Former NFL Player, Dale Moss On His Holistic Approach To Wellness and What Men Worry About
WITH DALE MOSS
Raised in South Dakota and now based in New York, Dale Moss Is using his experiences from his NFL career to drive his passion for wellness.
Photography, Frederic Georges
Words, Brett Staniland In Conversation with Dale Moss
VIEW GALLERY
At just 31 years old, Dale Moss has achieved goals beyond his years, spread across multiple industries. From a quick scroll of his Instagram account (you should go and do that), one might assume a glamorous and easy-going lifestyle; attending chic events and gracing many campaigns across fitness and grooming.
However, presented below in conversation with the man himself, I managed to dig deeper underneath that wrinkle-less skin to see what really goes on behind the scenes.
Being the first rostered NFL player to be signed to Wilhelmina Models, Dale truly understands the importance of looking after oneself. With many different projects on the go at once, I wanted to learn more about the routine and habits of a model, presenter, producer, influencer, and ambassador to discover the things that are most important to him.
Men worry about the same things women do, we just don’t like to admit it
THE LOOK
See Through Rain Coat, Karl Lagerfeld Paris; His Own Custom Necklace
It’s an early Monday morning, Dale is already on the way to his first appointment, looking fresh faced and (very) bright-eyed. He seems enthusiastic and positive about the day, despite being on the way to surgery, with a gleaming smile on his face. He’s very relaxed and open about talking through his life experiences and personal battles which reads into his character and his approach on life. Despite his accolades, popularity and stature (he’s the best part of 6’3 and 220lbs), he seems approachable and not at all intimidating.
I guess the amiable white smile helps with that too.
THE LOOK
See Through Rain Coat, Karl Lagerfeld Paris
BO: I read that you’re a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, how did that come about and what’s your role within it?
DM: My sister was a Special Olympics athlete, and when they had the world games in LA in 2015, I reached out to be involved, and it completely changed my life. Since then, I’ve been to Abu Dhabi and Austria for the games. I now work with their headquarters on growing inclusive measures for their unified sports program, which affects around 5 million special Olympics athletes globally. I’ll be coaching at the NBA All-Star weekend and taking part in the celebrity game and things like that. We also speak to congress and senate on raising funding and support for the unified sports program in schools. Sport is something that doesn’t have a language barrier, and it helps break down other barriers that society may have built up. At one time, two of the countries were at war with each other and while this was going on, the athletes were walking out at the opening ceremony holding hands. Being able to have a hand in people achieving a dream, it’s so powerful and extremely rewarding.
BO: What does your average day look like?
DM: I get up between 5 and 5:30am and start by planning out my day. I don’t immediately run to the gym or my emails. I take time for myself. Those minutes really help make my day easier. Then I will go and workout 3-4 times a week. If I’m on the road, we have something set up so I can still workout. Then into meetings, castings and auditions, whatever it may be that day. I’ll spend time with my good friend and digital editor, Coy White, talking about ideas, strategy and planning ways we can grow for both of us. This time of year, there are all sorts of events so I make sure I am focused on everything so that I can attend the movie premiere, a screening, or supporting a brand or client. I love seeing how those events are put together as well as meeting cool and interesting people in the industry. I might have a drink (Soda water with lime, there doesn’t always have to be tequila in there), but it’s that work-life balance as I’m still “on”, networking and talking to people. It’s certainly quality over quantity with these events now though.
BO: Where did your start in wellness and fitness come from?
DM: I’ve always been drawn to fitness and it comes from a love of setting goals and working hard, but also having mentors in this space from which I can learn. Even though I’m a certified trainer, I still work with some of the best trainers and nutritionists - even dermatologists. For me, I love learning and I love working hard. The mind-body connection has not only been important to my (sports) career, but also in my overall well-being. It definitely keeps me grounded and forces me to have a certain level of discipline, which helps alongside all the traveling and events to prevent me from falling into a bad routine.
The mind-body connection has not only been important to my sports career, but also in my overall well-being.
THE LOOK
Light Grey Long Coat, Karl Lagerfeld Paris
BO: How did you come to care about nutrition?
DM: Definitely through professional sports. I’ve always been really in-tune with my body and health. But when I came to New York, it really accelerated my knowledge and it grew rapidly from being immersed in this culture where I was around the top people in the beauty and wellness industry. Of course it was now my job, not in a superficial way, but I had to be informed on what I was endorsing, as well as being able to educate those around me.
BO: What’s your diet like?
DM: I’m not plant-based. I really focus on sustainability now and that transcends down to my apparel, about how things are made and where they are sourced. With food, this is the same, so that makes a difference in what I consume. With alcohol, I believe everything should be in moderation and balance. If I know I’m going out and will have some drinks, I will factor that into my day. I never want to make food my enemy. I will go through phases where I will have a strict routine and diet to achieve a certain goal, like now I’m aiming to be in the best physical shape I’ve ever been in, so for the last month it’s been quite restricted but this isn’t something I do year-round. It’s not at all sustainable to be like that. I know sugar and dairy don’t work well with my body, so it’s about understanding how to balance everything because without balance you start to over-indulge in other things.
THE LOOK
Light Grey Long Coat, Karl Lagerfeld Paris; T Shirt, Ralph Lauren; Trousers, Hugo Boss; His Own Custom Necklace
BO: Why should men care about these things?
