J. P. Calderon

John Paul Calderon (born September 5, 1975) is an American professional volleyball player, model and reality show personality. In 2006, he was a contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands, the 13th season of the CBS reality show. The following year, he became a regular member of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. As part of his experience he was the February 2007 cover guy of Instinct magazine. He did so again in 2008, becoming the first man to be featured on their cover twice.

Early life and education Calderon was born in Santa Monica, California, the second son after his older brother Peter, to Edwin and Xinia. He grew up in Marina del Rey, California. Of Costa Rican heritage, he was raised in a Roman Catholic household. He graduated with a degree in speech communication in 2000. Calderon is of Costa Rican descent.

Career Volleyball Calderon was offered a pro volleyball opportunity in 1998 in Barcelona, Spain but decided instead to finish his degree. He credits the time as learning the differences between men's and women's volleyball styles.

Survivor Calderon's dad died in 2005, right before the Survivor opportunity, and it let him feel free to express his emotions as he never had a good relationship with his dad. After the tribes were merged on day eight he became a member of the "Rarotonga" tribe. In retrospect he faults himself for viewing the series more as a sports competition than for the social aspects that build alliances. He credits the show with opening his eyes than he controlled his choices and had options. Stating that he had for a long time wished to model, Calderon came to an open casting call held in the first episode of Season 2. He said the process, and Dickinson, were fun, but they did have the models drop their modesty, and be naked, and in their underwear constantly. He knew he was gay since high school, and even worked as a bartender in a gay bar. which included the cover, a photo spread, feature story and interview. He said he wasn't pressured into the decision and was supported by Dickinson. "All of my fears, everything that I was scared of... it was the complete the opposite," he said. "It's been great. All of my friends, the volleyball world, absolutely everybody has been supportive. No one has shut me out." Dickinson, in particular, has been very supportive, and told him that her role models for being tough, driven and ambitious, were all gay men. In 2009, he was also a cover model for the popular French gay magazine Têtu.

It was announced during the 4th season finale of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency that Calderon will head the male division of the agency when it moves to New York City. Calderon is also signed to KULT Model Agency in Germany.

Other In 2011, Calderon was cast as part of Logo TV's A-List; Los Angeles, as part of their A-List franchise, but no cast or scheduling information has been forthcoming

In 2012, Calderon modeled for the NOH8 Campaign created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska, to oppose California Proposition 8 which attempted to change California's constitution to forbid same-sex marriage.

Personal life In October 2013, he became engaged to his longtime boyfriend, Julz Heaney, in Hawaii. Heaney is a real estate agent. They have been together since 2007.