Victor Fontanez
American barber and social media personality
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victor Antonio Fontanez aka "Vic Blends" is an entrepreneur, social media influencer, philanthropist and motivational speaker.[1][2] In 2021, he and partner Scott Budnick opened the first barbershop academy in a California state prison.[1] Fontanez has 25 million followers across all social media platforms.[1]
Victor Antonio Fontanez | |
|---|---|
| Born | Victor Antonio Fontanez Germany |
| Other names | Vic Blends |
| Education | South View High School |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, Social Media Influencer, Philanthropist, Motivational Speaker |
| Known for | Founding the first barbershop academy in a California state prison, viral social media presence, motivational talks |
| Notable work |
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Early life
Born in Germany[where?][when?] but reared in Hope Mills, North Carolina, Fontanez is the oldest of four children.[3][4] He attended South View High School. His father is a retired military veteran.[4] Fontanez identifies as Latino and has openly expressed pride about his ethnic background.
As a youth, Fontanez frequented Barber Kings barbershop in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he was mentored by the owner, Sundiata "Sean" Morris.[3] While a high school senior, he began cutting hair out of his mother's garage, deciding to forego college in order to pursue this new professional goal.[4][5]
In 2017, Fontanez spotted NBA player Dennis Smith Jr. (also from Fayetteville) when he entered Rudinos, a sports bar in the area, in order to use the restroom.[3] Fontanez stopped Smith and offered to give him a haircut and also gave him his last business card.[3] Smith eventually took up Fontanez's offer and that relationship opened doors for Fontanez who moved to Atlanta and began cutting hair for other notable athletes and musical artists.[3]
Career
Social media influencer
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fontanez's business halted in 2021.[3] One day he went to a park and offered free hair cuts to strangers, while asking "Can I bless you with a haircut?," which has become his signature opening.[5] During the haircut, the conversations focus on the client's mental health and wellness; Fontanez once noted that barbering is an act of healing.[3][6] A friend filmed the interactions, which went viral on TikTok and Instagram, helping Fontanez amass a following of over 25 million followers.[7] Fontanez also began giving motivational talks.[7] "I just wanted to inspire kids to chase what they love," he told a journalist.[6]
In 2022, Fontanez was named in Forbes 30 Under 30.[2]
DeepCut
In 2023, Fontanez launched a more polished talk show series called "DeepCut," which features notable guests, such as Barack Obama, Tom Brady and Lil Baby.[3][8]
Valley State Prison
In 2021, Scott Budnick, a film producer, reached out via a mutual acquaintance and invited Fontanez to speak to inmates at a California prison in order to inspire them.[2][6] Budnick is the co-founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization. Although Fontanez was on track to open a physical barbershop in Atlanta, he decided to partner with Budnick, and together they opened the first barbershop academy in a California state prison, Valley State Prison, a men's only facility in Chowchilla.[1][2][6] The program allows individuals to earn a license while they are in prison. Students enroll by cohort, up to 30 men at a time.[6] Upon successful completion of the program, graduates earn an official California barber's license, providing a pathway to a career post-incarceration.[6] According to Fontanez, the goal of the academy "is to break the cycle of incarceration and recidivism trap that many communities suffer from".[9]