It’s Gay Pride month. Our Man for June is openly gay athlete Nic.
“I was born in a small town in the Veneto region,” says 31-years-old Nic. “I am the youngest of three children. The most pampered one, but also the one who felt the strongest need to step out of my comfort zone and build something of my own. As a young boy, I was very shy and lacked the courage to pursue the things I truly loved. I would have loved to try disciplines like dance or figure skating, but I was afraid of being judged for not choosing more ‘traditional’ sports like soccer. You know, the sports a ‘real man’ would choose.”
“I attended an art-focused high school and later studied Exercise Science, but my journey was far from linear. I would spend all day buried in books or drawing, and up until the age of 18, I had never really engaged in any physical activity. Then I discovered the gym, and from that moment on, something shifted: I began to build a different relationship with my body. The real turning point came when I started pole dance—that very form of expression I had never had the courage to explore as a young boy. Today I work as a pole dance instructor and performer, and I continue to challenge myself every single day.”
“In my free time, I watch a lot of anime and TV series. I enjoy classical art and listen to true crime podcasts, especially while cleaning the house. Techno and electronic music, when I’m working out — it gives me energy and focus. My goals are to continue growing as a pole dance athlete and to keep traveling. One of my biggest dreams is to visit Japan, and I hope to make that happen this very year.”
Tell us something we don’t know about you. “Even though I’ve been independent for many years now—like most Italians—I am at heart a “mama’s boy.” And perhaps not everyone knows that I really enjoy drawing… and yes, I’m pretty good at it, too. It allows me to express a more creative and introspective side of myself… I just wish I had more time for it!”
Instagram: @nic.dega
See more of Nic, exclusively on PLAYGIRL+
