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College Dropout Worked At Paramus ShopRite Before Becoming Model

Adam Dubanowtiz catches a glimpse of his abs through the cut of his tank top in the mirror at his Hackensack gym and pauses.

Adam Dubanowitz, 27 of River Edge, has amounted more than 30,000 followers on Instagram — all because he quit his job to follow his dreams and most importantly, true happiness.

Adam Dubanowitz, 27 of River Edge, has amounted more than 30,000 followers on Instagram — all because he quit his job to follow his dreams and most importantly, true happiness.

Photo Credit: Bart Ruzik
"ShopRite gave me good life experience but I felt like I was getting beat down every day. I knew one day I was going to wake up and hate my life."

"ShopRite gave me good life experience but I felt like I was getting beat down every day. I knew one day I was going to wake up and hate my life."

Photo Credit: COURTESY Adam Dubanowitz
Sorry ladies, he's taken: Dubanowitz with girlfriend Rachel Bondad.

Sorry ladies, he's taken: Dubanowitz with girlfriend Rachel Bondad.

Photo Credit: Rachel Bondad
"You have to find what you're passionate about and let it take you somewhere." Adam Dubanowitz.

"You have to find what you're passionate about and let it take you somewhere." Adam Dubanowitz.

Photo Credit: Adam Dubanowitz COURTESY

He paces toward himself admiring what he sees, but never for a second does he forget where he came from.

Two years ago, the 27-year-old model lacked the confidence to even step foot in a gym and instead resorted to push-ups and pull-ups at home.

Things have certainly come full circle for Dubanowtiz, who took second place in his class and fifth overall at an elite body building competition in April.

He is currently prepping for another show this spring, but says there's more to fitness than what meets the eye.

"I finally believe in myself," said Dubanowitz of River Edge. "Working out gave me guidance. I feel like I've found true happiness."

The personal trainer's fitness journey began when he was 18 and looking jsut to move some heavy weight around."

"I used to be really insecure.

I had no confidence and had no idea who I was as a person."

Exercise soon became a stress reliever for Dubanowitz -- formerly of Garfield and Ringwood. 

He dropped out of William Paterson University when  he was 20 for a full-time job at ShopRite in Paramus.

Dubanowitz had built enough confidence by 2015 to join Retro Fitness Hackensack with a week guest pass, where he met the photographer who he said changed his life.

"[Bart Ruzik] approached me and wanted to do a test shoot," Dubanowitz said."I was extremely flattered. He saw something in me. I inspired him."

Things began snowballing after the shoot, and he enjoyed seeing his hard work in the gym transpired onto film.

But he was still working more than 70 hour weeks at ShopRite and realized his quality of life was slowly fading because of it.

"It gave me good life experience but I felt like I was getting beat down every day," Dubanowitz said.

I knew one day I was going to wake up and hate my life.

So he quit. The first few months of unemployment were tough. But after Dubanowitz built up his portfolio and threw himself into working as a personal trainer, money started coming in.

He recently landed a job as a sales rep for Power Home Remodeling Group.

On the size, Dubanowitz does photo shoots across the country for several magazines including "DNA Magazine," "Fashionably Male" and more. He's even picked up more than 30,000 followers on Instagram. 

The model says he's living true freedom, but his goals have shifted to helping others achieve the same.

"You have to find what you're passionate about and let it take you somewhere," Dubanowitz said. "I want to make people feel good about themselves."

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