Max Emerson

{{short description|American actor, model, author, and filmmaker}}

{{Infobox model

| name = Max Emerson

| image =

| image_size =

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| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| birth_name = Max Hanley Emerson

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|9|7}}

| birth_place = Vero Beach, Florida, U.S.

| death_date =

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| nationality = American

| other_names = Maxisms (online)

| citizenship =

| alma_mater = University of Miami (BFA)

| occupation = Actor, model, writer, director

| years_active =

| known_for =

| partner = Andrés Camilo (2016–2025)

| children =

| parents =

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| height = 6 ft 0 in{{cite web|title=Max Emerson|url=http://www.qmanagementinc.com/talent/max-emerson-1|website=Q Management|access-date=January 14, 2018}}

| hair_color = Brown / Dark Blond

| eye_color = Brown

| agency = Wilhelmina Models

Q Management (New York)
Established Models (London)
Heffner Management (Seattle)
Next Management (Miami)
Factor Chosen (Chicago)

| module =

| website = {{URL|www.maxismsmedia.com}}

}}

Max Emerson (born September 7, 1988) is an American actor, model, author, director and YouTuber. He is known for his modelling and social media profile, particularly on Instagram. He has appeared on TV in small roles, including the season 5 finale of Glee.

Early life and education

Emerson was born in Vero Beach, Florida and studied for a BFA in performance and directing at the University of Miami, from which he graduated in 2009.{{cite web|title=About|url=http://maxismsmedia.com/about|website=Maxisms Media|access-date=January 14, 2018}}

Career

= Modeling =

Emerson began modeling while he was a student, when he signed up with the agency Wilhelmina Models.{{cite web|title=The Model Wall {{!}} Max Emerson|url=http://ftape.com/model/?portfolio=max-emerson|website=Fashion Tape|access-date=January 14, 2018}} He works with agencies including Wilhelmina (New York),{{cite web|url=http://www.wilhelmina.com/new-york/men/men/5299-max-emerson/|title=Max Emerson | Wilhelmina|website=wilhelmina.com}} LA Models,{{cite web|url=http://www.lamodels.com/?ref=M_1_2a4c14_43974_0_545217|title=LA MODELS|website=lamodels.com}} Established Models (London),{{cite web|title=Max Emerson|url=http://establishedmodels.com/model/max-emerson-1|website=Established Models|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114130654/http://establishedmodels.com/model/max-emerson-1|url-status=dead}} Heffner Management (Seattle),{{cite web|title=Max Emerson {{!}} Portfolio|url=http://www.heffnermanagement.com/Portfolio/men/mainboard/men/897242/max-emerson|website=Heffner Management|access-date=January 14, 2018}} Next Management (Miami){{cite web|title=Max Emerson|url=http://www.nextmanagement.com/miami/profile/max-emerson|website=Next Management|access-date=January 14, 2018}} and Factor Chosen (Chicago).{{cite web|title=Max Emerson|url=http://www.factorchosenchicago.com/talent/max-emerson|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114184121/http://www.factorchosenchicago.com/talent/max-emerson|url-status=dead}}

= Filmmaking =

He wrote, produced, co-directed and acted in two short films, DipSpit and Earwig, which were shown for the first time at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on April 26, 2011. Earwig is a drama about a closeted gay college student, while DipSpit is a comedy about two straight male models who get kicked out and move in with a gay college student.{{cite web|last1=Goyanes|first1=Ily|title=Max Emerson Screens Earwig and DipSpit at MGLFF's Made in Miami Tonight|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/arts/max-emerson-screens-earwig-and-dipspit-at-mglffs-made-in-miami-tonight-6495545|website=Miami New Times|access-date=January 15, 2018|date=April 26, 2011}}

In October 2015, Emerson announced his intention to produce an independent film called "Hooked" for which he had written the story, telling the story of a homeless gay prostitute called Jack and addressing the problems faced by homeless LGBT youth.{{cite web|last=Emerson|first=Max|title=Hooked: More about the Indiegogo|date=October 7, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn6b9jaBqkM|via=YouTube|access-date=January 14, 2018}} He aimed to raise $150,000 for the project via Indiegogo and give half of any profits made to charities benefiting LGBT people. The launch video for the Indiegogo campaign featured Todrick Hall and musician Tom Goss.{{cite news|last1=Rees|first1=Nicholas Richard|title=Fund This: Feature Film About LGBT Youth, Benefitting LGBT Youth|url=https://www.out.com/movies/2015/10/23/fund-feature-film-about-lgbt-youth-benefitting-lgbt-youth|access-date=January 14, 2018|work=Out|date=October 23, 2015}} As part of it he released a single with Goss called "Not Enough".{{cite magazine|last1=Caulfield|first1=Keith|title=Model Max Emerson: From 'Super-Shameless Comedy' to Super-Serious Song & Movie|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6723072/max-emerson-youtube-not-enough-song-hooked-movie-interview|access-date=January 14, 2018|magazine=Billboard|date=October 12, 2015}} The campaign was supported by Out magazine.

