As one of today's top male models, Alex Lundqvist appears in countless fashion magazines, and walks the biggest designer's runways. But his background lies in sharp contrast to his glamorous, polished image.

Born in Sweden, he and his younger brother and sister had a fairly liberal childhood. But when Alex turned eighteen, he was forced to spend an obligatory year in the Swedish army. He bears a scar on his back where he was stabbed by a local while on maneuvers. As a tank platoon commander, Alex was required to keep his face and head shaven. After his tour of duty, he swore he would never shave his head again, which led to his trademark stubble and long hair.

After the army, Alex decided to travel before he returned to school to study advertising. Within a month and a half he had experienced Rome, Venice, Capri, Naples, Florence, and Milan. Taking a suggestion from his girlfriend at the time, Alex posed for some test shots. In the summer of '94, he met photographer Bruce Weber, and Sean Patterson, a Wilhelmina agent, who tracked him down after spotting his photo in an obscure publication. The two proved instrumental in launching his career.

Immediately, Versace booked him for a worldwide campaign with Helena Christiansen, shot by Weber. In February 1995, Alex did runway shows in Paris, Milan and New York for Valentino, Versace, Armani, Gucci and Calvin Klein. In April he appeared in the Lagerfield campaign with Nadja Auermann and less than a week later he was chosen for the 1995 GUESS? campaign with Laetitia Casta and Valeria Mazza. For the next two years, from 1995 to 1997, Alex appeared in a number of GUESS? campaigns and television commercials.

Now considered a top male supermodel, he's appeared in magazines such as Elle, Top Model, and New York Magazine and has been interviewed on MTV's House of Style with his best friend and fellow model, Mark Vanderloo.

Currently living in New York and working for Hugo Boss, Alex wants to continue traveling and modeling, describing himself as "…a guy who loves life."