone around me seemed to be promoting and desiring. 

Next it was time to play with "the big boys", i.e. the circuit. Looking back, I have no regrets about my circuit days. I will largely remember them as fun times in the company of guys who knew how to have fun and let go (sometimes too much).  I gotta say, circuit boys do know how to have fun!!  The music was great, the sex was great, and I even made some friends whom I remain close to even now. 

40 marks a time where many of us reflect back on our past accomplishments (and short-comings), and look to the future with a more realistic bent than we had in our younger days where our lives were so much ahead of us.  My brothers' and sisters' lives now belong mostly to their children; living legacies who will hopefully be there for them when they reach their elderly ages.  Their church, their friends, and face it, their marriage and finances all contribute to the strength of the relationship.  That's not to say mutual love and respect aren't paramount, but these other factors play a defining role. Gay men are not so fortunate.

I was raised Catholic, so my religion certainly isn't behind me on any of my relationships.  My friends have enough trouble trying to find, let alone keep a boyfriend, but I do have some couple friends who provide support in my dating phases.  The media certainly doesn't help with their portrayals of us, but some shows are starting to gay couples in a long-term relationships.

So what's next for me?  Time to slow down. Some gays feel that we are at an advantage in that we don't have to be monogamous or try to emulate straight people in relationships. I'm with you there. I don't necessarily expect my boyfriend to be 100% monogamous - I enjoy being with someone else sexually on occasion. I do expect a mate to be committed and faithful to me as a person. And I'm completely respectful of guys who are in monogamous relationships.

Over the years I have surrounded myself with people whose lives have revolved around beauty, sex, and drugs.  My looks took me a long way, and I never was one of those stuck-up queens who wouldn't talk to someone because he wasn't a pretty WeHo boy, but I did live in the plastic world of fake friends.

Today I look in the mirror and that pretty boy has faded.  But inside I'm much different; older, wiser and ready to move on and look back with some really fond memories of fun and crazy times.  The day I knew would come some day has come.

There is a Sidewalk Talk topic on this site where a younger man is asking why many older men aren't interested in him.  Truthfully, many older guys would love to get a roll in the hay with the younger guys, but knowing rejection or a lack of communication and similarities will most likely end things (not to say 2 guys of similar age couldn't have the same problems), they avoid the pain and pass.

Life is an evolution, and we all have our own personal demons to face.  For those of us who are older, we have hopefully faced those demons: Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, Inability to Commit, Self-Centeredness, Vanity, Insecurity are all common hurdles we confront.

My lesson learned has been that our friends, family, and positive relationships are what's important.  I now look up to my elders, and particularly older gay couples who have been together for most of their lives.  They are a source of inspiration and insight, who are all too often overlooked by our community.  The loneliness felt by a widowed gay man can be intense; I've witnessed it myself. We need to be there for them.

I've come to realize the world is not about "Me! Me! Me!".  Maybe that's why so many WeHo relationships don't work.  The next time you're in a gay establishment, strike up a conversation with someone you're not sexually attracted to.  You might actually take something with you that is much more valuable than a used condom that's just thrown away, and forgotten.  He or she could be a potential lifetime friend, and GASP!!... attractions do sometimes grow from the inside out.

My Circuit days are coming to an abrupt end, and the daily visits to the gym are a thing of the past.  I still go to the rare circuit party, but now its more as an observer. And you know what?  I'm fine.

I am surrounding myself with people who I care about, and I seek out the advice and support of those who are older as well as those who are younger to get another perspective. And my life isn't over. I still have fun doing other activitites.

My one remaining demon: Okay, those twenty and thirty-something pretty boys still stop me in my tracks!  That sparkle in their eyes is reminiscent of a time when I was in their shoes, fresh to the Boulevard. I am excited about their future, while at the same time concerned that maybe they won't be as lucky as I've been in these times when kids are starting to slack off on safe sex while maintaining the sense of being invincible that is part of being young. 

For those of you young boys out there reading this: Be good, Be Safe, Have Fun, Appreciate that what you have on the outside is beautiful but not permanent and respect each other (and us older folks too). And if there are any circuit promoters out there, I have this advice: many kids can't afford your events, and while many of us older folks can, we're retiring. You need to price things reasonably so the young ones can enjoy them. Maybe even a youth rate if that's possible.

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