John Paul "J.P." Calderon is a professional volleyball player, model and reality television participant. JP returned for his second season of the Oxygen Network’s The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency in 2007 and currently graces the cover of Instinct Magazine (March 2008) for the second time, one year after he came out in the magazine and on the show. Prior to The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, J.P. was best known on television as a contestant on the controversial racially segregated Survivor: Cook Islands, the 13th season of the CBS reality show.
On Survivor: Cook Islands, Calderon started off as one of five members of the Hispanic "Aitutaki" tribe. Calderon was the fourth cast member voted off in a 7/2 split. In 2007, Calderon joined the cast of the 2nd season of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. On the show, Calderon was approached to appear on the cover of Instinct magazine, a magazine that requires that its male cover models be openly gay. Instinct confirmed that Calderon identified as gay, and he was featured in the February 2007 issue, including the cover, a photo spread, feature story and interview.
The magazine appearance confirmed J.P.’s status as the breakout model of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency’s 2nd season, and catapulted him to the front pages of gay media nationally. His return for season three stirred up much discussion among online fans. Calderon's modeling career has blossomed with campaigns including his highly visible national 2(x)ist Underwear campaign.
