Male Romance Cover Models

We all know Fabio, John DeSalvo, and Steve Sandalis. But what about other men who modeled during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s?

Looking at these attractive men, we can see how the image of the romance cover hero has evolved throughout the years.

The Models

The four men whose artful forms we’re appreciating are pictured on the covers below, left to right:

• Guy Bishop – Guy Bishop was an internationally famous model who lent his face to countless magazines and book covers. He appeared in glitzy advertisements and walked the runways of Paris and New York, showing off designer clothes.

• Chad Deal – Deal posed for hundreds of romance covers in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. Perhaps one of the first cover model icons, Deal had a long and successful career. He posed for twice as many covers with Elaine Duillo as Fabio did (40+ vs. 19).

• Mike Dale – Dale has worked for Bantam Loveswept, Silhouette/ Harlequin, Zebra, and many other publishers. His face was ubiquitous in 1990s romance covers, and his down-to-earth appeal made him a natural for category-romance. A true example of a silver fox, Dale now runs a life management business, teaches yoga, and models for catalogs and fashion magazines.

• Cherif Fortin – With smoldering green eyes, Fortin’s features are as much a work of art as his covers. This cover model was the muse of photographer/artist Sara Lynn Sanders. The pair first worked together on the 1997 stepback reprint of Marsha Canham’s A Pride of Lions. Now Fortin and Sanders work together as artists and writers, crafting medieval romances and covers.

The Covers

This week Sweet Savage Flame is highlighting male romance cover models! Enjoy!

Your Opinion

Is there a model you’d like us to highlight? Do you have a favorite old-school cover model?

Please drop a comment, and let’s talk romance.