In an industry where professional models often have a very limited shelf life before being dumped for a younger, hotter make, Tony Ward has successfully kept his place at the front for four long decades.
Anthony Borden, better known to the world as Tony Ward can be credited with one of the longest running careers as a male model in history. Ward was born in sunny Santa Cruz, California and moved to the City of Angels following his high school graduation to pursue his dreams of becoming a Hollywood actor or dancer.
Ward was first spotted by a talent scout while attending West Valley College at the age of eighteen, after which his career took flight. He gained his first taste of success under the direction of photographer Herb Ritts for a Calvin Klein advertising campaign. Since then he has worked with the biggest names in the fashion industry including Roberto Cavalli, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, and Hugo Boss.
Along the way, Ward has proved his credentials with commercial photography work for the likes of Nordstrom, Volvo, Diesel and H&M. Some of his co-workers through the years have included the cream of the supermodel crop from Claudia Schiffer to Naomi Campbell to Eva Herzigova to Alessandra Ambrosia to Madonna.
As a kid Ward hated being photographed, a statement backed by the fact that he now has very few photographs from his childhood. Shockingly self-critical, Ward has often been overheard describing his face as “one of the ugliest things in the world.” At a time in which the industry he calls home was promoting ‘pretty’ male models to match their female counterparts, Ward stood miles apart with his chiseled features and iconic Roman nose.
While rumour has it that some industry professionals considered his nose an ugly landmarking marring an otherwise attractive package and advised him to get cosmetic surgery, Ward himself maintains that the best advice he has ever received to this day, is to not go through with altering his face. The evidence bears out this advice as today his face can be seen on numerous magazine covers ranging from RUSSH Magazine, Schön!, 10 Magazine, IO Donna, Slurp, TÊTU and Homme Style. Ward’s private life has also come under scrutiny and made for some interesting fodder for his many starving admirers.
His relationship with musical icon Madonna in the early 90s generated copious amounts of conversation. Ward features in many of Madonna’s music videos namely Cherish, Justify My Love and Erotica. Ward is one of the names published in Madonna’s well known 1992 Sex book.
BLUE STEEL NEW NETFLIX FILM SERIES
In this Netflix Original Series presented by Male Supermodel David Gandy we explore the emergence of a new kind of God, with the rise of the male Supermodel. Whatʼs the recipe for a male Supermodel ? A dash of charm, 5% body fat and shredded muscles, a boatload of raw sex appeal, and a decent sprinkle of really good luck.
The ensemble cast of Blue Steel have that something special that has allowed them to stand toe to toe in an industry dominated by the Glamazons of the opposite sex. They are trailblazers and trendsetters. They have both set and broken records for their sex in the business. Most of whom fell into the industry quite by accident, theyʼve left some deep imprints along the way, altering the perception of male beauty standards. The men depicted within this series have more than their faces on billboards, and names sewn into the fabric of brands. They have built legends and left legacies, and itʼs precisely why they deserve to be called ‘Supermodelsʼʼ just like their famous female counterparts.
A New Netflix Original Series, Presented by David Gandy Featuring the lives and legends of :
Lucky Blue Smith
Jordan Barratt
John Pearson
Mark Vanderloo
Markus Schenkenberg
Tyson Beckford
Tony Ward
Travis Fimmel
Nacho Figueras
Werner Schreyer
Alex Lundqvist
Andreja Peyjic
And of course David Gandy
EDITED BY: EDUARDO CASTRO
You can see all the episodes of Blue Steel by subscribing to fashionindustrybroadcast.com.
