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The EX Files
Photographing and interviewing a current couple — with one of the couple's exes.




It's part sociological study, part voyeuristic thrill. We've all wondered what went wrong in past relationships, how old lovers compare to current ones, and how our own personalities and actions have changed over the years and with different partners.

Bringing everyone together, you'll see the subtle signs of why one partner ended up better than another, the soft dynamics of togetherness and separateness, the contentedness in the couple and the regret/longing/relief/indifference that the exes feel toward one another. Breaking up and starting up are among the most human of all things. These are portraits of romantic change.



They're young, they're gorgeous, they're tall and etched with perfect bodies and flashbulb smiles, yet models date and mate and break up and make up like the rest of us — sort of. Yes, the beautiful people share some similarities with you and me in schmo-ville, but there are also some clear differences (like whether you can pick people up just by pointing).

To learn more, I spent the afternoon with three New York models, ANITA, who is not only exquisite and biracial but just graduated from Columbia with a degree in Biomedical Engineering (so much for the bimbo mannequin, right?), her current boyfriend, ANDREW, an easy-in-his-skin stud who I would not want near my sister, and Anita's ex, PETER, a perfectly sculpted prettyboy with the fullest lips I've ever seen on an Asian man. The whole encounter was not good for my ego, to say the least.

As it turns out, although Anita had suggested that sparks would fly when they all got together, the drama was much more subtle — and in some ways poignant. Anita and Peter split amicably; he was about to start working in Europe, and they didn't feel there was enough there to justify the long-distance thing. Then she started dating Andrew, despite the fact that both of them told me that it's rare for models to date each other.

The three interacted fine; what was more intriguing was the trace of longing behind Peter, the ex's diffidence about dating, and the prevailing optimism of all three that what was happening in the present needn't be of much concern for (they each implied), they'd be able to work things out later. Of course most anyone in their early 20s knows they still have time before they settle down, but maybe it's a not-surprising luxury of having god-given looks that Anita, Peter, and Andrew are so confident about getting what they want, when they want it. The older brother in me wants to tell them about the curveballs life often throws you, but then again, we all find that out sooner or later. Optimism is like youth and beauty: you want to hold on to it as long as you can.

Anita


I asked Anita about the differences between Andrew and Peter, as they gave off such different auras. She confirmed what you might have guessed from first glance: "The relationships we shared contrast starkly — highly sexual vs. deeply emotional. My ex likes to take long walks; my new boyfriend likes to party."

Would you ever marry Andrew? "I like to go for the bad guy at this point in my life, but in five years maybe I'll settle down."

You don't look like most engineers, I told Anita. What happens when you walk into a lab? Do your male colleagues melt? "I have to prove myself a little more. The more attractive a woman is, the harder it is for her... though you can't really complain..."

Anita had this dating advice for her ex: "Peter's great, but he gets into these ruts; he's very focused on being alone, and women feel a little left out. He needs to communicate a little better, let her know he needs his space."

Peter


Peter is still single, and I'm curious to know if he regrets it, if he really wants to be in love. But it sounds like he's not really looking for anything: "Being single for me has worked out. It's a lot easier. I haven't been in a longterm relationship since high school."

How many girls are you going out with at any one time? "Through the summer I have maybe four or five semi-relationships, then I'm somewhere else and I'll meet a new person for a couple of months. It's not like I can be with a woman every day; if she's clingy, it won't work."

But here's where the inner Peter maybe tipped its hand a bit: "I'm strongly independent and just like casual dating. What kind of woman could tie me down? I don't know; I haven't come across that. I look at my roommate (who's been dating for three years) and I wonder when I will find someone like that. But I don't know exactly what it is that I look for."

Andrew


Being a straight male model, wouldn't you want to stay single and play the field as much as you can, I ask Andrew. Why did you settle down with Anita? "You meet a girl and think it's all physical, then you realize that it's not. Anita's amazing. She has an Ivy League degree in engineering, and she's also a model, and also an actress. She's not only my girl but a good friend of mine. And that's probably the best basis to start something."

Do you think having your looks be your job makes you more or less secure? I mean, there's always someone more handsome, right? "As a model, you kind of get used to rejection; everyone gets rejected — by girls, bookers, agents. It's part of life."

So do you ever want to really take the plunge? "Yeah, I want to get married, have kids, a house, a real job." Someday soon? "Nah, but it's nice not to have to go to the club to meet a girl." Would you be able to marry a more average-looking woman if she was great on all other fronts? "No question."  n°



Photography by Jessica Yatrofsky
Written by Jack Harrison
Real couples and exes found by Impossible Casting

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35 Comments

That Asian is hot. I'd hit him.

