![Identical twins Jake and Nate Bartel walk the runway in red sequin suits at the Gucci 2022 runway show in Milan, Italy.](https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/02/n21151349/jcr:content/image.img.cq5dam.thumbnail.500.500.jpg/1677518636076.jpg)
UC student and twin brother model for Gucci – again!
Within six months, Jack Bartel went from first-year UC student to becoming luxury fashion model
University of Cincinnati student Jack Bartel and his identical twin brother Nate Bartel had barely stepped off the runway, modeling for Gucci’s October 2022 “Twinning” fashion show in Milan, Italy, when the call came asking the brothers to perhaps model for the famous fashion house again.
Identical twins Jake and Nate Bartel modeling Gucci clothing and accessories at a castle in Italy. Photo/Gucci.
This time the call was to try out for Gucci’s 2023 “Twinning” advertising campaign.
After a rigorous selection process, only eight sets of twins were chosen, including the Bartel brothers: Jack, a first-year student in UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science, and brother Nate, a first-year student at the University of Akron.
“We were fortunate enough to be flown out to an abandoned palace in Genoa, Italy, for a weeklong shoot," says Jack. Both still photos and video from that November 2022 Genoa fashion shoot, representing Gucci’s 2023 fashion line, now appear in ads all over the world.
“This is definitely something my brother and I would love to do more of…getting paid to travel has always been one of my dreams, and if I could do it with my brother it's even better,” Jack says of being plucked from obscurity into the world of fashion modeling.
The brother’s modeling talents were first discovered in August 2022, when they were visiting Twinsburg, Ohio, for the annual Twins Days Festival. A talent scout approached them there with an offer: How would you like to participate in a project in Europe? It was all very shrouded in mystery, the brothers said, but they were later contacted by representatives for the Gucci fashion brand and flown to Milan for tryouts for a Gucci runway show. They made the cut out of hundreds of twins auditioning, only three sets of which were Americans.
When the big runway day in Milan came last fall, the Bartels donned red sequin suits, face chains and white shoes and joined 68 sets of twins to walk in the show. “There's no chance I'm dressing like Nate on a normal day," unless it’s a Gucci show, Jack told the Akron Beacon Journal at the time.
Managing his studies was “challenging” during both trips to Italy, Jack says; adding that the time difference led to some confusion, but he kept in proactive communication with his professors, who allowed for timely accommodations.
Knowing that Gucci’s twin's campaign will not last forever, Jack says that they now “have more than a foot in the door in the industry” and feel the modeling jobs will come easier when they are ready to pursue it.
Featured image at top of Bartel twins on the runway at 2022 Gucci fashion show. Photo/Vogue
Become a Bearcat
Whether you’re a first-generation student or from a family of Bearcats, UC is proud to support you at every step along your journey. We want to make sure you succeed — and feel right at home.
Related Stories
UC Day of Giving kicks off with celebration of scholarship gift
April 15, 2021
UC Day of Giving is kicked off with an important scholarship gift for nursing and engineering.
Neil Armstrong UC Forward Innovation Award 2021 winners announced
April 13, 2021
Team of three undergraduate students from different disciplines excel in an innovation course at the University of Cincinnati.
UC engineering students recognized for achievement in cooperative education
April 12, 2021
Top students in engineering cooperative education for 2020-21
UC garners sustainable, green campus success
April 19, 2021
University of Cincinnati Gold LEED certifications, student-involved energy-efficient programs and climate-friendly green technologies elevate UC to a national award-winning sustainable campus.
Futuristic cars may soon take flight
April 28, 2021
The Cincinnati Innovation District and University of Cincinnati team up with partners in 1819 Innovation Hub DriveOhio, Cincinnati Bell and Microsoft to innovate with UC talent and help bring future innovation within reach in FlyOhio student challenge.
UC Day of Giving a success
April 28, 2021
University of Cincinnati Day of Giving’s 24-hour challenge was a tremendous success this year, raising $2,219,197 with 3,232 gifts. The fourth annual UC Day of Giving raised its most money to date with alumni, donors, students, faculty and staff joining together to support UC and UC Health.
New UC collaboration focuses on senses
May 25, 2021
The University of Cincinnati has launched a new institute to study sensing in all its forms, from human and animal senses to the sensor technologies that enable our modern lifestyles and provide medical care.
UC staff have elected their 2021-23 Staff Senators
June 8, 2021
Join us in congratulating the 2021-23 new Staff Senate members! Elections were held in early May, and new senators will begin their two-year term in July 2021. All UC staff are encouraged to be part of the enthusiasm and excitement for our new senators by attending the Staff Senate online meeting via WebEx, June 30, 9-11 a.m.
U.S. News top grad school rankings include several UC programs
March 30, 2021
Several graduate school programs at UC improve in latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, including from nursing, medicine, engineering, criminal justice, law and business.
The making of a successful Faculty & Staff Campaign
May 25, 2021
More than one-third of UC’s nearly 7,000 faculty and staff have already contributed to the 2020-21 Faculty & Staff Campaign, putting the goal of 45% within reach.