One mans shameless pursuit of fame.

last updated 8 January 2015

Switzerland

Philippe Amrein

The new Gucci model looked so sultry, everyone wanted to know his name, said Philippe Amrein in the Zurich Tages-Anzeiger. Including Gucci. Turns out model Juan Isidro Casilla created these full-page Gucci perfume ads himself, starring himself. Posing as an ad agency rep, he then placed the ads in several Swiss newspapers, and no one was the wiser until some surprised Gucci executive got the bill. Apparently the Dominican-born Casilla, 22, had a “long history of thirsting after fame.” He used to claim he worked for Sony music and book singing gigs for himself. Once, he posed as a member of the acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil and gave out what he said were free tickets to that night’s show (the tickets were fakes). But only the Gucci stunt succeeded in attracting national attention. Unfortunately for Casilla, he hasn’t become a sought-after model but a “national joke.” Swiss comedians have been mocking him relentlessly. One TV magazine show brought on a psychiatrist who diagnosed the aspiring performer as suffering from “narcissistic personality disorder.” Casilla may even be charged with fraud. We should go easier on him. After all, when was the last time someone brought the Swiss such “general merriment?”