Francis Bourgeois, a trainspotter who has risen to fame on TikTok, has earned his first modelling job. He stars in a Highsnobiety’s promotional video for the second collaboration between North Face and Gucci, which can be viewed below.
In the video, Francis plays the role of the conductor, selling tickets and speaking over the tannoy system before boarding the train. Bourgeois, with his contagious smile on his face, seems to be living his dream. His infectious feel-good personality shines through even in the promotion, which includes clips of him in the ticket office having a boogie.
Moreover, the items that the North Face x Gucci collobration has to offer are shown in the video. These are sported by three models, and include a puffer jacket, a jumper, a pair of boots, and of course, a bucket hat. Francis can also been seen wearing some of the range, as shown in the image below.
Despite all the desginer fashion on display, it is undoubtedly Francis who steals the show. But who is he?
Who is Francis Bourgeois?
Francis Bourgeois is a 20-year-old student, studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nottingham. He is also a full time trainspotter, even quitting his job to dedicate more time to his passion.
Bourgeois has quickly become one of the most recognisable content creators in Britain. As of writing, he has 2.1 million followers on TikTok, with his videos accumulating over 37 million likes. Known for his irresistible passion, he started posting his videos on TikTok during the first Lockdown.
It is impossible to view his videos without the biggest smile on your face. Another element of his videos he has become well-known for is the obscure Go-Pro camera angle, showing his reaction to a train sounding its horn, or a driver waving back. See for yourself in this video.
Is his really passionate about trains?
His passion for trainspotting was questioned after it was revealed that the name Francis Bourgeios was a persona, with his real name being Luke Nicolson. A small number of people began to question whether his videos were authentic, or just an act to gain a following on social media.
These allegations were coupled with past photos being shared around, showing the trainspotter in a completely different light. Check them out here.
However, these claims were quashed by none other than Francis (or Luke) himself. He said in an interview that he ‘felt he had to hide his passion for trainspotting in order to fit in.’ However, when he felt he ‘turned a new page’ when moving to university, which allowed him ‘not to be held down’ by his passions.
Francis also released a video quelling the rumours, which can be viewed here.
However, Francis has not completely moved on from his old lifestyle. In the video below, you can see the trainspotter enjoying himself at the Warehouse Project in Manchester, a nightclub.
He seriously can do it all!
So if one day you’re feeling down, or having a tough day at work, I would recommend checking out Bourgeois’ videos. They are guaranteed to put a big smile on your face, and make you feel better. And if you haven’t checked out Bourgeois’ videos yet, you truly are missing out. Here is an example of what to expect.