From 2008
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| photography by Allison V. Smith |
For a guy whose product repertoire consisted of a bar of soap, fitness trainer JD Hearn might seem like an unlikely winner of the national BlissGuy competition. Yet this shy Southern boy with a Texas drawl and a tanned set of six-pack abs grabbed the gold at the spa’s contest in New York last fall.
Hearn certainly never expected to be a part of this Bliss-ful journey. “If you had told me a year ago that I’d be the BlissGuy,” he says, “I would have said you were crazy.” As the holder of this new title, Hearn will become the illustrated face of Bliss spa’s newly launched line of men’s products, which he says is a real honor.
And it all started on a whim. After being coerced into entering the Dallas contest by a friend—and, even then, nearly backing out at the last minute—Hearn arrived, had a cocktail for good luck, and then made the rounds. He was an instant favorite with the judges, a panel that included Jan Strimple and Todd Fiscus.
“I went into the BlissGuy competition with little expectation of winning,” he says, “so I was able to just have fun with it.” Which must have worked for him, because he was soon facing the national judges in New York. This time they were from big-league spots such as Men’s Health, Crunch Fitness, and Rita Hazan Salon. Besides a bevy of interview questions, the national competition also included a Bliss trivia quiz and runway modeling, which Hearn apparently aced all around. “The most nerve-wracking part,” he says, “was that I went first in every event.”
The modest 23-year-old graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce spent years playing college football as a linebacker. After graduation he parlayed his degree in kinesiology into a career as co-founder of Dallas’ Rock Star Fitness Camps. “I’m always working out and trying to eat right,” Hearn says. His fancy for fitness appeals to his clients who see him for his expertise in weight-loss management, muscle toning, and nutritional guidance.
But as for beauty? This is a new venture. “I’ve always been the guy [who buys] CVS products, so I’ve upgraded a bit,” he says. “I don’t go to Walgreens anymore.”
Hearn competed with BlissGuy finalists from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He prepared for the competition by beefing up his workouts and putting himself on a strict diet, as well as taking advantage of his winning beauty booty from the Dallas contest. Hearn’s latest prize package includes a year’s worth of Bliss “Homme Improvement” facials, a one-year supply of other facial and body products, and a two-night stay at any W hotel.
