In Yummy Issue Nine, we dive deep into the world of Roche Killian, a multifaceted model, actor, and fitness guru from South Africa. In this candid interview, Roche opens up about his roots, career evolution, and commitment to health and fitness. He also reflects on personal topics, from his Christian faith to his perspective on body confidence and mental health. Join us as Roche shares his passion for life, his goals for the future, and the experiences that have shaped him, from professional rugby to his debut on the big screen.
PHoto story by SASHA OLSEN. interview by Adrian Gomis Exposito
The images are cropped/made safe for online purposes, full images available inside Yummy Issue 9
ADRIAN GOMIS EXOSITO. Hi Roche! We couldn't be more thrilled to feature you in Yummy Issue Nine! How are you doing?
ROCHE KILLIAN. I’m doing great! Life has been so good to me lately and I have no complaints. Just grateful for everything.
AGE. Starting from your origins, you were born in South Africa. Can you share with us what your upbringing was like? What are some of your favourite places there?
RK. I was born in a very small town called Despatch in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. It was a rugby town and my dream was to play professional rugby for my country. That was every kid’s dream growing up there.
AGE. Besides having great knowledge of training and sports, we know that you also hold a degree in nutrition. Could you name a traditional dish from your hometown that holds a special place in your heart?
RK. I do, yes, and I can name a thousand healthy dishes that would be great for lean muscle building and losing fat. Still, my favourite dish in South Africa is not that healthy, and it’s called “vetkoek” which is basically dough filled with either bacon and cheese, ground beef and potatoes, or something sweet like banana and caramel. To die for.
AGE. I really enjoyed hearing you talk about your perspective on fitness and health. It seems you're quite a sports enthusiast. Where does that passion stem from? Could you elaborate on the sports you engage in and which ones you particularly prefer?
RK. At the moment, I very much enjoy playing golf. My current handicap is 13.5 index and looking to get it below 10 by the end of the year. I have always been a good sportsman, I was extremely fast in school and did well in track and field and played rugby as well. I even played professional rugby until the age of 22 before I injured my knee and had to stop. I also enjoy playing tennis with friends.
AGE. Transitioning to your career, you've been modelling for nine years. Can you walk us through how you first entered the modelling world, what drew you to it, and what aspects of the industry you find most rewarding?
RK. I started modelling when I was 24 years old. I applied to all agencies in South Africa and Boss Models saw some potential in me. I was asked to come to an interview in two months and in that time I lost 12kg and made a massive transformation in my physique.
AGE. If I recall correctly, your first cover was for Men's Health, both in South Africa and internationally. Can you share your experience with that milestone and how it influenced the trajectory of your modelling career?
RK. I have always wanted to be on the cover of Men’s Health and when I found out that I made it, words cannot explain the excitement and pride that came over me. Months and even years of working on my physique finally paid off. It definitely opened many doors in the model industry and it also gave me the opportunity to start my own business in fitness.
AGE. Besides modelling, you've delved into acting over the past three years. Was it something you always aspired to pursue? What milestones have you achieved so far, and could you share your experience of your debut in film?
AGE. Besides modelling, you've delved into acting over the past three years. Was it something you always aspired to pursue? What milestones have you achieved so far, and could you share your experience of your debut in film?
RK. I have always wanted to act. Even as a child I repeated lines from movies, sometimes using foreign accents, dancing and moving. In 2023 I appeared on my first-ever local series in South Africa, and my first-ever featured film came out in August 2024 in South Africa and Showmax where I play Dries, a wealthy and famous director in Hollywood who came back to make his ex-wife’s life a living hell. But I’m not always the bad guy.
AGE. You're undertaking a "365 days of training" challenge on your social media platforms where you commit to training every day, showcasing the progress and changes in your body with the goal of achieving the ultimate physique. Are you undertaking this challenge to raise awareness and encourage people to engage in physical activity, or do you have any other specific personal goal with it? Training every single day is quite the challenge!
RK. Indeed, I am. The goal is definitely to create awareness of one’s health, both physically and mentally, but the bigger motivation is the fact that I want to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. I also like documenting my progress and sticking to a good habit. I know I can compete with the best out there, I just need to do what needs to be done to get there, and this is my way to do it.
AGE. As you see your body changing through your strict training and diet, which we can see in this issue of Yummy, for example, do you feel better about yourself? Do you feel sexier as your body improves?
RK. Oh, hell yes! I feel so sexy, to be honest. I told myself that I wanted to change my social media presence in 2024 and bring a little bit of sexiness back to become the handsome man I know I can be. This was my choice and I am so happy that I kept working on it and that I was able to showcase the results or progress of the change in the shoot for Yummy. No better magazine to do it!
AGE. Your foray into YouTube with a channel covering diverse topics such as mental health, nutrition, fitness, and vlogging is admirable. What motivated you to delve into these important subjects on your channel?
RK. I have had many good experiences in my life, but the reality is that I have also had a lot of bad experiences as well. Some of them have led to eating disorders, anxiety and depression. I remember watching other YouTubers talk about how to deal with these problems and how they overcame them. That made me feel that I was not alone and gave me the boost to overcome my problems. I wanted to share my life fully and truly with no filter and explain that if I can do it, you can too.
AGE. Now, shifting focus to Yummy, what does the word "yummy" represent to you personally?
RK. Physically, it means tasty, something that you just love to have as much as you can. For me, yummy is a sense of “I can’t get enough of this” and I can see why the magazine is called just that, Yummy.
AGE. Being featured on the cover of Yummy Nine must be quite exhilarating. How has this experience impacted you, and have you noticed any changes in your life as a result?
