We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Benz Veal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Benz below.

Alright, Benz thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you have an agent or someone (or a team) that helps you secure opportunities and compensation for your creative work? How did you meet you, why did you decide to work with them, why do you think they decided to work with you?

Yes, I currently work with several modeling and acting agencies that help secure opportunities for me in the industry. Back in 2011, shortly after Season 2 of *Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too* wrapped in June, I relocated to Los Angeles in August to pursue more work. However, I returned to New York shortly after to participate in New York Fashion Week.

While walking in one of the shows, I was approached by two talent agents Ben Oduro and Simona Sheinkman from NYMMG. One of them recognized me from the reality Tv show and asked if I’d be interested in joining their roster. I was excited about the opportunity and met with them the very next day. After a great conversation, I signed with the agency and flew back to LA. Shortly after arriving to LA, I was approached by Marc Rutherford with Bella Agency and signed with them for the LA market.

What stood out to me was that not only did NYMMG represent me for New York and Los Angeles but they offered a non-exclusive contract, which allowed me to work with different agencies in the same and different markets. It felt like a breakthrough moment—especially after visiting several agencies in New York earlier that year and being turned away.

I believe NYMMG chose to work with me not only because of my modeling and acting potential but also because they represented a diverse range of public figures, not just traditional talent. Given that I was gaining visibility as the breakout star from the show, I think they saw my crossover appeal and long-term potential.

Benz , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sure! My name is Benz Veal, and I’m what I like to call a “Mactor”—a model and actor with a deep-rooted passion for both crafts. I’ve been in the industry professionally since 2010, but my first major break came in 2011 when I was cast on the reality TV series Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too (Season 2). That show opened the door to opportunities in both modeling and acting and helped me get noticed by major talent agencies during New York Fashion Week that same year. Since then, I’ve signed with agencies in both New York and Los Angeles, and have gone on to work with major commercial brands like American Eagle, Finish Line, Jos. A. Bank, Pepsi, Reebok, and more. On the acting side, you may have seen me in commercials for Aflac, Nerf, and Plymouth Rock, and in films like Detroit (directed by Kathryn Bigelow), I Feel Pretty, Mother/Android, and Love, Weddings & Other Disasters.

My career also took me abroad—I signed with an agency in Cape Town, South Africa, and lived there while modeling across international campaigns and expanding my global network. That experience shaped my perspective on how universal the modeling and acting industries truly are, and gave me a deeper understanding of different markets and styles.

Beyond performing, I’m the founder of Mactor Productions, where I also work as a professional photographer, officially listed as a modeling agency photographer in the Boston market. I specialize in high-quality headshots, modeling portfolios and commercial print photography that reflect what agencies and casting directors are actively looking for. Being on both sides of the lens allows me to capture talent in a way that’s authentic and commercially viable.

I also created Mactor Academy, a platform that offers in-person workshops and on-demand mini-courses to help aspiring talent navigate the modeling and acting industries. Whether it’s audition technique, self-tape setups, runway training, contract breakdowns, or portfolio building—Mactor Academy is about real education for real careers.

In addition, I run H.U.E Talent Management, a boutique management company where I guide and mentor emerging models and actors. I help them build their brands, develop professionally, and connect with agency representation—something I had to figure out on my own early in my career. H.U.E. stands for Huemans United Everywhere and that’s exactly what we strive to do.

To further support talent, I authored The Mactor’s Guide, a how-to guide for models and actors looking to enter the industry with clarity, confidence, and a strategic mindset. It’s filled with lessons from my own journey, plus actionable steps to help others fast-track their success without skipping the fundamentals.

Outside of entertainment, I’m also passionate about wellness. I founded H.E.A.L. (Healthy Elevated Alkaline Life), a holistic lifestyle brand rooted in herbalism and clean living. As someone who lives in front of the camera and often on the go, staying balanced mentally and physically is key—and I love sharing that knowledge with others in the industry.

What sets me apart is that everything I offer is based on lived experience. I didn’t just study this—I built it from the ground up. I’ve heard “no” more times than I can count, but I’ve also turned those rejections into redirections. I’ve walked into agencies alone with no connections and left with contracts. That hustle, transparency, and creative eye is what I now pour into my clients, students, and brands.

What I’m most proud of is building a life and business that helps others shine. Whether you’re a casting director, brand, or aspiring creative, I bring the tools, strategy, and passion to help you not just show up—but stand out.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, absolutely. At the core of my creative journey is a deep desire for legacy and impact—what I call my pursuit of immortality. I want my children, and the generations that come after them, to not only remember me but to be inspired by the life I lived. I want them to see resilience, passion, and purpose in everything I’ve done. More than just building a career, I’m building something that says, “He never gave up. He turned dreams into reality. He made something out of nothing.”

I want my children and future grandchildren to know their father and grandfather wasn’t a bum—he was a visionary, a builder, a creative force. I want them to carry that same energy into whatever they choose to do, knowing that if I did it, so can they.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the freedom. I’m not tied to a 9-to-5, clocking in and doing the same thing day after day. Every job brings something fresh—new energy, new people, new places. Whether I’m on set acting and stepping into the shoes of a character, or modeling and helping to sell a lifestyle, mood, or emotion, I’m constantly shifting and evolving. It’s never boring—and the fact that I get to do what I love and make a living from it? That’s a blessing.

I always tell people it’s the best career in the world. On top of that, I get the chance to mentor new models and actors, sometimes right there on set. Sharing my experiences and offering advice in real time is incredibly fulfilling. Helping others find their footing while I continue to grow in my own journey—that’s what makes this path so meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.benzveal.us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themactor
• Other: www.mactoracademy.org , www.huetalentmanagement.us , www.mactorproductions.us

Image Credits

Benz Veal