Meet Domino’s’ newest hand model: Holmview school teacher Matt Strain.
The 39-year-old was chosen out of more than 100 applicants from across Australia and New Zealand to feature as a hand model in the pizza-chain’s upcoming product launch.
He said it was important to have “everyday hands”.
“Everybody needs to identify with the hands – the need to see the hands and think, ‘this could be my hands’,” Mr Strain said.
“Fingers that aren’t really long and articulated, nothing that will make people ask questions – a distinctive tattoo is too much.
“But also, well-kept and maintained hands, like clean fingernails.”
Mr Stain was paid $100 an hour to film the new advertisements on Thursday 6 June; the contents of which he is not allowed to reveal any information about.
“It was mainly one day and involved a fair bit of holding pizza and assorted items, and then I went for a tour of the Domino’s facility in Hamilton,” he said.
“I met Don Meij (CEO of Domino’s), the big cheese of the whole empire.”
The search for a new hand model went viral online last month, with Dominos asking applicants to submit a 30 second video demonstrating their pizza-holding skills.
“I saw the Instagram post saying Domino’s was looking for hand models, and I happened to have a spare pizza in the fridge – that was very lucky,” Mr Strait said.
“I had the prop ready to go and some spare time, so I whipped out my camera and started filming.”
“They said they enjoyed the video, and then there were a few more questions, but it wasn’t the most rigorous application I’ve gone through – they didn’t want to check my references or anything.”
Mr Strain said despite his newfound success in the modelling industry, he wasn’t ready to give up teaching just yet.
“I’m a teacher by trade, and moonlighting as a hand model,” he said.
“There might be some further action, but I don’t know.
“My kids need me, so I can’t through it all away just yet… but if there’s more interest, then I’ll have a decision to make in the future.”