Model, Choreographer, Trainer, Future Attorney....You name it......
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Cross Thompson does it all. He took time out of this busy schedule to chat about his past, present and future.

Tell us who you are and what you represent.

My name is Cross Thompson, I am 23 years of age and I represent all the black African American Men trying to make it out of this world as "somebody."

What have you been working on lately?

I 've been working with a very good and famous photographer, Mr. Anthony Ragland. Although I cannot mention what it is I am working with him on, within time you'll have the opportunity to see his work. Outside of modeling I am also working on my dancing career with Head of State Records located in the MD area. I have been the dance choreographer for their talent show's and local concerts for a year now. I am also in the middle of gaining knowledge of how to write a book and publish it. I am also in the middle of getting my finances straight so I may attend law school in the washington, DC area this fall semester.

Seem like you know exactly where you are going in life. Tell us about your early days as Cross Thompson.

I never pictured myself as being a model or being famous. Matter fact, I never even heard of modeling being a career until I became friends with (the now famous) Mrs. Christian Millian in Waldorf, MD at Matthew Henson middle school. Mike Tyson was my idle for a good 6 to 7 years back in the day. I took 4 years of boxing and became very good at it. Won plenty of Welterweight trophies in 95-96. When I began high school my Mother began pushing me away from boxing due to the findings of boxing basically destroying your brain; not to mention me always arriving in class with a black eye actually lead teachers to hold a conference to find out if my parents were beating on me!! So I quit boxing and went to the next best thing that I was good at........"running"...........I was a bad kid back in the day so I ran away from my father's belt damn near every day........so I was very experienced with that. My first year with track lead me to my new found love, and within 2 years I became a very good 110 meter hurdler and 3rd leg for the 4X4 relay team. I won 6 first place medals in 1999 and was nominated the fastest 110 hurdler in the SMAC (southern Maryland Athletic Conference) regional championship. I received athletic scholarships from 3 Historically black colleges. I also received 3 academic scholarships from 2 other colleges. In the long run my mother convinced me to attend a college that I wasn't in agreement with. Boston College which is predominantly"white." Well I went through the regular 4 years of college experience and graduated with a BS in political science. At the end of my graduation of 2003 my ex-girlfriend became pregnant, and we had a healthy baby boy. His name is Cross Junior. When I got out of college I began a career in personal trainer.

Give me a typical day in your life.

Typical day for me; I get up around 6 or 7 get to work by 9 or 10 depending on what time my client signed up to be trained, go to work from 9 to 6 pm, on Tuesday's and Thursdays I then report to Head of State rec center where I meet my dance team and we practice from 7:30 to 9pm. Depending whether I have my son for the weekend or not, either I would go pick him up and spend time with him, or if not, I would go home and have the choice of studying or spending some "quality time" with a lady friend :-).

Give me your exercise routine, because some of the brothas out there have kegs instead of 6 packs.

Well to get the physique I have which is an athletic physique and not a body builder physique. I work out just 3 times a week. Chest and back on Monday, biceps and triceps on Wednesdays, and shoulders, traps, and legs on Friday. It takes at least 1 hour to work a muscle out fully so I spend an hour on one muscle when I am at the gym. Its very important that you do at least 3 to 400 sit ups a day, whether its you doing 200 when u wake up and 200 when u go to bed or whatever. As a personal trainer I can sit up here and talk forever about how to get a body like mine but I won't :-)...........but I will tell you that the most important part of my body being the way that it is, is definitely because of the ladies. Without their compliments and luv I probably wouldn't be doing a damn thing with my body. So much love to all the ladies who enjoy a man with a nice body, because 9 times outta 10 its your compliments that keep us in the gym. So keep acknowledging us women.

How would you describe your style and looks to someone who could not see you?

My look is simi liar to lion so I am told. My eyes (the way they are shaped) I believe is my best feature. I have full/thick eyebrows. I am 6'0, 180 lbs, light brown skin complexion, 4 tattoos, and curly short hair similar to Allen Payne off of the movie Jason's Lyric; my style is very laid back, and very similar to Method Man. I don't sugar coat words, I don't think I'm GOD's gift to the world, and I don't lie..................

Who or what inspired you to start modeling?

