The casting team here at D’Marie is often asked by clients about which talent on social media we have our eyes on. Who are the up-and-coming influencers on social? We believe there is a lid for every branded pot and influencers can come from a variety of locations and disciplines. So, to introduce you to some of our most adored influencers we’ve decided to promote them in a new series we’re calling #OneToWatch.

We’re kicking off #OneToWatch with model and pro-cyclist Jeremy Santucci. Recently while racing at the Red Hook Criterium in Milan, Jeremy was captured dramatically throwing his bike to the ground at the finish line, completely breaking the bike to pieces. Of course, the media loved the clip and it quickly trended across social media playing perfectly into the “bad boy of biking” persona that already follows Jeremy around the industry. However, knowing Jeremy as we do, we knew there had to be more to the story so we thought it’d be best to go for a ride and let him tell his side of the story. 

A few weeks back you got some press for throwing a bike at the end of a race. What happened? What impact did that moment have on your social media?

At the Red Hook race, I avoided running someone else over. I decided to take the wall instead of hitting the other biker. I had the choice of hitting and possibly killing him or hitting the wall. The bike was completely totaled from that. I knocked out after the crash, picked up the bike, and walked to the finish line. At that point, my emotions kicked in because I realized my equipment was gone and decided to finish it (the bike) off. What most people don't know is that I had permission to do what I did from the guy who gave me the bike. I just put the horse to rest. As for what impact this event had on my social media, the day after the race news stations picked up the dramatic clip, reaching all the way to China and Japan. There is always going to be a negative side of social media... but from this incident, I gained about 4-5k new followers the week after the race.

Do you think social media has had a negative or positive impact on your career and the modeling industry in general?

Both. Positive if it’s used right. Negative when it waters down the content. People are putting out things that are not really authentic. They are creating an illusion. I try to keep my page really real.

You recently started a bike company, R3VO. Tell me more about it...

R3VO Racing is a project that was started by myself and friend Tobias, along with others. The goal is to design our own bike with our own personal geometry. On a plane back home from Milan, a friend Cole and I each drew a sketch with the idea and design of the bike. Once we were finished we realized that the drawings came out the same. It was meant to be. Revo is a brand...it's more than building a bike. It's going to be a lifestyle brand. 

Interview by: Brielle Castelbuono

Photography by @craigfosterphotography