‘Average’ man from Bournemouth struts in Milan Fashion Week

Richard Cronin models part-time whilst working with big clients in his role as group chief commercial officer in a data company.

Although beginning as a hobby, Richard is growing into an international model after recently taking part in the Milan fashion show.

The 45-year-old has previously walked for London Fashion Week but has been unable to take part in other countries due to clashing schedules.

“I’ve been asked to do New York Fashion Week before but I just didn’t have the availability because it’s the week before London Fashion Week,” said Richard.

“I’ve never done Milan before, so it was really good to be able to do it.”

For the show, Richard walked for American celebrity fashion designer, Andre Soriano, who has designed outfits for Rhianna, Miley Cyrus and Carly Rae Jepson.

He said: “We did some shoots before the fashion show at some really stunning locations around Milan.

“It was a very surreal experience.”

The show itself took place on a rooftop terrace at the Hyatt Centre on February 25.

“It was amazing to meet so many different people and so many different cultures in one place,” said Richard.

“In London Fashion Week you typically meet people based in the UK, a couple of Americans and one or two people from Europe or Asia.”

For the Milan show, Richard was the only British person and was even asked to do a closing speech thanking the designers and models.

He said: “Not only was I feeling very honoured in the first place just getting to walk, to even be asked to do that, but then to be asked to present for the closing of the show was very exciting.”

The designer who invited Richard to Milan has since asked him to do Paris, Dubai and potentially India.

He added: “I'm just really grateful to be a kind of average guy from Bournemouth, being asked to do these things.”

Richard juggles his modelling career during his annual leave from work and said he has a very proud and supportive family who always try to join him at his shows.