Edward: WELCOME TO CONNEX 247 WORLD PATRICK !! Nice to have you with us!!  Make yourself comfortable, take your shoes off and here we go!! just to start it up: tell us about yourself, hometown and heritage. And what are your personal professional interests??

Patrick: First I would like to thank Connex247.com for giving me this rare opportunity. My name Patrick Ribbsaeter, born on the east coast Stockholm (Sweden). My father is from Stockholm(Sweden), my mother is from Thailand with Burmese mixed Indian blood from my grandparents.

I have two sisters I love very much, one is younger and one is older. I’m very close to my father, he is truly my best friend since I was born. I look up to him a lot. I love to do sports, travel, meeting new interesting people, go to parties, hang out with friend, reading a book, building my business empire and just learn and learn everything there is to know. If I have the time. I’ve been working as a professional model since the past 6 years now. Currently working on setting up my own modeling agency and building my brand “The UNIVERSAL PLAYER”. I’m sure you will see more of it, soon near you ;)

Edward:  What is the concept of Universal Player?

Patrick: The concept “UNIVERSAL PLAYER” is something anyone could be, rich,poor,Black,White,Chinese etc. There aren’t any restriction of a typical “UNIVERSAL PLAYER”. I believe there is one in every one of us waiting and dying to come out. But maybe don’t know how too. I was actually my ex-wife and me who thought the name suited me perfectly. “UNIVERSAL PLAYER” is  actually a person who have found formula for happiness in life. Just like me!

I’m a very easy going, Fun, Caring, crazy person who love everything this life has to offer. I can name a few characteristics of an UNIVERSAL PLAYER. Intelligent, Interesting, Experienced, Sexy, Fun, Stylish, Success driven, Sophisticated, Rough, Soft, Caring, inspiring, Passionate, Romantic, Attractive, Daring, loved by people and live life to the fullest to name a few.  There lie’s an “UNIVERSAL PLAYER” in each one of us, by having my blog http://www.ribbsaeter.blogspot.com I can reach out to those people all around the world and let them know its OK, to be who you are.

Edward:  How do you define the fashion world? Do you think it´s really glamourous? What are the upside and downside in a modeling career?

Patrick: To me there aren’t really any down side in modeling career. With success, it always come sacrifices.  The fashion world has been a great lesson to me about life among many things. You get to meet so many interesting people and cultures from all over the world. Learning how other people's minds are working does have a great effect on how you want to live your life and help others. The fashion world is very glamorous from time to time(YES). But there is a hard business as well behind the glamorous scene. And nothing comes for free in the world of fashion. It’s almost like who can play the game better. And I can ;) hee..

But end of the day, its like any other industry. If you don’t love what you do and don’t stay positive at all time and true to yourself. You will eventually end up unhappy, end of the day. You always get what you bargain for ;)  The only down side if I try to think of something. Would be that you always travel the world far away from your family and friends. But its a choice we all do have, if we want to learn more about ourself and become more successful in our field.  So there is never a down side in life. We need to know how to turn downsides/failures in to more positive things. TRUST ME, I HAD MANY DOWNSIDES ;)

Edward: As a model do you think u´ve already achieved your main purposes in the modeling market? If not, which modeling agencies, fashion campaigns and?designers u´d like to work for?  Tell us about some of your modeling?assignments

Patrick:  I can say, after 6 years in the biz. I now understand my purpose more clearer and its getting better everyday. I would like to work with all Designers, Brands, Agencies and Campaign there is to do, Especially the Underwear campaign for Calvin Klein.  That would be awesome!  I hope they hear my words,  hee  ;)  Why not If possible. As long as the Client, a Brand’s purpose is genuine and what I believe in. There more I work and experience everyday, the more I want to know and learn.

I have worked everything from Fashion shows, Editorial, Catalogs, 60 Tv-Commercials, Print Ads, Promotional work etc. You can say I’ve done most of it but there is still more to do. I’m the face of six underwear packaging, all from different brands and countries. I love to pose act, and just be silly in front of the camera. It feel’s great to let it all out, in the same time be creative and expressive while working it.

I currently working as a freelance model around the world. I use to have a mother agency many years ago, until I realized I could do this job myself and be in more control. But if there’s an offer coming in from some very famous agency around the world soon. I might consider to jump on it. It’s always nice to have other people doing things for you (Sometimes) especially now, when I’m quite busy with own and so many different business projects.

Edward:  You´ve already modeled for some famous photographers and fashion campaigns. What do you like most when you work for these professionals?

Patrick:  First of all, I feel very privileged to have this amazing opportunity to work with these much talented people I’ve cum across and they have specially chosen me to be face for their brand. I love every minute of it. And can’t get enough of it ;)  These people have thought me so much even though they might not know it. I can’t describe it, in words. HONESTLY !  I still have along way to go though, from where I am now.And that’s what keep’s me wanting more.. My work is mostly from all around Asia(Hong Kong, Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, China, Shanghai, Australia and the Middle east.  Been working a little bit in Europe( Barcelona and Greece.. So I haven’t really yet gotten the chance to work with the really top people in the industry.

I hope that day will come soon, but I’m not stressing. My father used to tell me”Patrick, you can’t go to NEW YORK like number 2” If you go, be ready and comes as number one, otherwise forget it”. And he is so true, I can’t go around hoping for luck. I need to earn it before.. I would suggest for model starting out, visit Asia to gain that experience and tools they will need to survive in such a harsh and competitive market like Paris, Milan and America.  Most of the top photographers are in New York,Paris and Milan I’m sure. It still remains for me to discover that part of the fashion scene. And I can’t wait to show them how I work it ;)

Edward:  As a model, you´ve been traveling around the world. Share with us some of the most fascinating places u´ve already been. And what about the cultural and political aspects u´ve have faced in these countries?

