In rapid succession Derek Marrocco shot campaigns for Phat Farm with Juan Algarin, Marchand Eyewear with Rudy Hoffman and for Andrew Fezza, making him one of the top boys at Boss. Both Gentleman's Options and Maxim have featured him in big layouts recently, one shot by Scavullo himself. And at 6'3", Derek is also in big demand for the shows, having done Chereskin, Jason Bunin, Pierre Garroudi, Joseph Israel, Chaka King, B. Michaels, F. Scott French, Everetth Hall, Josef Abboud, Marsotto and Rocco Brocco, among others.

So what was it like growing up in Roselle, NJ?

It's a nice small American town. I went to Catholic School, an all-boys high school, I was an altar boy, went to church every Sunday, the whole thing.

How many kids in your family?

I was an only child.

Did you like that or not like that?

I think at times I probably wanted a sibling there, probably an older brother. But I mean, you know, it was great, I never had to worry about having to share things, and I always had my friends around, so it didn't really make any difference, but I still think even to this day I'd like an older brother.

Were you good at school?

Yeah, I was on the honor roll and in the National Honors Society in high school. I was a good student and got scholarships to high school and University.

Were you tall when you were young?

No, I was just 5'6" my freshman year of high school, then I shot up to 5'11" the next year, 6'2" the next and finally just over 6'3" my senior year. Then I stopped growing.

Thank God!

Thank God is right, I'd be 6'10" and the poster boy for Big and Tall. (laughs)