He had been afraid of death all his life. And all his life he chanted. He didn’t really like publicity, he was reluctant to give interviews, but he did everything possible to stand out from the crowd and not look like anyone else.
Our article will talk about Rick Genest. Zombie Boy, as he called himself, was an extraordinary man who managed to become famous throughout the world. He was treated differently: someone with admiration, someone with indignation. But both those and others could not disagree with the fact that this guy is truly original and individual.
"Dependent on death"
In his youth, he began to think about death. And for good reason: she really was very close. The fact is that the Zombie Guy, Rick Genest, had every reason to believe that he would not even reach adulthood. The terrible diagnosis of a "brain tumor" made him grow up early. But timely treatment paid off: the operation was successful, the guy fully recovered from the disease and was completely healthy physically.
However, such things rarely go unnoticed. The diagnosis that the doctors managed to overcome left an indelible mark on Rick’s soul. The tumor was removed, but his life was no longer the same. He could not get rid of the feeling of dependence on death.
It was then that he came up with the pseudonym Zombie Boy, which later thundered around the world. It was then that he began to make tattoos, which glorified him. Since then, he called himself a living zombie - those who continue to live after defeating death.
Rick was born in Shatogue (Quebec, Canada) on August 7, 1985. In childhood, he practically did not differ from his peers. Everything changed when he turned 16, and he first appeared in the office of a tattoo master …
Tattooed man
It is unlikely that Genest pondered the sketches of tattoos for a long time, choosing a theme. For him, it was obvious.
The guy applied one tattoo after another to the body, increasingly making himself look like a zombie. On his back and chest, on his arms and legs, and even on his face, neck and neck, realistic images of bones with the remains of decaying flesh and insects crawling on them flaunt.
Here, by the way, it is worth noting the incredible professionalism of the masters who managed to perfectly realize Rick's idea. Tattoos look incredibly stylish and expensive, the image turned out to be solid and complete. The final touches, such as cherries on the cake, were punctures (relatively few).
Rick simply could not help but share all this “splendor” with the world. He started posting photos on social networks in 2005, and it brought incredible success. The follower counter was spinning at a frantic speed, in a short period the number of subscribers to the Zombie Boy page exceeded 3 million.
Zombie guy Rick Genest evoked different feelings from those who looked at his photo. Outspoken haters appeared. But it is unlikely that someone else’s opinion upset him, otherwise he would not have conducted such experiments with his own appearance at all.
But there were many who heartily admired the crazy photos of Rick. He was not like everyone else, and this greatly attracted the townsfolk. They wanted to examine him from all sides, to find logic in the drawings on his body. But he was not like a madman acting impulsively. High-quality implementation of the idea, harmonious composition and the result brought to its logical conclusion - all this favorably distinguished him from other tattoo lovers with skulls and bones. According to professionals, the Zombie Boy tattoo is a real work of art, one of the most outstanding works in the world.
One of those who admired the grim aesthetics of Rick's tattoos was Nicola Formichetti, a stylist, producer, and good friend of Lady Gaga. It first dawned on him that Zombie Boy could be a real breakthrough in show business.
First serious job
The video of Lady Gaga, shot on the song Born This Way, was the first serious work in the career of Rick Genest.
Zombie Boy appeared in the frame in a stylish black suit. He does not dance, does not sing, almost does not move, and does not even smile - but his eyes are drawn to the screen. Lady Gaga herself contributed to the triumph, copying his style. The singer was dressed in a similar trouser suit (of course, female cut), and her face was decorated with tattoos drawn by a make-up artist - exactly the same as those of Rick.
It is worth noting that filming the clip was not only the first step on the path to fame, but also the first brick in the foundation of a strong sincere friendship that connected Genest and Lady Gaga to the very end.
Zombies in show business
Collaboration with the outrageous singer is just one of Formichetti's projects. He is also the creative director of the Mugler fashion house. Nicola as a creative, courageous, loving everything unusual decided to bring Zombie Boy to the podium.
For the first time, Rick acted as a model at the 2011 Mugler Youth Collection show. Since then, he began to be invited to such shows as a guest and as a model. Suggestions rained down one after another: the bored beau monde needed "fresh blood", Rick really caught the right wave.
By that time, the world had long gone mad on the subject of zombies: the number of fans of films, computer games, thematic festivals grew by leaps and bounds. Rick managed to bring to life what the rest dared only dream of. He really was the one whom others only imagined themselves, looking at the screens of gadgets.
Thanks to his tattoos, Rick Genest also got into the Guinness Book of Records, and in two nominations at once. He is the man whose body shows the largest number of insects (176) and bones (139 pieces).
Unusual projects with the participation of the Zombie Man
Rick Genest never advertised privacy details. He had many friends, but there is no evidence of a serious relationship with women.
Gossip broke into a tirade after his provocative photo shoot with Andrei Pezhich, a bisexual model for the Brazilian brand Auslander. It was rumored that young people had a romantic relationship. But the shooting was only part of the game - the two outrageous and the bully just decided to join forces to once again shock the public.
And the photos, it should be noted, turned out to be very cool: light Pezhich, with his clear eyes and chiseled beauty, and the habitually gloomy Zombie Guy Rick Genest. Incredible contrast. Great idea and virtuoso embodiment.
Another interesting project is participation in the DERMABLEND cosmetics promotion. Many of those who saw the video, from top-class marketing specialists to ordinary beauty bloggers, consider this to be the best advertisement for a cosmetic product.
Rick, as usual, is stingy with emotions. But the fact of his participation in such filming reveals the potential of the advertised product. And this video gives us the opportunity to imagine what a Zombie Boy would look like if he did not have tattoos.
What is known about Rick's death?
August 1, 2018, not having lived a week before the 33rd anniversary, Rick Genest committed suicide. Shortly before that, he posted on the net a small verse of his own composition.
The cause of death of Rick Genest is known to him alone. According to friends, he was a kind and open person, who was not spoiled at all by fabulous fees. He had no debts and problems with relatives, he did not envy anyone and did not suffer from unrequited love.
Psychologists believe that the cause of death of Rick Genest was the old problems that started growing in youth, made themselves felt until the end of life. Rick was probably just tired. He perceived life as one of his creative projects, and more than once joked about what would become of him after death. By the way, he was often asked if he was going to bequeath his skin to the anatomical museum, but he always answered that after his death, like everyone else, he would meet with worms.
