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Who is Don Benjamin?
Don Benjamin is an American model, rapper, actor, producer, and TV reality star, perhaps best known to the world for being one of the contestants in the 20th season of “America’s Next Top Model” (2013), since then working with such brands as Guess, Pink Dolphin, and Tillys, among others.
Don Benjamin Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Born as Donald Benjamin Walls on 5 May 1987 under the Taurus zodiac sign, in Chicago, Illinois USA, he’s the son of Joseph and Seline Thottumkal. He grew up on Chicago’s Southside alongside his sister Brooke, witnessing the crime and gun violence that happened in Chicago’s troubled neighborhood.
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However, his mother took him and his sister far away from all that, and settled in Florida for a while. They moved occasionally, living in Mississippi and later Minnesota, while Don finished his high school education at Brooklyn Center High School, where he was the captain of the basketball team.
Career Beginnings
At first, Don was interested in becoming a rapper as he grew up listening to such artists as J-Z, LL Cool J, Jagged Edge, and Boyz II Men, among others, and aspired to become popular like them. He felt that he would have more chances of launching his career as a rapper in Los Angeles, thus moved to the city of angels in 2005.
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His aspirations to become a rapper were extinguished in the quickest fashion, when he realized that it wasn’t all that easy. He turned towards odd jobs just to support himself, but because of his tattooed forearms, was rejected for work at a Guess retail store. However, he was then advised by his friends to maybe try and use his good looks to launch a modeling career.
Rise to Prominence
He needed eight long years in Los Angeles to earn a name for himself. It was in 2013 that he was selected as one of the contestants in the reality TV show “America’s Next Top Model”, featuring in 12 episodes of the popular show before he was eliminated, and finishing his journey eighth in the standings.
He garnered massive attention, and from there was able to launch several projects, including a career as an actor, and as a musician.
Acting Career
He made his acting debut in the TV crime-drama series “One Ten” in 2014, and the same year he was Nathan in the thriller film “Matthew 18”, starring Denis Baker, Irina Balushka and Lanore VanBuren Belfrey. Don subsequently starred in the horror film “Judgment”, next to Nicholas Brendon and Samantha Jean, an is currently working on several projects, including the film “3 am in Hollywood”, and on the comedy-drama film “North of the 10”. Both films are in the process of filming, and are awaiting release dates.
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Music Career
Don kept his dreams of becoming a musician alive, and back in 2012 released his first single, “Real”. However, it went unnoticed, but he continued to make new music, and in 2014 he released a duet with Eric Bellinger entitled “Jealous”, since when he’s released songs such as “Tonight”, “Touch My Body”, “Hit the Snooze”, and in 2018 his debut EP “M.P.L.S”, which consists of five songs “Millions, “Doin Something”, “Plane Jane”, “Hometown”, and “No One”.
YouTube Channel
Together with his long-time girlfriend and now wife, Liane V, in 2017Don launched a YouTube channel, Forever Us. Their first video was uploaded in November 2017, entitled “Welcome to Our Channel”.
They have shared all the ups and downs from their relationship with their fans, and today have amassed around 200,000 subscribers, while their videos have more than 11 million views – some of the most popular videos include “Are We Getting Back Together?”, which has over 965,000 views, then “The Sweetest Surprise Proposal Ever!!!”, viewed around 850,000 times and “We Are Taking A Break”, which has just over 800,000 views, among several other popular videos that have only increased his popularity.
Personal Life, Marriage, Wife, Children
When it comes to his personal life, Don Benjamin has often talked about his personal endeavors.
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He has been in an on-again-off-again relationship with social media star and singer Liane V since 2015. The two became engaged in 2019, but broke-up in early 2020 after it was revealed that Don cheated on Liane with several women. However, they got back together, and married on 24 August 2021; neither have children.
Net Worth
As of mid- 2021, Don Benjamin’s net worth has been estimated to be around $20 million, earned through his successful career as a model, actor, and rapper.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
This prominent model has dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He stands at a height of 6ft 1in (1.85m), while he weighs approximately 167lbs (76kgs), with vital statistics of 42-33-15. Don is an avid tattoo lover, and has a number on his body.
Don Benjamin’s Wife, Liane V Short Bio
Born as Liane Valenzuela on 22 August 1986, in San Jose, California USA, she’s the daughter of Wally and Prima Valenzuela, who are both Filipino immigrants. She became interested in music at an early age since her parents owned a DJ company.
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She joined a choir where she honed her skills, and later attended several schools that provided dance, singing and acting lessons, including Burbank School of Ballet, and Ruskin School of Acting, among others.
Liane launched her career through Vine at first, becoming a Vine star with her short skits, and as she attained world fame, she decided to pursue her music dreams, and has become a star with such songs as “No Cuffs”, and “Curious” among others.
Liane V’s net worth has been estimated to be around $1 million, as of mid- 2021, earned through her musical career, and her engagements on social media and YouTube with her husband, Don Benjamin.
