Fabio began his modeling career as a teenager in Milan, Italy. Working out at a local gym, he was approached by Oliviero Toscani, the acclaimed fashion photographer best known for creating the “United Colors of Benetton” campaign. Though interested, Fabio said that he could only participate if Toscani got approval from Fabio’s father.

 

After several rounds of good old-fashioned Italian negotiations, his father relented but on 2 conditions: 1) that Fabio could only work on weekends so that he wouldn’t miss any high school class; and 2) that all of Fabio’s homework be completed beforehand.