Amazing time at @amfar with @nickiminaj @philippplein78 @alecmonopoly

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Stockton's own hot felon Jeremy Meeks — he of the viral mugshot whose obvious natural hotness has propelled him on a Cinderella-esque journey into fashion model stardom shortly after his release from prison on gun charges and a probation violation in March 2016 — made his European debut at the Cannes Film Festival last week. As he documented on Instagram, in addition to hitting the runway for German designer Philipp Plein's resort collection show, Meeks partied down at the Hotel du Cap with Nicki Minaj, Plein, and mask-happy artist Alec Monopoly.

💲 @jmeeksofficial 💲

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After getting some modeling gigs last year, direct out of the clink, and finding (renting?) himself a phat pad in LA right around the new year, Meeks landed his first big break at New York Fashion Week thanks to Plein, who doesn't get a ton of respect in the fashion world according to Fashionista. They describe the model casting for that February runway show as having a "motley crew of models" that also included New England Patriot Danny Amendola and rapper Fetty Wap, all of whom seemed to be part of Plein's stunt to attract more US attention — he also had rapper Nas opening the show, and put Madonna, Kylie Jenner, and Paris Hilton in the front row. Meeks gave an extremely brief interview backstage at the show saying, "This whole thing is just crazy," and saying he "definitely" has more modeling aspirations.

BLESSED !!!! @amfar

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Finally, here he is meeting former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, whom he calls "My fashion god mother."

MY FASHION GOD MOTHER @carineroitfeld @philippplein78

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All previous coverage of Jeremy Meeks on SFist.