Jean-Darnel Cyntje
20 years
Interview by Gigi
Can you describe what you’re wearing today?
I'm wearing a printed T-shirt and sneakers.
Do any of the accessories or clothing items you are wearing today have any meaning to you ?
Yes, my watch and my golden ring. I got both from my father.
What is your oldest piece of clothing?
A pair of shoes that I’ve got at home.
What type of shoes are those?
Nike Huaraches. I have had them for so long because these were my first pair of "branded" shoes, given to me by my parents.
Which piece of clothing did you put a lot of effort into?
A Ceasarss tracksuit. It was a competition for which you had to do things. In the end, I did win the tracksuit.
What do you do with clothes you no longer wear?
They are in my closet, or I bring them to a mother of a friend of mine. She goes to Morocco regularly; she gives them away there.
Do your clothes say something about who you are and or what you stand for?
No, I just wear clothes that I like in terms of colour.
Are brands important to you?
No, I've only been wearing branded clothes for about 2 years now. At first, I always got my clothes from Primark, but then I started looking at quality. I noticed that a branded shirt lasts much longer.
What is your home, or what feels like home to you?
At the gym, during training. I have often switched homes so I don't really have a home. At the age of thirteen, I started doing MMA and when I am doing that, I feel at home.
Do you adapt your style to your surroundings?
No, only if there are certain dressing rules.
Has your style changed compared to the past?
Yes, my mother used to dress me and choose everything. Now that I'm older, I just get what I like and feel comfortable with.
You just mentioned that you only recently started wearing branded clothes, so that has changed - from no brand to branded. Is that the only thing that has changed?
No, I used to wear tracksuits a lot more often. Now I occasionally wear casual clothes, like turtlenecks etc.
What do you prefer to wear?
Track suits. I look more at how something fits rather than how it looks.
And what do you prefer not to wear?
Tight skinny jeans. They don’t look nice on me, they are too tight.
How do you feel in your own body?
I feel just fine.
And how do you feel about your body?
It could be better. I would like to have some tattoos on my arms and chest.
What do you like the most about yourself?
My hair, it's healthy. I used to have long hair and then I didn't take care of it and I had to shave it off. Now it's growing back.
What does happiness mean to you?
Money, because it allows me to achieve the things I want.
And what do you want to achieve?
To become a UFC fighter. I started martial arts when I was eleven years old, and that’s when I got more into it.
Is that your goal in life?
I was supposed to go to an MMA school, two years ago. But there was too much going on at home, so I moved to Spain for a year. When I came back, Corona was here. Now I plan to finish school (culinary school) and then still go to MMA school.
Wouldn't you want to do more with the temporary study you’re doing at the moment?
I definitely would like to have my own gym and then a small restaurant with it as well.
Why a small restaurant with it?
Because of my father. He used to be a chef.
Is family important for you?
Yes, from all the family that I've got, my brother and mother are most important to me.
May I ask why only them?
Things have happened within my family, to say the least. There was a time when I hated my parents. Then again, it's hard to get that love back.
Hoe omschrijf jij Tilburg Noord in een woord?
Criminality.
