Believe it or not, Trevor Adams “leaned down” for his Instinct photo shoot. Yes, at a muscular, thick 215 pounds, this is considered lean. Being this is our annual Health and Fitness Issue, we of course wanted to feature an image of athletic perfection.

But don’t let his brawn fool you—Trevor isn’t one of those greased-up bodybuilding competitors (he claims to be too shy for all that). Trevor Adams is actually one of the industry’s leading fitness models, having graced the covers of tons of fitness mags, including American Health & Fitness and Men’s Exercise. 

This is, however, the 28-year-old’s first time landing on the cover of a gay magazine and sharing his story with its readers. It’s also the first time Trevor talks about his sexuality and being gay in the homoerotic but not always accepting world of fitness modeling. 

In many ways Trevor’s modeling career began like most: People constantly told him he had a perfect look for modeling, though he never gave it much thought. “I went to a basic modeling agency [at] around 20 years old, and the guy said that I was a little too big for them, but he knew of a fitness photographer that he thought would like me,” says Trevor. “So I met with him and shot a few magazines, and then it kinda took off from there. I went to New York thinking I would be a hot commodity, but I can’t say I was, because I was too big. Runway models are like 150 pounds. I’m over 200 pounds.”

Fifty pounds of muscle can make a big difference. Luckily, Trevor fell in with the right pros and started booking covers. Noting that most fitness models run between 180 and 200 pounds (Trevor stays in the 215–230 range), he has been able to market himself as unique in the field because of his size. He credits his childhood in sports for laying a great foundation for his initial bulk-up, which began after high school. 

Aside from growing up playing sports, though, Trevor calls his childhood anything but normal. A good ol’ Texas boy at heart, Trevor went to seven different high schools, 13 schools in all. The constant moving from place to place made it nearly impossible for him to plant roots and build friendships. “I wasn’t really a social kid growing up anyway. Going to almost two high schools a year, you meet a lot of people, but you’re so used to moving, you don’t make relationships. Even now, I’m always on the go. You make a lot of friends, but you learn to move on,” he says.

“I’ve never been close to my family, unfortunately,” he adds. “My father’s an alcoholic, my mom’s kind of schizo, and my brother’s learning-disabled. I’m kinda close to my brother. With my dad, it’s kind of off and on, depending if he’s drinking or not. And my mom and I do not talk. I know I’m not exactly the poster child for the magazine,” he says with a laugh. “My life is a little bit different than everybody else’s.”

Not having a family support system certainly made it difficult for Trevor to come to terms with his sexuality. Fortunately for him, there was someone in his life to provide the connection and example he had been unknowingly seeking. 

That support came from a former roommate and friend—someone Trevor had always assumed was straight and was more than surprised to learn otherwise. “My old roommate was straight-acting, so much so that it really threw me off when he started to show me that he was gay. I mean, at first, he almost labeled me as homophobic. But it was the fear of the unknown. I was always afraid of the stereotype, of being a stereotype. But he really helped me come into my own and show me that I can be me and be gay,” Trevor says of coming out to himself in his early 20s. “I’m very grateful to this day, because I don’t know if I would enjoy life as much if he hadn’t been there and done that. He made it much easier to jump that hurdle of self-acceptance and feeling comfortable with myself.”

And it could be said that is exactly what Trevor is trying to do for someone else now. Noting the hypermasculine world he works in, Trevor says he often gets e-mails from “straight” fans expressing curiosity. In those letters and comments, Trevor says he sees his former self, someone who was afraid to be gay because he thought that meant changing who he was. By coming out, he hopes others who may be fearful or unsure of themselves might find comfort or an example in him. 

Of course, coming out publicly brings with it potential professional setbacks. While some fitness publications may want their models to appeal to men, some don’t want their models to actually like men. It’s a bit of a mixed bag of fear for Trevor, but one he is willing to take on. “I’ve had some people disassociate from me [once they found out I was gay]. But I think mostly it’s someone else’s insecurities,” he adds. 

Security is something Trevor has managed to find in himself in recent years, and it’s a personal trait he is thrilled to finally have. Now happily living in Houston—and single, we might add—you’re much more likely to find him doing something outdoors or traveling than at a bar...though that’s not out of the question. The one place you won’t find Trevor: a large crowd. Turns out he’s a bit enochlophobic.

Now, post-Instinct and out and proud, Trevor plans to keep at his fitness modeling, though he’s quick to say that it has always been more a hobby than a career. Obviously a fitness fanatic, he is pursuing a degree in health management while also working as a personal trainer, with hopes of one day opening his own gym. 

And with results that look like this, we think there will be plenty of gym bunnies waiting to sign up. 

Trevor turning your wheels? Be sure to pick up the August Issue of Instinct Magazine to read more!