
When we first told you about model and longtime Wesley Chapel resident Justin Zabinski, it was more than a decade ago. And, while a lot has changed for the 25-year-old Wesley Chapel resident, a lot has stayed the same, too, as Justin continues to be a blessing not only for his father â well-known local resident Leo Star â but for homeless men, women and families and disabled children, among others.
âWhenever Justin flies in from a modeling shoot,â Leo says, âno matter what time he gets in, heâs up at 6 the next morning to help serve in local soup kitchens. He has thousands of fans (nearly 8,000 at our press time), but he always volunteers his time to help others.â
Leo says that Justin even helps put on events where the host charity can charge admission, and all the proceeds are donated to that charity. âHe never takes anything for himself,â Leo says.
I was happy to catch up with Justin and his dad a couple of weeks ago, before he flew off to New York City and then Los Angeles for modeling shoots.
Justin, who certainly looks and acts the part of the âlaid back surfer dude,â says he is still in search of âthe perfect wave, although I have gotten to surf on some amazing beaches in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and California.â
Among his many modeling credits are AllAmericanGuys.com, Rugby and Polo by Ralph Lauren, APC (France), Tony Meliilo fashion show in NYC, Bruce Weber, GQ Magazine (Germany) JC Penney, Hang Ten, American Living and Levis. He also has been featured in At Large magazine, which calls itself, âThe definitive magazine for contemporary culture, art entertainment and menâs style.â Justin also been featured in People magazine and he is currently working as a cover model.
âI love all of the messages I get from fans,â Justin says. âEven though there are always some haters, too. I just donât let any of it affect me.â
As for his love life, Justin says heâs simply too busy right now to worry about finding the right girl to settle down with, although he admits he would like to find that certain someone âsomeday.â
In the meantime, Justin hopes to see a lot more of the world, especially more of the worldâs best surfing beaches, from Fiji to Australia and anywhere else he can chase the big water. âI do like hanging here at home, too,â he says.
But, being home also means serving, cleaning up and helping out any way he can in many local soup kitchens, especially in Pinellas County, where he actually graduated from high school while splitting time between Pinellas Park and Wesley Chapel.
âI know I canât do this type of work forever,â he says. âSo, Iâm just enjoying the opportunity I have now and will always take the time to give back to help others who arenât as fortunate as Iâve been.â
For additional information about Justin Zabinski, or to book him, visit his âOfficial Fansiteâ on Facebook.com.





There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Café Olé, the continental and authentic Spanish restaurant located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. (at Kinnan St.; behind the Shell gas station) is still the best restaurant in New Tampa, hands down.
Iâm also partial to CafĂ© OlĂ©âs Little Neck clams tapas in garlic, white wine and onions and Galician-style grilled octopus (pulpo a la Gallega), both of which are still among the non-fish seafood I can safely eat). If youâre craving lobster, shrimp, mussels and scallops, Thereâs even unique bruschetta, fried calamari and traditional Spanish chorizo sausage Salteado (in herbs and a light red wine sauce) on the tapas menu.
Iâve also never had a sub-par steak, lamb or veal shank or lamb chops and although the prices arenât cheap, neither is the quality of the food. Although Iâve had very good lamb chops at other local restaurants, the grilled lamb chops (in some sort of red wine reduction sauce) were the best Iâve had in New Tampa this year. And, Iâve had everything from New York strip to filet mignon to bone-in cowboy ribeyes from the specials list and all were tender and tasty, with sauce or without.
CafĂ© OlĂ© also hosts the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meetings every Wed. at noon. Attend one time as a guest and youâll love the food so much youâll probably join.
Senor T’s Does Have Free Chips and Salsa! Contrary to what it says in the advertisement on pg. 47 of the New Tampa Neighborhood News edition that arrived in mailboxes throughout the 33647 zip code today, Senor T’s Mexican Restaurant (17642 BBD Blvd., New Tampa) serves FREE chips & salsa, in both the restaurant and the bar area, all the time. The error was entirely ours and we apologize to Senor T’s for any inconvenience the mistake in our ad may cause.