Hooked had its world premiere at NewFest: The New York LGBT Film Festival on June 26, 2017,{{cite web|last1=Avery|first1=Dan|title=Instagrammer Max Emerson Makes Directorial Debut With Queer Teen Drama "Hooked"|url=http://www.newnownext.com/instagrammer-max-emerson-makes-directorial-debut-with-queer-teen-drama-hooked/06/2017/|website=NewNowNext.com|access-date=January 14, 2018|date=June 26, 2017}} and its European premiere at the 7th Homochron film festival in Cologne on October 20 the same year.{{cite web|title=Hooked (Europa-Premiere) + Gast|url=https://www.homochrom.de/hooked|website=homochron|date=September 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2018|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Hooked|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6095808|publisher=IMDb|access-date=January 14, 2018}} The Los Angeles Times gave it a negative review.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-hooked-review-20180530-story.html|title=Review: YouTuber Max Emerson's gay hustler drama 'Hooked' lands with a thud|date=May 30, 2018|website=Los Angeles Times}}

= Acting =

As well as acting in Earwig and DipSpit, Emerson has appeared in single episodes of the TV series Glee (the season 5 finale The Untitled Rachel Berry Project), Hit the Floor, The Real O'Neals{{cite web|last1=Tharrett|first1=Matthew|title=Max Emerson Announces New Film, Song To Support Homeless LGBT Youth|url=http://www.newnownext.com/max-emerson-announces-new-documentary-and-single-to-support-homeless-lgbt-youth/10/2015/|website=NewNowNext.com|access-date=January 15, 2018|date=October 14, 2015}} and Eastsiders,{{cite web|last1=Ng|first1=Philiana|title='EastSiders' Season 3 Premiere Date Revealed -- Plus, See the First Photos!|url=http://www.etonline.com/exclusive-eastsiders-season-3-premiere-date-revealed-plus-see-first-photos-87831|website=ET Online|access-date=January 14, 2017|date=September 22, 2017}} and of the web series Coffee House Chronicles and the movie made from it.{{cite web|author1=Coffee House Chronicles|title=Coffee House Chronicles: The Movie! Final Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEf7cLGeBJU|via=YouTube|date=November 20, 2017}}

From September 7 to 24, 2017, he starred as Mitchell in Douglas Carter Beane's comedy play The Little Dog Laughed at the Red House Arts Center in Syracuse, New York.{{cite web|last1=Mathieu|first1=Chloe|title=Edgy comedy 'The Little Dog Laughed' to kick off Redhouse theater season|url=http://dailyorange.com/2017/09/edgy-comedy-the-little-dog-laughed-to-kick-off-redhouse-theater-season/|website=The Daily Orange|date=September 4, 2018|access-date=January 14, 2018}} A local reviewer said each of the four actors in the play "brings a memorable, engaging performance", and that Emerson "delivers the role of a sweet, confused, and occasionally thoughtless young star with sensitivity and kindness".{{cite web|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Kevin|title='The Little Dog Laughed' at the Redhouse is more than the naughty comedy that was promised (review)|url=http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/09/the_little_dog_laughed_at_the_redhouse_is_more_than_was_promised.html|website=Syracuse.com|access-date=January 14, 2018|date=September 9, 2017}}

= Writing =

Emerson wrote an autobiography, Hot Sissy – Life Before Flashbulbs, describing his teenage years growing up in a "redneck" area of Florida. Hot Sissy was released as an e-book and in a limited print run of 500 hardcover copies in December 2014. The limited editions were each signed and came with an original Polaroid picture.{{cite web |title=HOT SISSY: Life Before {{as written|Lightbulbs}} |url=http://maxismsmedia.com/hot-sissy/| publisher=Max Emerson |access-date=January 14, 2018 }}

Personal life

In June 2016, he publicly introduced his boyfriend, Andrés Camilo, an officer in the US Army,{{cite web |title=A US Army Officer Posed in Uniform with His Boyfriend and Broke the Internet |date=April 5, 2017 |url=https://outbuzz.com/andres-camilo-max-emerson |website=Outbuzz.com |access-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829194024/http://outbuzz.com/andres-camilo-max-emerson |url-status=dead }} in a YouTube video.{{cite web|last=Emerson|first=Max|title=Meet My Boyfriend!|via=YouTube|date=June 16, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTAsGOqTQcs|access-date=January 14, 2018}}

Emerson has an active social media presence and posts regularly on YouTube where his username is "TheMaxVicious". {{As of|2018|12|post=,}} he has 1 million followers on Instagram and 19,500 on Twitter. On YouTube and on social media, Emerson is known for his humour and for showing off his body.

