Notorious: Meet Wally Azarcon
When Wally Azarcon stumbled into modeling by accident, he found a way to reshape strength, faith, and Filipino masculinity on his own terms
An unexpected beginning
Wally Azarcon’s path into acting and modeling began with what seemed like a coincidence. A construction worker for over 15 years, he never imagined standing in front of cameras or walking onto sets.
It started in December 2024, when he took his 10-year-old daughter to a talent scouting event. She was the performer, the one with the ambition to sing and be seen. But as Wally was signing her in, an event host asked if he was auditioning too.
“I said no at first,” he recalled, “but she convinced me to try.” Encouraged by his daughter, he read a few lines and surprised everyone, including himself. That brief moment led to a new direction. He and his daughter looked for an agent together, and after a few months, he found himself on the set of a TV commercial. During a break, a makeup artist suggested he should model and handed him a list of agencies. By the end of the week, he was signed.
A spirit open to change
For Wally, who was born in the Philippines and moved to Canada at age eleven, the shift from construction to acting and modeling came from his openness to change. “I’ve always been a daydreamer,” he said. “When I was a kid in the Philippines, I used to stare out the classroom window and imagine other lives. I think that part of me never really went away.”
His story, told without embellishment, mirrors Daniel Amaze’s latest project, Notorious, which explores a man’s evolution through discipline and renewal. The concept begins with letting go of the past, moves through resistance and struggle, and culminates in the image of a man who has fought and found clarity.
Wally’s interpretation of masculinity runs through the same arc. “It’s important to show that being masculine isn’t about bravado,” he said. “It’s about being tough, loving, caring, and being in tune with your emotions in a healthy way.” He sees this as part of representing his Filipino heritage, a culture he describes as hardworking. “We can make something out of nothing. That’s what I’ve always admired about our people.”
Lessons from family
Family shaped much of this outlook. His father’s rise from selling pandesal on the streets to becoming a lawyer, and his mother’s lessons on earning through work rather than asking, built a framework for perseverance. “My mom once told me, ‘Never ask for money. Do what you can to make money, as long as you don’t put yourself in danger,’” he recalled. “That stuck with me. I still have the same Mickey Mouse piggy bank from that time, and I let my kids use it now.”
For Wally, being a father is central to everything. “I’m my kids’ first role model,” he said. “If I tell them to take opportunities, I have to show them what that looks like.”
Rugged simplicity
His personal style reflects the same grounded practicality. “Simple, rugged, and ready to go,” he described. Jeans, a fitted shirt, and Timberland boots are his everyday uniform. “If I can’t fight, run, climb, or get dirty in my clothes, I’m not wearing it,” he said with a smile. “It has to be functional.”
That preference for utility over display also shapes his view of fashion. “Streetwear is mostly for show,” he said, “but I like sneakers that are both stylish and functional. Timberland is the brand I connect with most. Their boots have never failed me, whether I’m at work or out with family.”
As a Filipino-Canadian, Wally does not frame his identity around duality. “I don’t overthink it,” he said. “I focus on carrying myself respectfully and confidently. Everything else falls into place.” Still, he recognizes the limits of representation within the industry.
“The opportunities are there,” he said, “but not everyone fits the mold. Many Filipino faces in fashion and entertainment are clean-cut and polished. There aren’t many who look rugged or tough. I think it’s time people like me are given a chance.”
Self-acceptance and growth
That sense of inclusion, he believes, must begin with self-acceptance. “It’s okay not to fit in,” he said. “It’s okay to be a late bloomer. Even late bloomers bloom.” He shared that he never felt like one of the “cool” kids in Canada and only started gaining recognition after competing in Muay Thai.
“I learned that you don’t have to talk about what you can do. Let your actions speak,” he said. “If your goal is to prove others wrong, you’ll burn out. But if your goal is to prove something to yourself, that fire stays alive.”
In every story Wally Azarcon tells, there’s a steady rhythm of labor and an understanding that success, like discipline, is built in the moments no one sees. By shedding himself, the idea takes form as a man symbolically discarding old identities, fighting for growth, and finding alignment through belief.
“The journey is never easy,” he said. “But if you stay grounded, keep working, and stay aligned with your purpose, it always leads somewhere better.”
Wally Azarcon is a Filipino-Canadian model and actor who transitioned from working in construction to building a career in entertainment.
Wally’s career began by accident when he was asked to audition during his daughter’s talent scouting event. His performance led to commercial work and eventually to signing with a modeling agency.
Wally draws inspiration from his family, especially his parents and children. He credits his parents for teaching him hard work and his kids for motivating him to lead by example.
He represents masculinity as a balance of strength and empathy. Wally believes that being masculine means being both resilient and emotionally aware.
Wally’s style is rugged and functional. He favors jeans, fitted shirts, and durable boots, valuing clothes that can move with him and reflect his grounded character.
Photography and Creative direction Daniel Amaze
Fashion Ronika Turna
Art and Movement direction Victoria Temelini
Grooming Gabrielle Jovellanos
Technical direction and Production Dev Dixit
Model Wally Azarcon
Production assistants Dean Dhillon and Joey Wong