RK. I remember agreeing to do the shoot for Yummy, not knowing if I would even be featured, let alone be on the cover. As I’m getting older, I am realising that we have to do what we think is right for us, not what others say is right for us. So, making the choice to shoot for Yummy was a simple one, as the goal was to show the world who Roche Kilian really is and what I have to offer. We are eight billion here on earth, but I still want to leave a good mark here when I leave, one that says, "he did everything he set his mind to and succeeded, no matter what."
AGE. The story you shot with Sasha Olsen for Yummy Nine in South Africa is stunning. Could you tell us your experience of shooting outdoors fully nude for the first time and how you found the overall experience?
RK. Sasha made the whole experience really easy, to be honest. He has a way of making you forget that you’re even naked. The setting was secluded and it was comfortable to be naked even in between shots or location changes. I felt free and liberated knowing that this was me and completely me, no clothes or accessories. As a model, you sometimes feel like a number or a human hanger, but when you shoot naked, it’s like you’re seen for the first time as you. That is what I loved.
AGE. When it comes to nudity, what's your take on it? Are you cool with it, like hitting nude beaches? What's your perspective on the subject?
RK. I am not a nudist at all, but I don’t mind being naked. I am extremely comfortable being naked and free. Shooting naked was also something really natural as I was really comfortable, so it was not a problem at all. But I do not have the urge to walk naked on beaches or even at home, but that is just a personal preference.
AGE. Do you consider yourself a boxer or a brief guy? And when it comes to sleeping or working out, do you prefer underwear or going commando?
RK. I am definitely a briefs guy. I know this might sound strange, but I quite like everything tucked in nice and neat. I also wear underwear when I work out, the reason for that is purely for comfort and potentially avoiding uncomfortable situations when it moves around and starts to get aroused. Then there is no hiding it.
AGE. As mentioned, your dedication to sports is evident in your physique. What do you believe is your most attractive and sexy physical feature? When do you feel at your most confident and attractive?
RK. Definitely the triangle or V shape that men have. Broad shoulders, big pumped-up chest and smallish waist with rock solid abs. This is the ultimate. That being said, I think my most attractive body part would be my back.
AGE. You mentioned you're moving to Europe next year for your wedding—congrats on that! Can you share some more details about your exciting plans and what you've got in store for this big milestone?
RK. Thank you very much. We are getting married in Leicester in the UK in July 2024 and we will be moving in 2025. The venue, called the Woodlands, will be the perfect setting for our guests as they can stay over in cabins and enjoy a late-night after-party by the bonfire. It will be the best day of my life.
AGE. Sometimes modelling agencies, especially in places like South Africa, can be very conservative about nudity. However, nudity has been a part of artistic expression since the beginning of mankind, as seen in sculptures, paintings, and later, photography. Given the fact you seem to be quite open-minded about it, what advice would you offer to a model who admires your approach and wants to explore or try a similar type of editorial experience?
R.K. I’d say just do it. As I mentioned before, if done tastefully, your body can be a work of art and the world needs to see it in its most natural and beautiful form. Nude and erotic images are not the same, so just know when and where to draw that line.
AGE. Your Instagram features many skin-baring and sexy photos and surely your followers love that as much as we do! Do you receive a lot of direct messages with compliments? And if we were to sneak a peek at your camera roll, would we find even steamier images?
AGE. Your Instagram features many skin-baring and sexy photos and surely your followers love that as much as we do! Do you receive a lot of direct messages with compliments? And if we were to sneak a peek at your camera roll, would we find even steamier images?
RK. This is true, when posting images that showcase your best features, you’re bound to attract some attention. I do get a lot of messages and compliments and this also helps me to improve the content day by day. If you had to take a sneak peek at my camera roll, you most definitely would find way more steamier images than the ones on social media. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they’re not there.
AGE. I'd like to address the fact that you're a Christian, actively sharing the gospel on your social media. Some may see a contradiction between embracing your sensuality and your Christian faith. How do you reconcile these aspects of yourself, and what are your thoughts on navigating this perceived dichotomy between expressing your more sensual or sexual side as a man and following Christ?
AGE. I'd like to address the fact that you're a Christian, actively sharing the gospel on your social media. Some may see a contradiction between embracing your sensuality and your Christian faith. How do you reconcile these aspects of yourself, and what are your thoughts on navigating this perceived dichotomy between expressing your more sensual or sexual side as a man and following Christ?
RK. This question is so difficult, because even if what I say and believe is right, I still might be wrong, but how I see it is this: God loves us all, and He knows our hearts truly. We are born sinners and whether it’s taking nude pictures, cursing, lusting or desiring more than what we already have, we sin every day. But God sees us and He knows that we are trying our best to be good, to be like Jesus, even though this is impossible as He was perfect. So I have made peace with my decision and I will have this conversation again with God in heaven when I leave this earth one day.
AGE. To wrap up this interview, is there a favourite quote or life motto that resonates with you and that you'd like to share with us?
RK. I do have one, and it’s actually a bible verse as well as a tattoo on my left arm. “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk only leads to poverty.” To me, this basically means that you cannot just say you’re going to do something and hope it happens, you have to go out and work for it every day and that hard work will pay off for sure one day.
Thank you for the interview and the opportunity to be on the cover of Yummy 9. It’s an honour.
Yummy Magazine ISSUE NINE is now printing
Yummy, our flagship coffee table-esque photobooks, which people love to collect, are big, thick, heavy carefully crafted on luxury papers. Full of men who love to bear all! We call them photo books, but they are so much more!
Both Yummy and Yummyzine is also available on Subscription
Both Yummy and Yummyzine is also available on Subscription
A celebration of male nudity, showing full frontal images of beautiful men photographed by the world's best photographers where photography meets art and desire.
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