David Wesley chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about representing Tennessee in the 2025 Mister USA competition, and being the inaugural winner of “The Next ReelStar” on ReelShort.
Maya Angelou once said: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” This quote applies to David.
Background on David Wesley
Born David Wesley Ebersole, he represented his home state of Tennessee at the 2025 Mister USA finals, which took place at the iconic Montalban Theater in Los Angeles, California.
At 27 years old, David is not just a manager of a lively nightclub in Nashville, Tennessee. He is all about building people up and helping then enhance their self-esteem. He embodies optimism and positivity. His mission in life is to influence others in a positive manner.
2025 Mister USA experience
Mister USA is an American beauty pageant, which is held annually, and the winner goes on to represent the United States in the Mister Universe competition. It is a celebration of culture, diversity, beauty, intelligence and empowerment.
It believes in the power of young leaders to make a difference in the world. It is not solely about outer beauty; it recognizes the inner beauty and intelligence of their contestants.
David was thrilled to have landed in the Top 10, finishing in ninth place at the 2025 Mister USA finals that took place at the historic Montalban Theater in Hollywood. “It was a really good experience to have. I had never been to Los Angeles before or to Hollywood for that matter,” he said.
“It was definitely the experience I was kind of hoping to get out of it, and I got a few brotherhoods out of it. Other than that, I had never done anything like that before in any type of manner,” he noted.
“Being able to be on stage in front of everyone, and in front of a panel of judges, that really broadened my experiences,” he acknowledged.
Advocacy for Mister USA
Regarding his advocacy for Mister USA, his goal was to help people achieve the best version of themselves. “I wasn’t the most popular kid in school. I wasn’t the best-looking kid and I was bullied in middle school and high school,” he said.
“I wanted to get the word out to people that just because things are bad now, that doesn’t mean that they are going to stay bad. Once you actually make your mark in the world, things can actually go up from there,” he elaborated.
“Sometimes, you are going to have times when things are bad and you are down on your luck, such as financially, emotionally, or even mentally. I want people to remember that it’s okay to not be okay. Things are not going to stay that way,” he said.
‘The Next ReelStar’ winner on ReelShort
David was the inaugural winner of the first-ever vertical reality show competition for ReelShort. The winner will get a lead role opposite vertical actor Jesse Morales.
“The real short experience was crazy, man, in the best possible way,” he said. “From having to do improv to having to do some cold reads. I’ve done improv before, but I’ve never acted.”
“I’ve never read off of a script before. Being given that opportunity while doing Mister USA was amazing because while we were in Los Angeles, we got two experiences rather that one… Mister USA and ReelShort,” he said. “I got to do it with the other guys that competed alongside me so that made the experience a lot better, more comfortable, and fun.”
“Hopefully, they reach out to me soon because I cannot wait to star in a lead role in ReelShort,” he explained.
Working with Jesse Morales and Nicole Mattox
On working with actors Jesse Morales and Nicole Mattox, he said, “They were nice off-set and they were pretty cool on set. They gave us some great advice on how to fix little things here and there. If we needed help with the acting portions, they were extremely helpful and I learned a lot from them.
“I cannot wait to act opposite Jesse Morales. I think he is a great actor, and I can learn a lot from him, and gain some additional acting experience,” David said.
“I am just thankful that Mister USA and ReelShort gave us these opportunities,” he added.
Daily motivations
Regarding his daily motivations, David shared, “My daughter motivates me to just keep going! I see the look on her face even when she’s not with me. Her picture pops up ever now and then of me and her on my phone. I want to give my daughter the best childhood possible.”
Hunk-O-Mania Nashville
David had incredible words about Hunk-O-Mania Nashville, where he serves as manager.
“Hunk-O-Mania is going great,” he exclaimed. “I love it! We are just getting out of slow season now, which is typically from December to end of February.”
“Working with co-owners Armand Peri and Jeff Wachman is awesome! They are two of the best bosses one could ever ask for. Jeff and Armand are both positive, charismatic people, and they both understand the industry well,” he noted.
“Right now, we are getting more shows consistently every weekend, which is great! The guys that I work with at the nightclub are amazing! I have two assistant managers that work under me and four dancers that work under me as well. Sometimes, my assistant managers and I take on the roles of dancers as well… we are not just nightclub management.”
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he revealed, “Rags to Riches.” “I went from dancer to business manager,” he said.
Message for his fans and supporters
For his fans and supporters, he expressed, “Honestly, thank you for supporting me and for being there for me! Growing up, I didn’t have the best support system.”
“When I told my family my dreams and aspirations of being an actor and a model, they kind of chuckled, and they told me to make sure that I have a Plan B. It was hard to hear that from my family,” he admitted.
“For my fans and supporters that have supported me through this whole thing, I just want to say ‘thank you’ and that you did ‘better than my family did.’ You stayed loyal through thick and thin and you understood my aspirations,” he concluded.
John F. Kennedy once said: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” David embodied this wise quote by the late U.S. President. David’s life story is an inspiration to us all.
To learn more about David Wesley, follow him on Instagram.
