AT THE start of 2008, Sam Rouen never imagined he would one day be every girl’s dream man — a shirtless calendar model.

But the 26-year-old Bradbury hottie is now the favourite to appear in the 2016 NSW Firefighters Calendar.

He received more than 1200 likes and 150 comments when his photo was put on the Firefighters Calendar Australia Facebook page as a potential candidate.

media_camera Rouen was morbidly obese when he signed up to be a contestant on 2008 series. media_camera Rouen won the Biggest Loser after shedding almost half his body weight.

“The guys at work started the application but I couldn’t beat them so I completed it,” Mr Rouen said.

“I now need to keep up the training and hit the weights in case I’m chosen.”

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Rouen is nothing less than a fighter.

He lost 71kg as a contestant on Channel 10’s The Biggest Loser in 2008 — almost half his body weight — and walked away as the winner with $200,000.

media_camera A fighting fit Sam Rouen is now a favourite to appear in a fundraising calendar.

Dubbed ‘chunk to hunk’ — he again made news last year after finally cracking the firefighters following three attempts.

He started the reality show at 154kg, he remains one of the most memorable Biggest Loser contestants as his huge weight loss revealed a handsome young man that the Australian public fell in love with.

media_camera Sam Rouen fulfilled his lifetime ambition of becoming a fireman last year when he graduated from the Fire & Rescue NSW State Training College.

Six years on and Rouen has kept off the excess weight, sticking to a healthy diet and regular exercise.

“I adapted into the lifestyle,” he said.

“I made it a part of my life to go to the gym every day and change my diet.”

media_camera Shirtless firefighter calendar candidates at the Rosehill Gardens Ladies Day recently. PIcture: Facebook

media_camera Rouen (far left) pictured with calendar candidates, was lucky enough to keep his shirt on at the Rosehill event.

Ticking off his goal to become a firefighter was a major achievement for the former Elderslie High School student.

“It was always something I wanted to do but thought I couldn’t do,” he said.

“I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”



media_camera Australia fell in love with the handsome young man who won the Biggest Loser five years ago.

All money raised from sales of the calendars will go to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Burns Unit.

“It’s a good cause and is close to home for many firefighters,” Mr Rouen said.

The 2016 NSW Firefighters Calendar raises money for the Westmead Burns Unit. You can buy a calendar at: nswfirefighterscalendar.com