Finishing out his debut season on Bravo’s Next Gen NYC, Liam Obergfoll is sleeping stress-free at night. He was genuine to himself and saw through the highs and lows all the way to the end of his heart-emblazoned sleeve.

Liam is a NYC native, with an easygoing spirit, and a sprawl of hobbies and interests. As far as NYC most Eligible Bachelors go, I’m not sure you need to look much further if you’re in the market for a Devotee til Death Do Us Part. A sprinkle of family man, a dash fierce entrepreneurial go-getter, a slice of spontaneous creativity, a generous helping of cowboy-adjacent animal lover, and a yes-thank-you-helping sex-pistol with the motorcycle.

Liam has been embroiled in some end-of-season drama that raises questions about his authenticity and his approach to love. He remarked that on reality television, doing anything in anticipation of the ‘final edit’ is a pitfall. “I’ve come to be very close with the people in my circle; they accept me for me, and I’m able to just be me with them. So, I went into the whole thing, I tried my best, but I stuck to being me. I do not look back at anything and say, man, I wish I didn’t do that or say that.”

The Liam that LADYGUNN met, was far from a cartoon-ified final cut, or closed-door confessional character. He is quite a warm conversationalist, and when he talks about his interests, passions, and people, his demeanor glistens through his eyes.

Liam has been shaped by the city itself, growing up in the quick pace of New York’s neighborhoods and having equal access to the glories and debaucheries it offers. Now that he’s older, he says his idea of a perfect New York day starts on a fall weekend, not dissimilar to the September weather we’re having. He would start with a leisurely trip to a coffee shop to enjoy the morning air, followed by an unhurried bike ride. His friends text; they want to take the motorcycles out and find a nice cocktail on a patio. He trades one pair of wheels for another. One round flows into another, and spontaneous dinner plans form, involving Steaks from Cinderella and a rooftop. Bliss; generous wine pours and a hopeful cameo from someone’s dog. If it were TRULY a utopia, his horse, Chewy, would be airlifted up there, too. Carrots and apples provided, of course.

Liam has been riding horses for some time now, and has found a family in Chewy, named after his youngest brother who shares a birthday with the three-year-old American Paint Horse. Chewy is a practitioner of ‘the ultimate side-eye,’ and I imagine that Chewy would employ this exact expression to some of the cast on this Next Gen season. Navigate over to TikTok if you want to get parasocial with Chewy!

He is also incredibly close to his family, in miles and in relationships. Right around the corner, they attend an Obergfoll standing tradition: Sunday Dinner. This usually involves an iteration of his dad’s bolognese, or Ragu, followed by a quite heated game of Miss Thatcher’s Tea Party. I promised him I would not reveal his secrets, but if his family and friends are reading this, be warned that Liam is employing some cheating-adjacent tactics to get ahead.

Before becoming a major talking point on this season of Next Gen NYC, Liam got his start on the screen through TV and Film. You might recognize him from Law & Order, or from his short film Carrera, making its way through the festival circuit as we speak. He is a big reader and writer, and right now feels drawn to Anthony Bourdain. He has been enjoying Parts Unknown and reminds himself mid-sentence that he’s been wanting to pick up a copy of Kitchen Confidential. I can see why Liam is drawn to Bourdain. Pulled towards unknown spaces where he might not ‘fit in’ but wants to be fully immersed and experience all there is to experience there. To me, that’s a romantic AND jubilantly risky way to walk toward life. This polarity seems to show up with Liam a lot, simple and complex, sweetie-pie and sky-diver, vulnerable and assured. 

So, Hopeless Romantic? Liam falls into that purview. He credits the men, but mostly the women in his life, for shaping his optimistic and forthcoming approach to love. “There’s a toxic masculinity thing going around that a lot of people think is cool. Why don’t you tell a girl how you feel and use your actual emotions and watch what that does for you?”

If our readers weren’t prone to swooning yet, Liam IS back in the dating game, just not on the apps (sorry swipers). He says, “Don’t be shy, I don’t bite,” when I ask about people approaching him in public. It is also quite refreshing when he says, “I’m no celebrity; I am a New Yorker. Please approach me. I’ll give you a howdy back.” He also says that he likely won’t respond to DMs unless it’s quite witty, so I suppose only try this if you have some stand-up material to practice!

Before speaking with Liam, I knew I wouldn’t really have much say in whether I was #teamliam or not, given this is my job and he is our breakout star. But I’m surprised by how much Liam felt like someone in my NYC friend group. A down-to-earth guy with a jovial approach to life, and a belief in laying all your cards out on the table instead of missing your chance to grab life. If I had a sister, I would for sure vouch for him. And our deepest condolences to Ariana for losing a real one.

Shirt + Shorts, Georgia Wenig. Shoes, John Fluevog. Vest, Socks, Jewelry stylist’s own.

Full look, Arth Atelier. Socks, Calzedonia. Shoes, Freshy. Rings, Stylist own.

Jumpsuit, ESQUE/BY. Stripped t-shirt, Dockers. Tank, Hanes. Shoes, John Fluevog.

Coat, Victourriahz. Shoes, Freshy. Tank, Hanes. 

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