Exclusive Interview: Gage Gomez Takes Us On His Journey As An Influencer And Fashion Icon

Gage Gomez is different from your typical influencer. The PreMed track student aims higher, moving the bar for the burgeoning influencer industry. A recent survey found that among young people, influencer was the most sought-after career selected by over 29% of those surveyed, quickly supplanting traditional aspirational occupations such as doctors and lawyers. 

Not so fast, says Gage Gomez: you can do both. The quickly rising influencer has proven influence can extend beyond merch and product plugs. In addition to a Discord he runs that offers free tutoring services for students, Gomez has raised money for cancer research and childhood cancer with Sloan Kettering. 

In an exclusive interview, we met with Gage to learn how he is changing the social media game.

Mark Benjamin: You grew up in Long Island, and now live in New York. What is it about the city that keeps you here?

Gage Gomez: The speed that the city operates at. People are up at all times of the day, depending on what their job is, getting what they need to get done, done. I love the grind, hustle, and bustle. That is New York City's dynamic and diverse culture; no other city is like it.

MB: Where else have you been that has inspired you?

GG: Because I have yet to be out of the country, my travel experiences and influences accompanying those have been limited. One of my favorite places I've been to so far is Hawaii; it's such a beautiful place,, and I would consider living there for some time. It's good that there are few distractions to develop unhealthy habits like in larger cities. I get highly motivated. I have a lot of visions for my future.

MB: You're in college on a PreMed track. That's interesting because many people think being an influencer is an end-all-be-all. In a way, you promote higher education and challenge your followers to keep learning. Is that something you've thought about?

GG: Yes. That has been my narrative from day one. Being an influencer is not the end all be all. I believe in higher education or education if it pertains to your goals in life. Being a PreMed student was always my number one priority before anything else. Social media is a tool that I use to amplify my outlook on how you can be successful doing both and how you don't have to drop out. 

A lot of kids get caught up in praising these unrealistic lives. Lives where you're living in a mansion, making TikToks all day, thinking you will become extremely wealthy. It's a short window. It can be done, but you need someone who has been through it to help capitalize on the opportunity before it's too late. 

MB: How was preparing for the MCAT? That's a challenging test to score well on. 

GG: Preparing for the MCAT was one of the hardest things I've ever done, physically and mentally. I was supposed to take it in January 2021, after studying 10 to 15 hours daily for three months with no days off, I realized that my mental health was suffering without noticing. So, I decided not to submit my exam to take time off and get back after it for the following application cycle. 

This eight-hour-long exam requires more preparation than any bio, chemistry, physics, and humanities final because you need to know everything. They can't test everything, so you need to prioritize what you think is most important and what is OK, not look at it to some extent, and be OK with that. I will only go into this exam with 100% confidence in my abilities to get into the best schools I want to. I don't want to get into a med school; I want to get into my top choices, so I will take my time with that process.

MB: Is there something you want to share that people may need to learn about you from scrolling your page?

GG: Surprisingly, even though it's the first thing in my bio, people still don't know I'm a PreMed student. They assume I am an influencer who isn't in school and models on the side. Also, my name is in my bio, but it slips past people that I am Hispanic. Three-quarters. The rest is Italian. 

Also, I will take this time to promote the tutoring service I started recently. We have about 3,000 students, and it is a free service for anyone in the field of stem; high schoolers and undergraduate students are welcome to discuss any topics with the volunteer tutors I have personally selected. That link is in my bio.

MB: Tell us about your workout/gym routine. Any advice for people just starting out?

GG: So, I was a personal trainer in terms of fitness. Sports and fitness have been with me my entire life. With some of the knowledge I had from required bio courses, I took a certification test and had friends help me get clients in New York City. Recently, I stopped taking clients. 

My routine is nonexistent, although I am addicted to rock climbing again. I used to do general workouts and simple routines, but got bored. I love rock climbing because it requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills at the moment while you're getting one of the best exercises possible throughout your entire body.

MB: Where did your interest in fashion begin? Are there any brands or designers you follow closely? 

GG: My fashion has never really been a stand-out piece of my page or personal brand, but this past summer, I met a lot of really cool friends who are super into that industry, and they've definitely motivated me creatively to test out those waters more. All the high fashion brands, of course, are super cool in their own ways but on the smaller spectrum, or my own niche opinion, I really like brands such as old D&G, Yohji Yamamoto, Dries Van Noten, Kapital, Martin Myaka, as well as a bunch of small owned companies in Russia and Korea which I can't recall off of the top of my head.

MB: Besides Travis Scott, what other musicians are you into?

GG: I'm really into Italian rap right now. Blanco, for example. Also, two of my close friends, Souly Had and KODI, are incredibly talented; go check them out!

MB: You have a knack for fun/interesting historical facts. What are some of your favorite films or books?

GG: Goodwill Hunting is hands-down my favorite movie. "How to Win Friends and "Influence People" by Rockefeller is tied with "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen and "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell, and "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg is a few others I enjoy. Regarding films, I like anything with Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey, Leo, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, and a few others. 

MB: You've also used your platform for good by partnering with Sloan Kettering for childhood cancer and research fundraisers. Are there any other causes you're passionate about or would like to invite followers to look into?

GG: There are always two links in my bio for pediatric cancer research fundraisers that I am a part of, cookies for kids cancer and Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital, so please always take a look at those and share them with friends and family. I host fundraisers for both of those when I can. I'm usually in Washington Square Park in Manhattan. 

As I mentioned, I started a free tutoring aid that gained much traction that I'm about to revamp, so keep a lookout for that. You can always hop in the discord if you need fast assistance. We are hoping to do a partnership with Kaplan down the line. 

Instagram: @im_gage

Photography by Mark Benjamin

Styling by John Tan

Grooming by Pascale Poma using L'Oreal