- In 2006, Gwilym Pugh of London, UK, ran an insurance business. Now, he's a model.
- Pugh told INSIDER that he was unhappy with his quality of life, so he decided to make subtle changes focusing on improving his health.
- He lost weight, joined a band, and grew a beard.
- He was first discovered on Instagram and later signed to a top modeling agency while shopping.
- Pugh has since had a full career, traveling the world to work with brands like GQ and Bud Light.
In 2006, Gwilym Pugh spent his days behind a desk, running a small insurance brokerage. He was insecure and unhappy, so he decided to make a lifestyle change.
One thing led to another, and over a decade later Pugh is now a world-class model — but getting there wasn't easy.
"There was a pivotal moment when I thought that if I didn't change my habits, my quality of life would keep deteriorating and I couldn't accept that," Pugh told INSIDER.
By focusing on his overall health and avoiding fad diets, he lost about 42 pounds (three stone), and his transformation photos are incredible.
Pugh's fitness plan is pretty simple. He said that he starts every morning with fasted cardio, makes mindful food choices, and counts his steps.
He added that it's easier for him to stay active now that he's a full-time model.
By 2013, things had changed for Pugh. He had lost some weight and was following his passion for music and playing in a band with his friends. As his appearance transformed, his barber recommended that he try out a new look.
"My barber at the time said that if I'm playing guitar I ought to have a beard," he said. "So I thought it would be a laugh to grow a big ginger beard."
He then began to document his beard's growth on Instagram and things seemed to take off overnight.
"I had been noticed by some photographers on Instagram probably due to my red hair and beard," he explained. "The idea of modeling was so out of my comfort zone."
He was included in the books "100 Beards" by London-based photographer Jonathan Pryce and "Red Hot" by Thomas Knight.
But he was officially scouted by AMCK, A London-based agency, while he was out shopping, which led to the official start of his modeling career.
Since then, Pugh has hit the Fashion Week runway, posed for Bud Light and appeared in magazines like GQ.
Currently, he's an ambassador for David Beckham's House 999 grooming project.
When he's not modeling for editorial spreads back in London, Pugh likes to travel, play guitar and harmonica, and read. He told INSIDER that traveling and exploring are his biggest passions and he appreciates that he gets to see so much of the world because of his job.
Pugh loves being a model. "The highlights have been the travel and interesting creative people I've had the chance to work with," he said.
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