DM: For a long time, even for skin-care and self-care, there was the perception that it wouldn’t be “manly” and that you shouldn’t take the time, energy and effort to do those things because a lot of people would think it was “feminine” or whatever - which is completely false. When it comes to your body, you have to invest in it, just as much as you would in any business. At the end of the day, if you’re not comfortable and happy in your own skin, you’re never going to have the amount of success in life, or anything, that you could otherwise. You’re never going to meet your full potential
if you want sustainability and longevity, it’s those small changes THAT are going to build routines and habits that last a lifetime.
THE LOOK
Turtleneck, Dries Van Noten
BO: What was the locker room environment like in terms of grooming and taking care of yourself?
DM: It’s funny because I can see a shift that has happened over the years. Being the first NFL athlete to be signed with Wilhelmina (Models), in 2015, it was very uncommon. You didn’t really hear about men’s routines or what they were doing with their skincare as well as sustainability or what was organic. These words weren’t thrown around as much as they are now. From a business perspective, nutrition has always been popular but now, sustainability is at the forefront of these things. And what’s cool about sports is that it’s able to fuse together many industries. My goal is to be a thought-leader and a voice but also fuse sports, lifestyle and entertainment.
BO: Did signing with a modelling agency make you reconsider your grooming habits and routines?
DM: I feel like I was always somewhat in-tune with it. I’m the only boy in a family of 4 sisters so, I’ve always been around women and then moving to New York, it intensified. I think it was more reassuring but also exciting that I was one of the only guys at that time who was doing both, so I liked that I could try new things. I never really cared what people thought, and in life I always like to try new things. What other people think is irrelevant.
BO: As a guy with many different projects, how do you enlighten other men on the entrepreneurial aspect and routine of being a creator?
DM: You start with an overall goal and a vision, and then work backwards so if there’s something I want to accomplish whether that’s in health, style, or day to day skincare routines, I definitely take a hard look at the assets I have available and see where that aligns with what I am passionate about. At the end of the day, a lot of it comes down to building great relationships with people. And even when the camera is not on, conducting yourself in a professional manner and being yourself.
BO: You mentioned the general perception of discussing grooming and aspects of wellness not being “manly” and “feminine”. Were there any times you experienced negativity or any hard lessons you had to learn by prioritizing your appearance and well-being?
DM: Early on, being in the modeling industry whilst playing, I would receive comments from some of the other players, perhaps because they didn’t really grasp the full concept of it. At that time, people weren’t as aware about things like sexuality and they would be on guard (en-garde) and maybe naïve to the world. I have so many friends from the LGBTQ community, and the idea of someone feeling uncomfortable around someone from that community is so foreign to me. People are people in my eyes, and despite being in some big cities, they’re still quite isolated compared with somewhere like New York, when it comes to fashion and beauty. I feed off other peoples’ energy and see beyond their appearance or sexuality, I always find beauty in other peoples’ creativity and vision.
THE LOOK
Turtleneck, Dries Van Noten; Wrist Watch, Carl F. Bucherer
BO: What do you think men worry about, and what should they perhaps focus on?
DM: Men worry about the exact same things women do, we just don’t like to admit it. When it comes to overall look and feel of your body, I think it’s something men think about a lot more than they say. You shouldn’t focus so much on how you look but more about how you feel. Men seem to be really focused on the physical aspect but the mental aspect is major. If you take care with what you put into your body, then the physical things will also take shape. The mind-body connection is so real, it’s a process that you build with the things you don’t see.
BO: Having to look after yourself for your career and everything you do, is there anything that you have to miss out on that you would otherwise like to indulge in?
DM: I never really feel like I miss out on too much, I still like to go out and still have drinks and have fun, it’s just within the framework of my lifestyle. My schedule is whatever I make it, but I do have to have a level of discipline especially now I have hired additional people, and I don’t like to lose days. It’s a good thing though, I may be missing out on events and some travel, but my obligation is to my career and people I work with, so I don’t see it as I am missing out. These are all choices that we make in life. I am working towards my 5-year plan and I’m in year 4 of that. It all comes back to my foundation that sets me up for the bigger picture so if that means sacrificing a few experiences here and there, it’s well worth it.
BO: What sort of things do you look forward to?
DM: This year I’m excited about building a strong presence as a hosted media personality. Last year I hosted during the Super Bowl which is nice to still be involved in sports, but I want to really to do more in entertainment. I admire people like Ryan Seacrest who has built a brand that is phenomenal. I really want to connect and immerse myself in that entertainment industry, and build relationships across the top people in fashion, music, sports, TV and all those things. By the end of this year, I want to do a docu-series highlighting strong empowering stories, with a sports tie, but humanising these inspiring iconic sports figures. A lot of exciting work! The way this year has started off, I couldn’t be more thankful! I’m excited to have long term deals with brands, which aren’t too dissimilar to the endorsement deals we used to have as athletes - just in a different space.
BO: What advice would you give to beginners or people just starting out, as simple steps to ensure good health?
DM: Have a plan, and write down your goals. I think that’s number one. If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re just wandering aimlessly. So find out what matters to you. Secondly, small changes make a huge difference over time. We always want instant gratification, but if you want sustainability and longevity, it’s those small changes that are going to build routines and habits that last a lifetime. Lastly, I’d say ask for advice and don’t be scared of it. When you do something new, you’re often scared of messing up, so ask your friends or experts for advice. The successful ones in that space want to see others succeed. The world is about collaboration and supporting other people now. There’s no need to keep things to yourself, that’s such an outdated mind-set. People will be excited to give you insights and help you, because it makes them feel good too.
BO: What’s the ultimate goal for Dale Moss?
DM: I’ll be a leading host or media personality in the entertainment industry. With that, I want to be well respected and a thought-leader. On top of that, I will be the producer of a documentary and docu-series, and have a diverse business portfolio.
