Robert Sepúlveda Jr.

Robert Sepúlveda Jr.
Born San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nationality American
Alma mater The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Occupation
  • Interior Designer
  • Founder and President of the Atlanta Rainbow Crosswalks
  • Creative Director
  • LGBTQ Activist
Known for Finding Prince Charming
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Robert Sepúlveda Jr. is a former fashion model, interior designer, creative director, and LGBTQ activist.

Early life and education

He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He grew up in Lake City, Florida where he attended Columbia High School. He received his degree in interior design from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, graduating summa cum laude. During his college years Sepúlveda Jr. worked as an escort to pay his way through college and to pay his rent.[1][2]

Career

Sepúlveda began his career at Valley Forge Fabrics, a supplier of decorative upholstery fabrics for the hospitality industry. There, he created and executed interior design schemes for hoteliers. In 2008 Sepúlveda moved to New York City where he began working with fashion houses Polo Ralph Lauren, Rugby Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, and Kenneth Cole, eventually assuming the role of acting Global Visual Manager of the Calvin Klein Home Collection. Sepúlveda has since founded RSJdesign, LLC,[3] his interior design firm specializing in luxury residential and commercial spaces. Today, the company has grown into a complete lifestyle design firm, offering custom art pieces, luxury candles, home fragrances, as well as maintaining its initial foundation in interior design.

Finding Prince Charming

In September 2016, Sepúlveda Jr. starred on the dating show Finding Prince Charming, which airs on the network Logo. The series depicted Sepúlveda Jr. getting to know thirteen gay men and each week he has to eliminate 1 in a ceremony.[4][5][6] The show shares the similar format to The Bachelor, however it is the first all gay-cast dating show.[7] Prior to the series airing, controversy arose surrounding Sepúlveda Jr with his past work as an escort being revealed and his personal videos were released by an ex-partner.[8][9] Logo has spoken out on that matter claiming they were fully aware of his history and explained that the series is reality and consists of many discussions such as "first time love to coming to terms with one’s past, fear of commitment and even HIV."[10][11]

Philanthropy

Sepúlveda has been involved in several public outreach initiatives and non-profit organizations. In 2015, he worked with the city of Atlanta with a proposal to launch the Atlanta Rainbow Crosswalks,[12] a historic public art project with the mission of advancing the awareness of diversity and equality through public art and community outreach. After more than a year of city meetings, gathering of permits, and raising funds the city approved his proposal and the Atlanta Rainbow Crosswalks was accepted into the city of Atlanta permanent collection of art. The gofundme campaign he started initially had a goal of $20,000.00, but well exceed that with total funds raised being $44,911.00.[13] The project consisted of painting the 10th St. & Piedmont Ave. intersection in downtown Atlanta in the colors of the rainbow flag to spread a visual message of acceptance, unity, and tolerance that represents the diversity of the community. In 2015 Sepúlveda's founded ATLRC a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization[14] with Sepúlveda acting as President.

In addition, Sepúlveda is a federal club member of the Human Rights Campaign and a sponsor of Joining Hearts, a non-profit that provides care and housing assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS in Atlanta.

References

  1. ↑ Brekke, Kira (August 31, 2016). "'The Gay Bachelor' Robert Sepulveda Jr. Opens Up About His Past". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  2. ↑ Broverman, Neal; Jude, Angela (September 9, 2016). "Gay Bachelor Talks Candidly About Escort Past, X-Rated Videos". Advocate. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Robert Sepulveda Jr. | designs". www.robertsepulvedajr.com. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  4. ↑ "Logo Greenlights New Dating Competition Series "Finding Prince Charming"". The Futon Critic. July 12, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  5. ↑ ""Shows A-Z - Finding Prince Charming, on Logo". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  6. ↑ "US network making first all-gay dating show". New.com. July 13, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  7. ↑ "The First Finding Prince Charming: Remembering Bravo's Boy Meets Boy". advocate.com.
  8. ↑ Hod, Itay (September 17, 2016). "Logo's 'Gay Bachelor' Reality Show Scrambles Over Reveal of Star's Sex Worker Past". The Wrap. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ Gomez, Patrick. "Finding Prince Charming's Bachelor Reveals Why He Became an Escort". People. People TV Watch. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ Cooper, Mariah (September 2, 2016). "LOGO 'blindsided' by 'Finding Prince Charming' bachelor's escort past". The Washington Blade. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  11. ↑ Hod, Itay (September 8, 2016). "Logo's 'Gay Bachelor' Robert Sepulveda on Escort Past: 'Now I Can Talk About It Openly". The Wrap. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  12. ↑ FOX. "Rainbow crosswalks project underway in Midtown Atlanta". Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  13. ↑ "Click here to support The Atlanta Rainbow Crosswalks by Robert Sepúlveda Jr.". GoFundMe.com. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  14. ↑ "About us | The Atlanta Rainbow Crosswalks". www.atlrc.org. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
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