From Milan to Mexico, Ford model John Byrne has traveled all over the world, worked with the biggest names in fashion, and has seen the best the business can offer. I caught up with him in New York to find out all about it:

When and how were you discovered?

My mom sent my pictures into Irene Marie Modeling Agency. They were interested in representing me, and once I was signed up I did my first job with Abercrombie and Fitch.

What's your first memory of the modeling biz?

My first memory of the biz was pure disbelief. I was in upstate New York and right on Lake George. The whole experience was surreal. The shoot was huge, had a bunch of models, and they treated us like Kings. We had the most fabulous food catered and I spent the entire time throwing footballs, shooting the breeze with other models, and basically hanging out, all while getting paid. I think I took maybe ten pictures the entire time. Ashton Kutcher and Tom Welling were both on the shoot as well, this before they were anything special. It was incredible.

So tell us about one of the perks, let's start with the traveling. What cool places have you been to, and by cool, I mean somewhere that really affected you.

The traveling is fantastic. My favorite place that I've visited is Munich. Being there is like being transported back in time. A real, Village-type atmosphere. The architecture is incredible, and I was impressed by how clean the streets, and public areas were. Also, during Christmas time the city has this wonderful, magical atmosphere. A great place to visit.

What's the worst place you ever went to, somewhere you'd never go back to?

The worst experience I had anywhere, is no doubt Puerta Vallerta, Mexico. I lost both my wallet and my cell phone there, and maybe a piece of my dignity as well. A person on the shoot gave me twenty bucks to help me survive my trip back to the States the next day, and I managed to lose that as well. I'm pretty sure I put the cash inside my passport, so its likely that I've bribed a customs official somewhere.

What's the hardest thing about modeling?

There's nothing hard about modeling. Its like getting paid to eat ice cream.

Ok, so another perk, the people, you must have some wild stories about people you've partied with, start talking:

There's definitely been some wild times. The most surreal time was definitely when I worked on an Armani campaign with Giorgio Armani. He was a consumate professional. I was shocked at how involved he was in the entire process, he really pays attention to the smallest details. I had to pinch myself when I was there, because working so closely with a fashion icon was such a mind-warp.

What kind of women do you meet on the shoots and in the shows? Any good stories there?

You get all types of women. The girls who think they are all that and a bag of chips, the ones that are quiet and keep to themselves, and the real friendly types. I had a girlfriend most of the time I was working as a model full-time, so it was pure window shopping. But when you do runway shows with women, you change in the same room before you walk out with your next look. Enough said.

What was your first runway show like, who was it for?

The first runway show I did was for Dirk Bikkemberg, a European designer. It was in Milan, and the runway was over an ice-rink. It was incredible. The moment I walked out the only thing I could see was the lit-up runway, everything else was pitch black. Then all I saw were instant camera flashes, that almost blinded me. It was very exciting.

Is the money as good as people say it is? If yes, and we both know it probably is, is there ever any weirdness when you think about how much money can be made in the business?

The money is definitely nice. The women get paid more, but men usually have longer careers so in many instances it evens out. There has certainly been some times where I felt like a thief after a job, especially when I got paid to take one picture and still received an entire day rate for the work. But there are people out there that are making some ridiculous money, and most of them don't feel too bad about it. I justified it by not being obnoxious with my the money I made. No gold chains, or bling-bling. Just saved the money for my law school education.

Ok, so back to your first runway show…did you think to yourself “Damn, I'm such a pimp!” …because I sure as hell would have:

I really didn't consider myself a pimp because I realized that most of my friends would laugh right in my face if they saw what I was wearing. Most of the stuff you sport during these runway shoes is stuff you wouldn't be caught dead wearing on Halloween night.

You know we have to hear a sex story, and don't hold back….exaggerate as much as you want…and when you're done, tell another one.

No comment.

I realize that's to avoid an argument that would last forever, so I'll accept that answer. So you were an Abercrombie model, what was that like?

Well, I think about every male model in the world has done Abercrombie at some point. But I am proud that I was one of the pre-nudity Abercrombie models. Everyone else after me had to run around bare-assed making fools of themselves, at least I had some shred of dignity when I left that shoot.

What's the real story with the catalogues, the boycotts, etc, what's the version the company doesn't want people to know?

I think the company just wants to push the edge. Every kid in college buys into the whole party/nudity/threesome thing, so Abercrombie markets to that audience with its catalogues. All of that stuff is staged of course, and all the models on the job want to get in more pictures so they are willing to push it to the limit as far as outrageous behavior so the photographer will focus on them. But its got old, and eventually you need to try something new, which is why the new catalogues seem much tamer.

What other big names have you worked with?

Jessica Miller, Isabelli, Giorgio Armani, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Welling, and some other guy models whose names you probably wouldn't recognize.

What's the best gig you ever got, the one you were the happiest with?

No doubt the Armani job. That was a great gig, and the biggest exposure job I ever had.

Which character in Zoolander do you most identify with? I'm kidding….but seriously which one:

Its gotta be Hansel. I never took the industry that serious which was sort of Hansel's vibe. I just gripped it and ripped it.

Spoken like a true model...i'll let the gripped it and ripped it joke I have pass too. You ever look in a mirror and say to yourself “because you're worth it”, just to mess around?

Of course. Who hasn't. But the Stuart Smalley Act gets tired sometimes. You can't take yourself seriously, especially when you're a male model because no one takes you seriously.

How far do you want to go in the modeling biz?

I would like to one day get a fragrance campaign. Those pay nicely and usually run for quite some time.

What's the worst thing about modeling?

The worst thing about modeling is that it encourages laziness. When you don't have to work hard for money, you begin to forget that the stuff doesn't grow on trees. Pretty soon you start complaining about good pay rates because they weren't as nice as the previous ones. You forget that it would take an entire summmer working part-time at McDonald's to make what you might pull down in a day.

What's the best thing?

Meeting interesting people with all sorts of interesting views about the world. Most people in the fashion industry are very creative, and its nice to hear interesting takes on politics, history, current events, and Paris Hilton's love life.

And now you're in law school, a very good one I have to say (Cornell); how do you think you're experience with modeling will help you with the practice of law?

As far as law school goes, it will be nice to see whether I can find something in the legal field which relates to the entertainment industry. That's something I'll have to look into as I learn more about the profession.

So what's next for you on the horizon?

Lots of studying, and warmly recalling the care-free days of modeling yesteryear.