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Meet Darren Barnet, Victoria’s Secret’s first male model: the handsome Netflix and Marvel star is a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio’s roles and is producing his first film

Darren Barnet may be known for his good looks and charm, buthe is also a talented musician and producer. Photo: @darrenbarnet/Instagram
Darren Barnet may be known for his good looks and charm, buthe is also a talented musician and producer. Photo: @darrenbarnet/Instagram

  • Barnet is joining VS’ Pink campaign to promote mental health and sustainability, and comes from a musical background including his late dad who managed Jimi Hendrix
  • You may know him from Never Have I Ever, Love Hard or Agents of SHIELD – but he also loves bingeing shows like Money Heist and Jim Carrey got him interested in acting

Victoria’s Secret has been undergoing some changes recently, focusing on more inclusive and diverse marketing campaigns for its brand. Its latest announcement involves the lingerie label’s first ever male celebrity ambassador, Darren Barnet. He’s been selected as the new face of Pink’s gender neutral collection, which will feature shorts, T-shirts, accessories and more. Pink is a division of the company that was previously aimed at university girls, and the partnership will contribute to VS’ ongoing commitment to empower young adults.

The 31-year-old actor, who stars in teen comedy Never Have I Ever (2020-present) on Netflix, will also join the annual Pink with Purpose Project, a contest that fosters creativity among youths with a US$25,000 prize handout to 15 lucky winners in support of community, sustainability and mental health.

Barnet is also enlisted to join Mental Health Awareness Month events, sharing his own experiences on Instagram Live. He is “a positive role model for teens and young adults”, says Amy Hauk, Pink’s CEO.

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So what else do we know about the rising star?

1. He brought his Japanese heritage to his Netflix character

Darren Barnet and his half-Japanese mother. Photo: @darrenbarnet/Instagram
Darren Barnet and his half-Japanese mother. Photo: @darrenbarnet/Instagram

In the television series Never Have I Ever, Barnet’s character, Paxton Hall-Yoshida, was just Paxton Hall at first. But after the show’s producer Mindy Kaling saw Barnet speaking Japanese with the show’s assistant director, she requested the name be changed with the new addition, according to Teen Vogue. The name pays tribute to Barnet’s Japanese roots.

Born to a Japanese-Swedish mother and German-Cherokee father, Barnet spoke Japanese with his grandmother as a child and is very proud of his background, studying the language at school for two years, he told Glitter. He also speaks French fluently and a little Spanish.

Paxton’s Japanese heritage brought touching scenes to the show, like the uncovering of his grandfather’s imprisonment during the war. “I’ve had so many people reach out to thank me for the representation, or to tell me that their grandfather was in an internment camp and the scene made them cry. I’ve just been overjoyed,” he told Teen Vogue.

2. His love for acting began at age five thanks to Jim Carrey

Young Darren Barnet was inspired by The Mask actor Jim Carrey. Photo: @darrenbarnet/Instagram
Young Darren Barnet was inspired by The Mask actor Jim Carrey. Photo: @darrenbarnet/Instagram