Jake Hall, a former model, entrepreneur and reality star, died Wednesday in Majorca, Spain.
The circumstances of his death in a villa are being investigated by Spain’s Civil Guard. A Civil Guard spokesperson acknowledged a media request Thursday, but deferred comment until a later time.
The 35-year-old was widely known for his role on “The Only Way Is Essex,” which he joined in 2015. Prior to that, he played semi-professional soccer with such clubs as Grays Athletic and Boston United. Hall’s ties to fashion extend beyond modeling, having started two clothing labels — Prevu Studio and By Jake Hall.
In his modeling days, he was featured with Dylan Brosnan, Christian Combs, Luka Sabbat, Diggy Simmons, Sophia Rose Stallone, Raury and Cordell Broadus in Dolce & Gabbana’s spring 2018 #Millennials campaign. Hall also walked on the runway for Dolce & Gabbana in 2017 and again in 2018 on the night that his daughter River, whom he shares with Misse Beqiri, was born. Hall rushed from the runway to the hospital, as documented in a video by The Daily Mail. More recently, Hall had his own contemporary men’s clothing label By Jake Hall, which he also modeled for. The brand’s spring line was released in March.
Beqiri, who is a professional model and “Ladies of London” and “Real Housewives of Cheshire” star, was unavailable to comment Thursday. She is also known in the design community for having started, with her sister Valentina, Gallery by Her, a company that specializes in calm and craft-oriented interiors.
A spokesperson for Misse Beqiri said Thursday, “At this time, Misse’s focus is on supporting and protecting their child as they come to terms with this devastating loss. The family are asking for privacy, compassion and respect while they grieve privately.”
The couple were once engaged, but subsequently parted ways after five years and what was at times a tumultuous relationship that was documented in the press. In 2018, he was issued a restraining order.
The British-born Hall started his first clothing company Prévu Studio in 2015. The smart-looking understated sportswear was sold to Browns, Selfridges and other stores. The coordinating styles were worn by Bella Hadid and Romeo Beckham among others. That start-up got underway after Hall’s semi-professional soccer career wound down. In a 2018 interview with Phoenix magazine, Hall described starting his first company, “Being young and having no money, I worked from a garage with a second-hand sewing machine, so a friend who could pattern-cut and sew could make my dream come alive. They were not the finest of creations, but you have to start somewhere…”
In 2021, JD Sports purchased Prévu Studio for an undisclosed sum. The following year Prévu was among the assets that were acquired by the Frasers Group. But in 2023, Prevu went into administration.
Hall told Phoenix magazine that while growing, he always had “a keen interest in fashion,” because his father was in the “rag trade.” As a boarding school student in Somerset, Hall used to buy clothes from his favorite stores and sell them to friends “for fun and a small profit,” he told Phoenix.
Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, and films like “Blow” and “The Champ” starring Jon Voight were among his fashion inspirations. Asked for advice for aspiring designers, Hall suggested, “Start today not tomorrow, believe in your vision and the rest will follow. Go for it!”
Aside from his daughter and his brother Sonny, Hall’s survivors were not immediately known.