Cozette McCreery: Hi Michael, firstly I have to point out that, at the time of interview, I have only seen a torso shot of you. Richard Mortimer is being a bit coy on your behalf...

Michael Allen: On my behalf?  How very kind! There’s surely no need.

CM: So anyway, how did you come to pose for Mariano?

MA: Well... it all kind of happened so quickly. I was outside the Joiners (Arms) on a date with this girl getting in last orders and I just got talking to him. We had a really good chat. He asked if I knew of Bruce Weber. I did, but only because the week before Mark Moore had asked if I was a Bruce Weber model! He then confessed that he’d seen me several times at BoomBox and Ponystep, but was too shy to speak to me. He remembered the first time he’d seen me, dancing on the stage - which was about 18 months ago. He told me to check out his website to see if I liked the kind of stuff he did, and to prove he was legit and not a serial killer! I liked the stuff he’d done, in particular, the stuff with the French rugby team (Dieux du Stade: Calendar 07). It was more my thing. You know, men as men. I also liked the idea of the Bruce Weber thing. I looked in to that a bit further and discovered ‘Broken Noses’. I’ve always hated my crushed nose, but if it appeals-and strangely enough it does - then maybe it isn’t that bad after all.

CM: Had you modeled before?

MA: Erm, no. My first taste of ‘modeling’ was the photo of me with Jeremy Scott in i-D. I showed pretty much everyone I knew - I was so excited. Not only was I some northern nobody in i-D, but also I was with Jeremy Scott!

CM: I was mentioned in that i-D piece. I was dead chuffed. Did you feel comfortable with the MV shoot knowing the ‘gay’ connotations?

MA: The fact that people may think it’s a bit ‘gay’ doesn’t bother me one bit. Maybe I’m being a bit naïve? It wouldn’t be the first time, but I couldn’t care less what people think. I was just excited that someone thought I was good enough to be photographed. Like a proper model!

I appreciate, I may not be doing myself any favours by agreeing to it, and maybe even adding fuel to the ‘is he gay’ fire, but I’m not bothered. Those that know me know the score there. I don’t need to justify anything. Living in the North, I feel I have missed out on a lot of opportunities like this. I’m 30 now, and want to experience as much as possible.

CM: I know what you mean. I recently posed for Dazed – covered head to toe in BLACK paint. I would never have said yes to doing that when I was younger – I’m much more open to things as I get older. It’s the same with the door at BoomBox / Ponystep come to think of it. In fact we are quite similar in many ways. We are both becoming ‘Gay Icons’... ha ha ha!

MA: It seems that way! You know Jodie Harsh called me, “the gayest straight boy who ever lived”. I wasn’t too sure how to take it. Me being me, though, I just laughed it off and slipped into my sequined leggings!

CM: You and your sequins! Your dress sense is pretty daring for a straight man (well, excluding my Dad who peacocked around Knightsbridge in Mugler blousons and floor length silk Ferre macs), and I know that you don't tone it down that much for nights out ‘Ooop North’. You must feel pretty comfortable in your own skin…

MA: HAHA... this is where it gets really personal and I spill the beans, right?! Erm - no is the answer. I live by the quote, ‘identities are for wearing and showing, not for storing and keeping’. However, I never look in a mirror if anyone else is looking in it (which is kind of difficult in the gym). I also have a thing for sunglasses, which I wear during the day rain or shine. If I cover my eyes, I feel protected... crazy I know!

CM: You often chat to me about your Mum, it's obvious that you are very close, how does she feel about your posing? What about your Dad? You don’t talk about him much...

MA: Yeah, I love my mum. I don’t actually tell her enough. We’ve grown really close over the last few years, in fact since I came out of my last serious relationship. There are 3 things that scare me in life and so I avoid even thinking about them - dying, losing my mum and losing my dad! I don’t cry, in fact I think I’ve lost the ability to cry. But when I think about any of those, my heart feels heavy, my throat closes, and my body goes weak! It terrifies me. I genuinely feel like my mum is as excited as I am when I tell her I’ve done a photo shoot. I don’t hide anything from my mum. I feel like I owe it to her to show her just what I’m doing with my life, and I believe she’s grateful to be included, and that makes me happy. My dad is great too. He’s ace. Very old-fashioned ex-miner, but that gave me traditional values as a kid growing up: respect your mother, be honest, work hard and never throw anything away! Oh, and you can never have enough odd-shaped pieces of wood in the shed! He’s supported me in anything I’ve done, so, as with my mother, I share my ‘modeling’ experiences with him. Have you seen the scene in Zoolander when he’s in the bar with his dad? It’s like that! He laughs, and he doesn’t say much, but he’s happy if I am. He is of the old school mentality, urging me to “get yourself a trade, Son”. So I did!

CM: Ha ha! Are you sure he wasn’t urging you to “get to Trade!!!” Talking of clubs, the reason why we are friends is because of BoomBox. I couldn’t believe that you and your friends all came down on a coach from Leeds. What was the pull of BoomBox that made you travel so far?

MA: Well, it was all down to a friend who was in his first year of a fashion degree (Andrew). He sent me a link to dirtydirtydancing.com. I was amazed! I saw the photos and just couldn’t believe a place like that existed! I WANTED to be a part of it. I HAD to go. Andrew had heard of this wonderment called BoomBox and was desperate to go. We booked our room at the Travel Inn, jumped on the National Express and I was going to London for the first time in my life. That night was amazing! It basically changed my direction. Everything I was doing stopped. We got home on the Monday, and I emailed Andrew: “When are we going again?” I thought I knew what I was about, but BoomBox and London raised the bar. I will be forever in debt to Andrew for introducing me to it; your good self for letting us in, and Mr. Mortimer for providing something that has basically shaped my life since. Oh, and I’ll take this opportunity to dispel a common myth. ‘Everyone in London is ignorant’. CRAP! I’ve met some truly amazing people over the last 18 months. Some I’m proud to call good friends. Hey, I had my 30th birthday bash at the George and Dragon with my London homeys. I didn’t celebrate with anyone up North apart from having dinner with my closest friend and his family.

CM: And you are coming to Paris with us, right? 

MA: Try and stop me...

CM: God, you are way to muscle bound for me to even try! Actually when did you start working out and why?

MA: When I was 16. I was built like a pencil at school! So when I was old enough, I joined a gym. I started really for rugby, but I haven’t stopped since. Well, only when I go on holiday. I love it, although my back prevents me doing certain things.

CM: Superstylist Judy Blame keeps asking me about you, have you contacted him? Do you know what he's angling for? IS it for a shoot or a date (ha ha)?!!!

MA: Ha-ha - very funny Cozette. Yeah, I emailed him but he hasn’t replied. He mentioned doing a shoot, but it hasn’t come to anything yet... I’m game though!

CM.