The Ellison Experience: An Inside Look at Seventeen Magazine’s
Hot Guy Panel Member Connor Ellison
By Kelsey Janser
He’s tall, blonde, and handsome, but this member of Seventeen Magazine’s Hot Guy Panel has extreme intelligence, modesty, and a groundbreaking business vision to accompany his good looks. Connor Ellison was born and raised in Los Angeles. The California native loves his west coast home because of the climate: “The weather is always constant and a good temperature. I love it because I am such a cold person in general.” By that, he means he easily becomes chilled, because this guy has a huge, warm heart. Connor has a younger brother who is almost 16, and the two are extremely close.
Connor was a member of the 2013 Hot Guy Panel in Seventeen Magazine. The casting process started out similar to any other. “My agency contacted me about applying. It was a pretty average process, at least for the first round. I sent in some photos and answered a few questions.” Each round, however, became increasingly more difficult, and the entire ordeal took roughly four months. “I just kept thinking how lucky I was when I made it past another round,” Ellison recalls. He even more vividly remembers the day he discovered he had officially made it onto the panel. Connor’s mother explained that if he had an incoming call that day from the corporation, it meant he had made it. “I received a call in the middle of biology class, and as soon as I saw the call was from New York, I immediately started freaking out.” Pretty soon after the call, Connor was flown out to the New York headquarters to meet the staff and rest of the panel. The headquarters were within close proximity to Central Park, and before he knew it, Connor and the others were centered in Central for a photoshoot.
Although Connor enjoyed his time on the panel as well as modeling, he has several other passions he hopes to pursue. Some of his favorite activities include camping and backpacking. Connor recently achieved the ranking of Eagle Scout, a 14 year-long process, and hopes to go backpacking in Europe this summer with all his newly acquired equipment. He also loves attending music festivals, which is where he and a friend first got their company’s idea. This 18 year old launched his own company in 2013, The Afterglow Experience, which specializes in selling glasses that alter the way light is perceived, perfect for any concert or music festival.
Connor’s future is so bright, he needs to invest in a pair of his company’s shades. Currently finishing his senior year at the all-male Catholic Loyola High School in LA, he plans to attend Loyola University in New Orleans in the fall. The university awarded Connor a scholarship to continue his business while there, where he will also earn his MBA in a five-year program. For more information and updates about his business, you can follow Connor’s company on instagram (@theafterglowexperience) or twitter (@afterglowexp).
