Meet Hunky Male Model Charles Hackmann

Song of the Day: Bleed It Out by Linkin Park

I had so much fun learning about model Kate Duncan who posed on my novel BLOOD AND TREASURE, I thought I’d interview her male counterpart.

Meet Charles Duncan.

*You’re a personal trainer from St. Louis, professional MMA fighter, a United States Marine veteran and, oh, you do a little modeling on the side. Tell us more about Charles Hackmann.

Everything wasn’t always so glamorous. I grew up very poor, and was the one always wearing the same clothes to school, getting picked on, and dealing with an alcoholic step-father. You know, as a kid, you sit back and wonder why you have to be subjected to this kind of existence. I just always remembered no matter how rough it got, someday I would get the last laugh. My freshman year in high school, my aunt and uncle took me in and raised me, showing me not everyone treats others like garbage because of their childhoods. I took the example they led by and ran with it, vowing to never treat people with less fortune poorly.

People earn respect from me first, and then they get treated accordingly. I won’t tolerate bullies, or women-beaters or child abusers. I’ll make it a point to give them the same treatment they dish out to those who can’t defend themselves.

I am not a conformist. I don’t follow rules just because someone tells me to. If I think its bullshit, I say so. I’m very abrasive and say what I want, calling people out when they’re being fake.

I’ve done everything – college student, hard manual labor, fighting, serving in the Marines, driving armored cars, and personal training.

I learned very early if I don’t like something I won’t stay miserable. I’ll keep flipping through the cards until I find one that I want and play life out from there. Right now that card is personal training – taking a person with disabilities, low self-esteem, or someone that has been abused, and giving them the confidence to achieve their goals and dreams, leaving all the doubters and haters in their shadows in the process. My biggest piece of advice to anyone is don’t ask for an easier life, just get better at the one you have been given.

Great advice, Charles. We can be beaten down, or we can rise above what holds us back. The choice is ours.

*How did you end up modeling for Hot Damn Designs?

I met Kim of Hot Damn on Facebook. She had sent me a message about modeling. At the time, I was engaged and was so in love I gave up who I really was to please her. When I look back, its unfortunate. I gave up college, personal training, and fighting to work a 14 hour a day job for her. I never gave her a reason to believe I wanted anyone else. Life isn’t always a romance novel where you find a princess and run away to a castle, making love in the tower in the moonlight. Life is more along the lines of people taking each other for granted and never being happy enough with what they have. So a year after it ended, I decided to start doing everything I missed out on. I messaged Kim, met up, and she had me in her next shoot.

Break-ups can be devastating. I’m so glad you were able to overcome your setback and take life by the horns.

*I bet modeling has been a different experience for you than you are used to. How does it feel to see yourself on the cover of romance novels? What do your friends and family think of your posing for cover photos?

You know, in high school I couldn’t get a girl to save my life. I resorted to silly-ass pick up lines that never worked, and kept to myself. I took up lifting weights and consumed my life with fitness. By my senior year, the same girls who wouldn’t even talk to me, wanted me. I passed. It was a matter of principle.  If they didn’t like me before, then I didn’t need them when its convenient for them. I had done some photo shoots before Hot Damn, and escorted beautiful women up and down stage for a Partylite convention. But to actually be on a book cover is kind of cool. I usually use it to lure hot girls into giving me their numbers.  Like ‘Yo. I’m on a book.  Look how jacked and tan I am.’  They’re like ‘damn!’ and I’m like, ‘’Yeah, let me sign it for you.’

LOL! Looks like you perfected the pick-up lines. Ha!

This doesn’t always work. But, if they don’t have a sense of humor, I don’t need them around anyway. I’d rather be outrageous than boring. My family thinks being on book covers is cool, too.  They buy the books and keep them at their work.

Ah, the family is proud of you!

It’s a cool experience, all in all.

*I know it’s purely professional, but is it ever awkward to pose in those, shall we say, compromising positions with female models?