In May 2017, French comic TV presenter Cyril Hanouna used one of Emerson's torso pictures to set up a catfishing profile on a gay dating site, and tricked the men who responded to the profile into revealing sexual fantasies to him while he was live on his show Touche pas à mon poste !. The segment triggered nearly 20,000 complaints to regulators and condemnation from LGBT groups.{{cite news|title=Cyril Hanouna: French host humiliated gay men on live TV|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40002549|access-date=January 14, 2018|work=BBC News|date=May 22, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Wong|first1=Curtis M.|title=French TV Host Plays Cruel Joke On Gay Men And Sparks Global Backlash|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/glaad-french-tv-protest_us_5925da97e4b0265790f49340|website=HuffPost|access-date=January 14, 2018|date=May 24, 2017}}

In April 2022, Emerson served as the Grand Marshal of the Miami Beach Gay Pride.{{Cite web |title=Celebrate Miami Beach Pride at Lummus Park all weekend with grand marshal Max Emerson – WSVN 7News {{!}} Miami News, Weather, Sports {{!}} Fort Lauderdale |date=April 8, 2022 |url=https://wsvn.com/entertainment/deco-drive/celebrate-miami-beach-pride-at-lummus-park-all-weekend-with-grand-marshal-max-emerson/ |access-date=April 11, 2022 |language=en-US}}

In July 2023, Emerson and Camilo announced their engagement on Instagram.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu7YMGso_8N/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==|title=WE ARE ENGAGED! @maxisms proposed last night when he pulled me onstage at the @aliforneycenter Oasis Summer Party. We'll share the proposal video and other details soon. Our love has been an adventure and a home at the same time. We can't wait to keep the love going and celebrate with our friends and family.|website=instagram.com|language=en|access-date=July 20, 2023}}{{Primary source inline|date=January 2025}} In January 2025, however, the two had announced that they had ended their relationship after 9 years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DExYbiLxonM/?igsh=aDFqenpzMWpqNXJy|title=After nine years together we've decided to separate. The fire that took our home accelerated this decision by giving us clarity and simplicity. We were already beginning to explore different paths- this tragedy is serving as a catalyst for a clean break. It's time to start again, as individuals. Our time together wasn't wasted. We still love each other fully, deeply, and unconditionally. That love doesn't end; it evolves. We are part ways with respect and gratitude, carrying forward all that we've learned.|website=instagram.com|language=en|access-date=January 13, 2025}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Max Emerson and Andrés Camilo separate after house burns down |url=https://www.out.com/celebs/max-emerson-andres-camilo-breakup |access-date=April 21, 2025 |website=out.com |language=en}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Type ! class="unsortable"\| Role ! class="unsortable"\| Notes ! class="unsortable"\| Ref(s)
2010 \| Violet Tendencies \| Movie \| Max \|Self \|{{IMDb name\|2648791}}{{unreliable source?\|date=October 2021}}
2011 \| Earwig \| Short \| Max \| Writer, producer, co-director \|
2011 \| DipSpit \| Short \| Sam \| Writer, producer, co-director \|
2014 \| Glee \| TV series \| Male model \| Episode: The Untitled Rachel Berry Project \|
2014 \| "DTF" by Adore Delano \| Music video \| Max \| Self \|
2015 \| Coffee House Chronicles \| Web series \| Jonathan \| Episode: Seeking Same \|
2015 \| Futbol \| Movie \| Muffin Troll \| Actor \|
2016 \| Hit the Floor \| TV series \| Max \| Episode: Good D \|
2016 \| The Real O'Neals \| TV series \| Cologne Man \| Episode: Pilot \|
2016 \| Coffee House Chronicles: The Movie \| Movie \| Jonathan \| Actor \|
2017 \| Me + 1 \| Short \| Matthew Newman \| Actor \|
2017 \| EastSiders \| TV series \| Cheyenne \| Episode: Priscilla \|
2017 \| Hooked \| Movie \| \| Writer, director, executive producer \|
2018 \| "Now or never" by Blair St. Clair \| Music video \| Max \| Self \|
2019 \| Psycho Stripper \| Movie \| Benji \| Actor \|
2021 \| Single All the Way \| Film \| Maxisms \| \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Type

! class="unsortable"| Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

! class="unsortable"| Ref(s)

2010

| Violet Tendencies

| Movie

| Max

|Self