Bermudians know Mr Fotogenik for his hilarious social-media videos, quick wit and ability to entertain a crowd. But take away the microphone, cameras and public appearances and Shawn Simmons is perfectly happy staying home.

“I guess I like to chill most times. I like to chill at home. Occasionally I will go out. But if I'm not working, I'm chilling at home doing something music-related.”

He has a home studio beneath his house, where he enjoys spending time creating music when his schedule allows.

“I haven't had as much free time as I used to but that's one of the things I like to do. Just cool out. Make some music.”

And while audiences are accustomed to his larger-than-life personality, Mr Simmons admits the man behind Mr Fotogenik is considerably more reserved.

“I think there's a quieter, more private side to me. I am a people person but I also like to cool out or be at home. I can be a homeboy.”

One of his favourite activities away from entertainment is cooking for his wife, Janell, and their two sons, Nico, 9, and Nari, 8.

“I like to cook. I usually cook on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the family. Sometimes I like to try different things out. My family really likes my steak. My youngest son really likes pasta, so I cook that for him.”

Interestingly, his interest in cooking began as a practical arrangement rather than a lifelong passion.

“My wife got me started because she used to do all the cooking. This was before we had the boys. She said she really needed to split the cooking.”

With little experience, he turned to the internet for inspiration.

“I used to look online for recipes and I started experimenting. I would pick things up at the grocery store and just figure it out.”

These days, cooking is simply part of his routine, alongside family life, music and his work as an MC and content creator.

He also works Monday through Wednesday at Boaz Island Rubis, where interacting with customers gives him another opportunity to show his naturally humorous personality.

“I'm always interacting with customers, making people laugh. It's part of my personality.”

Interestingly, many of those customers didn't initially realise that the man serving them was also the voice behind the popular Mr Fotogenik videos.

“A lot of people didn't know I was Mr Fotogenik because I wasn't showing my face. It was more so my voice.

“When I started doing stuff, it was all these voiceover videos, so you would have to go all the way down my page to see who it was. It wasn't until I started doing events and commercials when they were putting the face to the voice.”

While the humour audiences see online is genuine, he admits his social-media personality is a slightly exaggerated version of himself.

“I think I've always been this way, but it's more so because I'm out there socially and on social media and in the public that people now get to discover my personality.”

“Maybe I'm not as loud in person as I am on socials. When I'm doing my videos, it might be a little more exaggerated. It's dialled up. It's almost like me but if I've had a few drinks in me.”

When he does venture away from home, travelling is another passion, particularly to Spanish-speaking destinations.

“I really like the Latin culture, so I've been to a few different Spanish-speaking countries.”

His travels have taken him to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Barcelona, with the music, food and atmosphere being particular highlights.

“I love the music, the vibes, the cuisine.”

Next on the itinerary is Ghana, a trip his wife suggested.

“That was my wife's idea. She really wanted to go and I'm just tagging along. I'm really excited about it.”

But no matter how much he enjoys travelling, performing or making people laugh, Mr Simmons says his ideal downtime is decidedly low-key.

“I like to be left alone. I'm somewhat introverted. I feel like if I wasn't doing this, I would probably be a homebody. I wouldn't really be out in public like that.”

“People think I'm outgoing and I'm always like that,” he adds.

The reality? Mr Fotogenik might be the life of the party but Shawn Simmons is just as happy at home.