One of my clients actually inspired me to start modeling. her name was Zuli and she was from Africa, and every time she came in, she'd say, "have you started your modeling career yet so I can buy your calendar." She even said that I reminded her of a dark skin Shemar Moore. So after so many comments I took some polaroid pictures and she made a calendar for me, and actually sold 35 of them to her female friends. After that, I decided maybe I should take this modeling thing seriously. I put some pictures on musecube.com and one after the other photographers began hitting me up on a trade for print opportunity. Photo shoots that I don't have to pay for? I was definitely going to take advantage of that.

What are some misconceptions people have about you?

When you see my pictures alot of folks think that I am self centered and conceited. Like I said, I don't think of myself as GOD's gift to the world. I'm just a normal cat trying to make a name for himself.

Are women intimidated by you? If not, how do women approach you.

The women that "know" me are not intimidated by me; but if your just getting to know me or if you saw me on the street I believe women are intimidated, because I get alot of looks, and alot of, "gawt damn u sexy boo"........but I normally "never" get approached on a "can I get to know you basis." And I'd personally like to say to all the women out there, that there are allot of good men still left out in the world such as myself, but alot of the men are blinded by video hoe's, strippers, and chicks with phat booties. But please stay positive and don't think of yourself as any less beautiful than the next woman. As for me, if you see me around your way, regardless of how you look, fat, skinny, etc. please don't hesitate to approach and talk with me. I enjoy a good conversation and getting to know people. I find a positive attitude to be the most attractive thing in a woman. If your positive in the way you act, walk, dress, look, etc. you got my full and undivided attention. "POSITIVITY."



Who in the industry catches your eye........ and why would you like to work with them?

Megan good - This woman defines the word beauty, plain and simple.

-The woman in the Pharell "Excuse me miss remix" video (you know the one at the door, talking bout, "is Pharell here?") she has that natural beauty that you just can't capture in the modeling industry, that's something u gotta go to the hood and see. :-)

Tyson Beckford - all his shots seem to be on point and he's modeled for white and black companies, Polo, Sean John, just to name a few shots that I saw him in.

Dolce & Gabbana - There style is off the chain, different and wild.

Sean John - P. Diddy, I love this mans clothes to death.

Phat Farm, LRG, and Triple 5 soul - all styles are straight hip hop and off the hook.

I am a film producer, and I put a 6 figure salary on the table to star in my new XXX movie, Tales From The Bedroom, do you sign it?

(Laughs) , not at all. I would never put myself in something my children couldn't see. With the exception of artistic nudity. I know it may sound like I am contradicting myself, but children can walk the monument or museum and see a naked stature. But I would do nothing pornographic or anything that would have my wife (when I get married) closing her eye's. No amount of money would force me to degrade myself or my body.

I am sure Janet Jacme is somewhere disappointed now!! Where are you looking to take your modeling career?

The sky's the limit for me..........so as far as it'll take me.

What advise could you give someone just starting out in the business?

Don't second guess yourself and any opportunity that "appears" to be safe take advantage of it ASAP, cause you never know when your big break comes.

Halle Berry or Janet Jackson

It's so hard to turn down Halle Berry after seeing Monsters Ball, but word on the street is that Halle Berry is mentally crazy , so I'm going with Janet Jackson. Plus if Janet Jackson could date Jermaine Dupri, proves that looks is not in her best interest.........Keep it real !!!

Thelma on Good Times or Hillary on Fresh Prince

Thelma on Good times is good enough for me; especially in comparison with Hillary? Come on now..........I cannot date a woman with half a brain. I'd get to frustrated. Knowledge is definitely power in my book.

Boxers or Briefs

Boxers.........my little mans need room to breathe. Can't keep em all bundled up.

Michael Jackson Guilty or Innocent

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh lawd........I pray every night that this man is innocent or if he really is guilty I pray to GOD that he still gets away with it, cause if this man goes to jail..............un un un, I don't even know........lets just say he's getting rapped more than once !!!!

Any last words?

Any person out there with a dream whether it be modeling, dumping trash, dancing, building houses, etc. just go all out and make it happen. When I went to Boston College I made the best out of it. One of my greatest dreams was pledging a fraternity in college, but Boston College was a religious institution and didn't allow fraternities so I did the next best thing and created my own. The name of the Group is Sexual Chocolate............started out in 1999 with 5 members............now in the year 2005 we have over 150 members and still growing, and attracting alot more people of ethnic background. Don't let anything or anybody stop you from doing what you do. GOD gave you a brain, so use and figure out a way to make it happen...............Good luck and GOD bless all who have supported and know me.

Make it happen brotha! Make it happen!!
Two Fingas - Peace Until next time

See more of Cross in the IndieStreet EyeCandy Section!!
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