Connor Smith: Are You the One?

By: Jovie Calma

 

It was one cold and dreary night when I had the opportunity to meet Connor Smith, a fitness model, personal trainer, NPC physique competitor, and a star of MTV’s reality show, “Are You The One? Season 3.”

Connor was one of our guests at Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE being aired at Chicago Philippine Reports TV in line with the celebration of February as Love Month. His presence in the studio brought some warmth and sizzled the night. Connor is tagged as the “gentle giant” from Tinley Park in MTV’s “Are You The One?” who believed he could find his soulmate. “Are You The One’ is an American reality television series on MTV. It follows 20 people, 10 single men and women who are wrangled to live together in a tropical destination in the quest to find love and win the $1 million grand prize. If the 10 men and women are able to correctly choose all ten perfect matches in ten weeks, they will win $1 million to split among them. Each episode, the cast will pair up with whomever they believe their perfect match is to compete in a challenge. The winners of the challenge will go on a date, and have a chance to test their match in the truth booth. The cast members will choose one of the winning couples to go to the truth booth to determine if they are a perfect match or not. This is the only way to confirm matches.

Each episode ends with a matching ceremony where the couples will be told how many perfect matches they have, but not which matches are correct.

Connor was part of the cast of Season 3, which was premiered in September 2015 and filmed in Hawaii. Hosted by Ryan Devlin, the final episode revealed that not only did each cast member finally find his or her perfect match, they also collectively won the grand prize money of $750,000. As a team, the 20 contestants lived together in Hawaii, hung out socially and took weekly tests in order to figure out which other cast member they were scientifically paired with by the show. Connor had a perfect match with Chelsey Perkins from Orlando, Florida. While they did not end up as a couple in real life, they remained friends after the show.

At present time, Connor is back in Tinley Park and has been focused in working as a personal trainer with TV show guesting gigs and modeling on the side. He’s one of the featured models at the famous group of fitness models, The Stable. Connor has graced several covers for pocket books, which are being distributed locally and globally. This is in collaboration with the Filipino-American Photographer, Reggie Deanching, owner/photographer of R+M Photography and co-founder of The Stable. He partnered with Alfie Gabriel, online coach/trainer and fitness model.

Reggie’s photography is focused in fitness, fashion and sports. Reggie was also generous enough to share his passion to all the viewers of CPRTV. He is a huge believer of the saying, “Live in the moment” and through photography, he would like to capture all those moments and orchestrate them into life thru beautiful images.

During the interview, when asked how he started in the industry, Connor shared that his success can be attributed to his determination to realize his dreams. He is ambitious, driven and passionate with everything that he does. He is unstoppable and has a strong belief in living the dream. “I was just blessed with the people I have worked with and paved the way to where I am right now. Let me tell you, people, from the bottom of my heart, I mean this! If you want something bad enough, nothing will stop you, nothing will set you back or slow you down! You will achieve your goal! The people around you will see your drive and be impressed, inspired, or whatever you want to call it and they will support your goal! You can do anything you want in this life! Live your dream!”

Connor also shared that he’s very romantic at heart. “I say there’s nothing greater than truly loving somebody. So let go, take the risk and love with all your heart. There’s no better feeling. One must learn to accept the unlovable side of others. For anyone can love a rose, but it takes a great heart to include the thorns. In closing, live well, laugh often and love with all your heart.”

On a personal note, allow me to share my special birthday wishes to Charles Brewer (Mar. 2), Donny Angeles (Mar. 2), Jun-Jun Liggayu (Mar. 3), Tanya Dimitrova (Mar. 6), Rob Ruegsseger (Mar 10), Josephine Castro (Mar. 15), Christine Calma (Mar. 19), Leila Felix (Mar. 19), and CJ Lavilla (Mar. 24).

A daughter who serves, a sister who loves, a mother who bears, a friend who cares. Bestower of love, life, friendship and trust. A picture of poise, strength and grace. A dreamer, achiever, a winner all along.

In line with the International Women’s Day on March 8th, let’s celebrate US, the phenomenal WOMEN of TODAY! Let’s recognize and celebrate our heroes and SHE-roes! Happy International Women’s Day! To all the men, honor your WOMAN, every home, every heart, every feeling, every moment of happiness is incomplete without her…the one who can complete this world! Allow me to honor the women who brought me into this world and the reason for my being, my mother, Mom, Connie Calma and my late maternal grandmother, my Nanay (+), who lovingly pushed me to celebrate my own UNIQUENESS and taught me that the purpose of life is to live life with a purpose. Thank you for being my inspiration. I love you Momsicle and Nanay!

To all Via Times Readers and CPRTV viewers, thank you for your continued support. Until then!

VT/CPRTV group photo opportunity with Photographer, Reggie Deanching and Connor Smith (L-R: Reggie Deanching, Jovie Calma, Connor Smith, Joe Mauricio and Veronica Leighton

VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma’s photo opportunity with Connor Smith, fitness model, personal trainer and reality television star, post-interview for Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE!

Reggie Deanching, Fil-Am photographer and co-founder of The Stable graced the Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE segment at CPRTV

 

VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma spent an exciting advance Valentine’s Day celebration with her boys, Alric and Rovic, at Mader’s Restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a time well spent!!!