Patrick:  I grew up with swedish father and mother from Thailand. A place that is very close to my heart is “Thailand”. The People, the Respect, Food, Beaches, cost of living... it's beyond paradise in my eyes. Waking up every morning having people smiling and serving you with their heart, really makes your day so much more easier. Especially in the world we living in today, with all these bad news you see on Tv etc. Life in thailand is just beautiful, but slow. ha ha.. Political aspect about thailand, I don’t involve to much in that. Except what I hear on the news. Its not my portion, I prefer to stay in the aspect of fashion.

Edward:  Are u a fashion guy? What do you like to wear when you are not working as a model?  And what do you like to do in your free time?

Patrick: Yeah, you can say that I’m a fashion guy. I love dressing up for castings, parties etc. I think its important to always look representable at all time.  Even if you wear sneakers, jeans and cap. For me being in love with clothes, can be a problem many times. As I don’t have that my space in my luggage when I travel.  And every time I go someplace nice, I buy a lot of clothes. The good thing though. I can gift away the other older clothes to people who are less fortunate then me.  There are days, I really just like to run around with my trainers and just be casual as well.. In this business we never know who we will bumped in to, so I prefer to always dress with style and look smart.

Edward: Fashion Model, runway model, print model....Fans around the world have been reading about you, following your steps.. How do you face this whole modeling media, the paparazzis, fans, etc etc. How do you handle that?

Patrick:  Ha ha, well.. I’m not that famous(YET)  I’m still working on it ;)  That’s how I’ve always have seen and kept myself grounded. To me I’m very glad to know people are appreciating my work and the things I do at this moment. It does happen people coming up giving me compliments etc about my work or personality. It’s always flattering of course, especially if its a hot women ;)  Since I started my own blog http://www.ribbsaeter.blogspot.com where I write and tell about the modeling world how I see it. I have been receiving a lot of email from Fans worldwide. I really try to answer them all, in the best possible way I can do.  It’s hard work behind everything I’m doing right now and what keep’s me going is the feeling knowing people are following my steps everyday.

That’s the best feeling of my work, knowing I can inspire and help other people through my work before I die  ( At least a bit)  ;) The paparazzi’s I haven’t really had to much problem with yet. I’m lucky ! ha ha But I’m sure it will come one day, if my career continues to develop. To me it’s all part of the game. And we should be smart and play around with it, for our own advantage. Why not, its there !

Edward:  You are the owner of a prestigious modeling agency http://www.ribbsaetermodels.com  Tell us about your agency. Why did u decide to create a modeling agency?  Share some of your experiences as a professional model manager.

Patrick:  ribbsaetermodels is my modeling agency I’m currently setting up in Mumbai/India. I came to India end of year 2005 for a direct booking in New Dehli. Little did I knew by then that India is a huge market for modeling as well the film and music industry that is heard all over the world now.  At that moment there wasn’t much international models around in India. I had a model friend of mine working in Bombay as it was called before they change the name to Mumbai.  He had been working with this foreign lady, who brought international models over to India. So I joined up with my friend and this agency In Bombay.  After working for this woman a few month’s, I got to find out who she really was. And it wasn’t pretty!

I found that she was cheating models, clients and foreign agencies all over the world. By not paying the models and mother agency commission she owed them. This became very problematic even for the Indian clients, stylists, photographers etc who was in contact with her.  I couldn’t just stand there and watch all these bad things happen everyday. It made me so pissed off, seeing her spoiling the thing that was so much important and precious to me ”The fashion Industry”. But since she hadn’t done me any harm, there wasn’t no need for me to react towards her.

I only reacted later on, when it did eventually happen to me. After this woman cheated me as well on almost all the money I had earned during my stay. She also tried to get me deported from India with immigration and 12 lawsuits. I got this power voice inside of me, because of all the hate towards her, telling me to setup my own agency right there.. Since I already knew the rates,information for each job etc and gotten to know most of the people in the industry and on top of that created a name for myself in India as an successful model.

I knew it won’t be to difficult for me to setup and start launching models in to India. Especially with the promotion she had did for herself. I approach some of the agencies abroad she had cheated, and ask them for their help to set me up with models for the start as well my personal model friends from all over the world. And they where all kind and willing to assist me. So end of the day. Like I sad before. We do get what we bargain for. What goes around, comes around ;) And today, this woman is close to shut down the agency.. Cheers for justice.. Keep a look for India market. There are many things from me and others in the pipeline and its coming with a storm from all positions in the fashion Industry... I’m happy to be part of it ;)

Edward:  Patrick, thanks so much for sharing your story with us. Tell us about your blog and your website and leave a final message to my Connex 247 readers around the world!

Patrick:  I would like to thanks once again connex247.com for have given me this opportunity to let the world know my story.  I’m working everyday on improving my blogs and websites to give my readers the best possible way to see the real modeling world, right in their own houses from all around the world. KEEP WATCHING, there will be many cool things coming up from the UNIVERSAL PLAYER.  I hope all readers of connex247.com enjoyed reading some of my life story and looking forward to my next write up with connex247.com  ;)  Cheers to you all and keep the good spirit going.

Love,
Patrick
UNIVERSAL PLAYER

P.S Much love to my wonderful family, miss you guys everyday !