Brock O’Hurn wants to save our jumbos

It is hard not to shamelessly stare at Brock O’Hurn, the six-foot-seven 24-year-old considered “the hottest guy on Instagram”. Why wouldn’t anyone not gawk a tad longer at his striking eyes, long and flowing golden brown mane of hair, a hulking frame that is really hard to miss and, if shirtless, rock hard ripped abs that look like they have been carved?

Take a cursory look at the comment section of any of his pictures and you will be met with; “Can you get any hotter?”, “Look at God’s work!”, “He’s the epitome of the perfect man”, together with proclamations of unending love. And all this is just a tiny taste of what a frenzy he causes on the Internet.

His life can be split into two parts; Before and after the hair bun video. Last year, O’Hurn made a video tying his hair into a bun and then uploaded it on Facebook. The world went gaga. By then, he had just 10,0000 Instagram followers and 300 on Facebook. After posting that video, his social media presence exploded. Today he has 1.9 million Instagram followers, courtesy of the man bun that made him famous, and over 730,000 followers on Facebook.  

Brock was in Kenya for the first time on a mission to track and protect bull elephants from poachers. In between being the hottest man on the Internet and saving wildlife, the soft spoken one-answer stud spoke to on his conservancy efforts and being an online sensation.

What brings you to Kenya?

I came to collaborate with the Karen Blixen Camp Trust on job creation and wildlife conservation. They are located in the North Mara Conservancy within the Masai Mara. I saw all the amazing things they were doing and knew I had to be a part of it. 

How did you end up choosing Kenya?

It was a no brainer. I am big on conservation and the conversation started a few months ago through my jewelry company Ebb and Flow, and one of the main reason is we want to teach people here how to make jewelry using their natural resources. We had to come here. The weather’s different but it’s not too far off from back home. But the wildlife is phenomenal; there’s a hippo next to me right now as we are speaking. 

How many elephants have you tracked so far?

We’ve only been here a couple of days and we’ve managed to track one elephant so far. 

How do you go from being just a regular guy to an online sensation?

It’s about being consistent online and being truthful to myself. I guess I just got lucky because I used to be shy when I was much younger, but as I got older I got a lot more confident. 

What’s the best thing about being 24?

I get to see the world and reach out to people and try to inspire them. 

As a trainer, have you trained any famous people now that you are famous as well?

I haven’t done that in a while. It was one of my first jobs growing up, but my career has taken a little bit of a different path right now. 

Do you endorse products?

I don’t do that very much but if I work with a company, it has to make sense to me; otherwise I wouldn’t do it. 

What if it were a Calvin Klein underwear ad?

I would love to do that; let’s just put it out there that if they did approach me, I would do it. 

Do you get tired of people staring at you all the time?

It happens a lot and it’s awkward sometimes. But I’m very tall, you can’t help but see me. (Laughs). 

Was it awkward being the tallest kid?

I was a lot taller than the other kids, then I wasn’t comfortable with my body but I started working out and I developed physically and emotionally as well. 

Do you have any insecurities?

Everything I was insecure about I worked on, like speaking in public; I can do that now. But everything I ever feared or doubted I worked on. 

Do you take advantage of your looks to get free stuff?

Not so much. I get offered a lot of free stuff but I work hard for everything I have. 

You scored a role in Tyler Perry’s upcoming movie ‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’

It comes out in October. Right now I can’t divulge too much information, but Tyler said it’s his funniest movie yet. People should watch out for it. 

Are offers for movie roles coming in after that or is it a struggle?

I have been getting offers for movie roles very often. It’s just a matter of picking the ones that are best for me. But it is still a lot of hard work and I love what I do! 

Are you obsessed with how many likes you get on social media?

(Laughs). No, I’m not. As long as I’m doing what I love and sharing my life and adventures with those who want to see it; it makes no difference to me because I’m happy to do it. 

Do people ask to touch your hair and do you let them? 

Yes they do and I let them. I don’t have a problem with it at all, unless they have scissors... then I run (laughs). 

The man bun, you made it famous, is it catching on?

I see a lot more men doing it now, it’s on the increase 

Do you have people that troll you on social media?

I get a couple of them but most of the people who follow me are good and kind people. 

You have been compared with Chris Hemsworth’s character Thor; have you met him?

I haven’t met him but he’s an incredible and very talented actor. 

Are you shirtless all the time?

It’s not as often as it seems, but mostly when I’m shooting commercials.