Dom Gabriel rose to fame on Netflix’s Perfect Match, but his story runs much deeper than reality TV. Dom—who we’re now calling Dominique after this episode—opens up to Isaac Rochell about growing up in Toronto with a single mom, the pain of being abandoned by his father, and how that experience shaped his drive to protect the people he loves.

He talks about becoming the man of the house at just 10 years old, why he paints his nails, and why real masculinity is about showing up—not showing off. Dom also reflects on growing up in a rough neighborhood—including getting stabbed outside a McDonald’s—how he found the strength to keep going after a near-death experience, and how it all shaped his definition of what it means to be a man.