Move over Jeremy Meeks, there’s a new hot felon in town. Introducing Prison Bae, aka Mekhi Alante Lucky. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and raised by his grandmother and godmother, the 20-year-old was scouted to be a model after his mugshot went viral (and no he wasn’t arrested for sex appeal in the first degree, it was for speeding and driving a stolen vehicle).
While we cannot condone crime, we can hope that Lucky’s new found modelling career will keep him on the straight and narrow, allowing him the opportunity to turn his life around, especially since he has a young daughter to take care of. Crime doesn’t pay, being cute does!
Since being scouted last year, Lucky has already strutted his stuff for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Helmut Lang, and appeared in the pages of CR Fashion Book and Arena Homme+. With a face as striking as his — Lucky was born with Heterochromia iridum, a rare condition in which one eye is a different colour to the other — it’s no wonder. We sat down with Hot Felon 2.0 to find out how it’s all going.
What is your earliest beauty-related memory?
When my daughter was born — she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Did you feel beautiful as a kid?
Yes, always. I think insecurity is something that is put on people, and it’s never been put onto me. I’ve never felt any pressure to look a certain way, I have always expressed myself as who I am.
How has social media affected your understanding of beauty?
It hasn’t really, I have followers on Instagram, but I’m not that into it. I don’t care if I get likes or anything. I just post what I want to post.
When do you feel the most beautiful?
After a haircut.
Diversity has become part of the cultural conversation in a way it hasn’t before, why do you think this is?
I think people are getting tired of seeing the same thing all the time. I think it’s all just been too slow, and it’s still slow. The industry needs to hurry up. Diversity isn’t a trend, I think it’s unstoppable.
What advice would you give to young kids who don’t know how to feel beautiful?
There’s no such thing as not beautiful.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
Making sure my grandma, godmother and daughter are all good, and that me and my people never have to worry again.
Credits
Photography Louie Banks
Styling Sophie Pera
Make-up Pablo Rodriguez
Hair Pablo Kuemin