G.G. commented on 07/30

You picked MODELS to shoot?!? How is this emulating real-life if you photograph models? That’s like dropping a poo and then complaining that it smells. Of course its going to smell. Its poo!?

dj commented on 07/30

Exquisite and biracial! Oh, how exotic! Again, god, yawn?

DC commented on 07/30

You people are so annoying... I really enjoyed this feature. Stop complaining so much, you are just mad because they aren't naked.

PT commented on 07/30

Love this. I like Peter a lot and prefer the loner type. Andrew's self-created bad boy image would get old so fast for me in a relationship.

Anna commented on 07/30

DJ, Models are real people too. Dont be jealous.

WM commented on 07/30

They seem a lot more content and comfortable around each other than the last ex files couple. It would be cool to see an ex files where they are open to talking about the differences in their sex lives....

hg commented on 07/30

i like this feature, but i liked the last one more, because the people opened up a lot more.

ja commented on 07/30

Digging the Ex-Files more & more. I'm so the Peter type.

na commented on 07/30

This is my favourite new feature on Hooksexup. I love how these pieces are written (so insightful and intimate) and the photos speak volumes as well.

EJ commented on 07/30

Ever 2 girls and 1 guy?

nn commented on 07/30

Ewww

CMC commented on 07/30

They're models probably because they were found by a casting firm. Models usually contact these sort of place =D

RB commented on 07/30

I agree, time for two women and one man. Or three women. Or three men.

GB commented on 07/30

Anita could have very easily provided an ex girlfriend for this mock interview as well, next time.... If she is seriously dating Andrew, then I am sure she must be a very understanding lady. And doesn't seem to mind sharing him, cause god knows she will have to. Just make sure you bag it every time... Those unprotected one's are spreading dirty germs by the dozens. You know the old adage, don't jump without a parachute... Good luck, and can you get him to stop texting my roomate please? She doesn't care for his "parties". Take the hint, if you text four times a day and get no response... DUH...

LMAO commented on 07/30

This is a ridiculous concept.

MD commented on 07/31

i'm guessing andrew's peter is bigger than peter's peter, and we know anitea anita peter

dwp commented on 07/31

I'll take Peter's peter over Andrew's peter any day.

CB commented on 07/31

i found the intense focus on their appearances a little bizarre. they're all attractive kids but they aren't a different species. the writer seemed to imply that because they get paid to be photographed their lives are profoundly different from ours -- even his interview questions were about how "good looking" they were. it was uncomfortable to read, and reeked of personal insecurity. how about focusing on the relationship dynamics -- ostensibly the point of this piece -- and not how hideous the interviewer feels standing next to them?

ncc commented on 07/31

Anita is not really a model, she did for a bit, she is an actress now. Andrew is a party promoter (and not a good one, sorry), and looks a tad bit elfin and Peter, well he is cute, but ... both of these men ( a term I will use loosely ) are very girly, look at how thin they are. She does have a great face... I wonder is they actually went to a casting for this "interview",,,lol...

LMAO commented on 07/31

if

LMAO commented on 07/31

I agree the drooling racial commentary is a little weird, but I guess being in the presence of models makes regular people act weird. Peter is pretty hot though. Andrew looks like he's crawling with germs, but I know some girls dig that. Anita could do better than both these jerks, especially with her fancy degree.

JCB commented on 07/31

Andrew is just as hot as Peter. Its all preference.

kc commented on 08/01

Models? Seriously - these are models? I'm a freakin' model too...

anet commented on 08/01

All ya´ll get a life stop hating and start loving

MER commented on 08/01

Hand models, I presume?

fmm commented on 08/02

im not sure of the purpose of this article....yeah, we all break up...yeah, we all have lingering emotions from it, be them good or bad...yeah, we all move on in our own way, even if it means not moving on....but why would they want to have an article discussing and dissecting a breakup...and with models? come on...its so not worth even writing about...

sd commented on 08/02

I can relate to Peter and the 4-5 girls he went out with - the clingy type are the worst...

ses commented on 08/03

These are all pretty average looking people....I wouldn't believe any of them were models if I saw them in the street. Anita is probably in the middle of the pack, lookswise, with most of her Columbua classmates (though I don't know about engineering specifically.)

CM commented on 08/03

@CM: I have several friends who are successful models (albeit not of the supermodel variety), and yes, while they may on first impression not look like they are one, you'd be surprised what professional lighting, styling, photography and several hours of Photoshop can do to a person. Take someone with amazing features as Peter's and you can do some magic if done right. He definitely has that high fashion look. The other two, I can't say ...

BC commented on 08/03

yeah.. none of them are anything to write home about lookswise... very average.

bl commented on 08/04

dull story w/ dull people and dull pics.

po commented on 08/06

Andrew is a model?

CJM commented on 08/08

For what?

CJM commented on 08/08

I don't know what that girl is thing Peter is fucking hot, i'd let him smack my ass.

ME commented on 08/28
 

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