If I had to try this in high-school, I’d never had said yes.  I’ve been around so many gorgeous girls in my adult life through fitness, school, and clubs that it’s nothing new. Not going to lie, though.  A few times when they’re looking at you all sexy, I’m like damn! I need to throw this girl into the wall and ravage her.

Kind of getting caught up in the moment, eh?

I blink, collect my thoughts and think Charles, save that for the ones you take to your room. *g* Besides I’m in a gym 12 hours a day making little bombshells. I’m used to all of it. No one really gets me star struck anymore. Also my best friend, Stephanie, is a pro bikini model. I see her everyday at work, and so I’m used to hot bodies. 🙂

It must be grueling to work alongside all those sexy women. Much more grueling than KO-ing an opponent in the ring.

Honestly, fighting is a hobby. I take fights on in just a day or two notice. I like to compete and hit dudes. Really, personal training and making money is my main focus. But it’s a rush being in front of a screaming crowd punching someone in the face – not to mention girls get to see me topless. *wink, wink*

There is definitely something uniquely male about half-naked men pummeling one another that can get a girl’s heart pumping.

*What are your favorite poses? Favorite costumes?

The western poses are cool because I love horses. One of the girls I train, Shannon, got me into horses. Now I really enjoy riding them, watching them race, etc.

Yee-Haw!

I also like the medieval looks because I get a sword.  I’m like William Wallace, running around slashing dudes in half and getting five princesses for my troubles. Those two are definitely my favorites.

Hmm…a man who likes to wield his sword.

*Okay, something a little different. While serving in the Marines, you were deployed to Iraq 3 times. Any stories you’d like to share about your experience there? You know, for the ladies who are now swooning over a military man. (And, by the way, thank you for serving our country.)

When I went in, I was all motto and proudly American. I wanted to make a career out of it. However, once I got in and saw how things really worked, I realized it wasn’t for me. There was backstabbing and a lack of brotherhood. It wasn’t like everyone believes. Like I stated earlier, I’m not a conformist and do something because I’m told. If it doesn’t make sense, I question it. I’ll be damned if I am picking up trash at 3 am in the rain wearing a gas mask because someone didn’t clean their room.

I just had a Private Benjamin flashback.

Also, once you deploy, it’s not the same as what newspapers report or what you hear on TV. I was there everyday and saw how stuff really works. A lot of it I didn’t agree with; in terms of us rebuilding and babying a nation while kids are starving right here in America. It didn’t sit too well with me. I made a few lifelong friends and had some fun experiences. But after my time was up, I didn’t look back. I have my own outlook and take on the government, but I still respect all the current and past individuals who made sacrifices to do the job and wear the uniform.

Semper Fi!

*Where can we learn more about you? What’s next for Charles? *Please say more modeling, please say more modeling, please say more modeling…*

I like to think of myself as a go-getter. Right now my passion is personal training. But if I hit an opportunity to do something I enjoy and make a ton of money, I’d do it – even if it meant porn. Lol! Realistically though, money isn’t everything. I train a few disabled people and I cut prices. Not because I have to, but because I want to. If someone that wasn’t given the best hand in life can make the most of it, the least I can do is extend my hand and help them along the way.

Very noble of you, Charles. You’ve displayed some traits I know many romance authors would eat up to write about. Thanks so much for being our guest here at MuseTracks.

You don’t get a cover model body without some hard work. Check out a pretty awesome (and gratuitously shirtless, at times) video of Charles strength training. Ouch! I’m trying to catch my breath and grabbing the Icy Hot just watching him. The video also shows him working as a personal trainer with some lucky gals.

http://youtu.be/d1ips3cV3Mc

Also, you can check out Charles in the ring.

http://youtu.be/4Q-te9Tf1a0

Find Charles on Facebook

www.facebook.com/charleshackmann

Got a question for Charles? Don’t be shy, ask away!