Which model was the first male face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo fragrance?

Tyson Beckford was the first male face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo fragrance.

The appointment made Beckford a prominent figure in the rise of the male supermodel during the 1990s. Ralph Lauren used him extensively for Polo advertising, and his athletic appearance became closely associated with the brand’s image.

Beckford was born in Rochester, New York, in 1970 and was discovered by a talent scout in New York. He signed with the agency VIVA and soon appeared in major fashion campaigns. His Polo work helped bring male fashion modeling to a much larger mainstream audience.

Beckford is sometimes mixed up with Marcus Schenkenberg, another highly visible male model of the same period. Schenkenberg was especially known for campaigns including Calvin Klein, but Beckford holds the specific Polo distinction.