Sam Thomas new face of Armani

Meet Sam Thomas, Australia's 24-year-old home grown hottie about to take the European modeling market by storm. He's tall, muscular, tattooed and equipped with piercing green eyes, campaigns for PETA, donates to Darfur and claims his Brazilian girlfriend is his inspiration for living. And as the new face of Armani for 2008, it's time to meet Sam and begin the obsession before the rest of the world follows suit.

Born June 17th, 1983 in Syndey, Australia, to working class parents, model Samuel Nicholas Thomas (who goes affectionately by Nick with friends) has left quite an impressive dent on the fashion industry in his short three years of full-time modeling. Dropping out of a UTS Business degree to pursue modeling full-time at the advice of Australian fashion legend Alex Perry, Sam relocated to Europe to hunt his big break - but struggled to maintain his model-mojo under the pressures of a drug problem and a broken heart.

Says the model, "The first time I went to Europe I missed my girlfriend, El. Even a day without her would send me a bit mental, man. I'd had a bit of trouble with substance in the past and being so far from home, without her, without my family, without my friends... yeah, it gets to 'ya a bit. I wasn't thinking straight."

Returning home with the intention of reuniting with his girlfriend, who Thomas claims was "not impressed I'd come back. She saw it as giving up and couldn't believe I'd been doing drugs again," Thomas re-evaluated his life and concentrated on getting sober. Becoming a fast favourite in Australian mens magazine, Men's Health, Thomas discovered a loyal fan base of females and slowly became a COSMOPOLITAN regular before returning to Europe. "It's wicked when people start to know who you are. Changes life a lot, makes you feel that bit supported in what you're doing."

But his second try for European stardom had initially failed. Hailed "a bad example for aspiring male models everywhere" due to his tempent drug abuse history, Thomas was slammed by fashion media and shunned by the best in the business - until Dolce & Gabanna hired the rising star to appear in their Fall collection. Impressed by his attitude and rock star appearance, the fashion house hired Thomas to walk for 4 consecutive shows and front their winter collection.

The tattooed model soon gained the European acceptance he had set out to achieve, walking the runways of Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Gaultier, Penny DeMitchel and Stella McCartney and by 2008, Thomas had signed a lucrative deal with Armani as the face for their male campaign. But rubbing shoulders with the best in the model business is not something likely to go to the models head. "I don't really enjoy the whole publicity thing. One thing I'm trying to preserve is my relationship with my girlfriend - it will all come out eventually but while we can keep it a secret and private, I'm not giving you any information. I don't really consent to interviews and stuff - I'm not trying to hide, but I don't really want fame. I see what it does to people."

So for now, the animal-rights advocate and free-time rocker is focusing on one goal, "Being happy. I have someone to love, a family that loves me, friends I'd kill for and a career I can't get enough of. Mission accomplished?"

Accomplished is right.