If there’s one thing Scorpio Mosley doesn’t lack, it’s confidence.

In some men, self-assurance can come across as brash, but Scorpio’s conviction is tempered by kindness and compassion. 

The 2025 Style Magazine Man of the Year is not only successful in business but considers it his mission to inspire hope in others.

Whether it’s growing his company or speaking to a group, his dedication and wisdom are difference makers.

“It ultimately comes down to five key elements that I refer to as my Fab Five: faith, family, fitness, finance and fashion. I constantly find myself engaging with one or more of these daily,” says Scorpio, who has made it a point to center his life around those priorities.

SOLID START

Born in Gainesville, Florida, Scorpio grew up in the tiny town of Lawtey and graduated from Bradford High in 1992.

He attended college at Sante Fe and then the University of Central Florida, majoring in business with a minor in marketing.

“I figured I’d use my business degree to navigate corporate America. That was going well, but I found you had to wait for your turn and that it’s not as much based on merit as I’d like it to be,” Scorpio observes. 

Scorpio made his way into insurance sales, found his skill set and realized there was good money to be made helping people find the coverage they needed.

“Sales is about building relationships, not just moving product,” he says, noting that genuinely caring for people has been at the heart of his success in the insurance industry.

By the way, “Scorpio” is his given name, not a clever marketing ploy. 

“My name has always been a point of interest and people wonder where it came from,” he says. 

When his mother was pregnant with him, her friend, Miss Jessie, announced that she thought the baby would be a boy.

“My mom said, ‘If you’re right, you can name him.’ So, Miss Jessie is the one who came up with my name, but I never got to meet her because she moved away when I was young,” Scorpio recalls. 

As a kid, Scorpio Lamonte Mosley wasn’t thrilled about having an unusual name. The last thing he wanted was to stand out for that reason, so he started going by his middle name.

“When I was in second grade, I identified myself as Lamonte because I was embarrassed by Scorpio. All these people I grew up with didn’t know Scorpio was my name,” he says.

“When I was 24, I started using my real name. At that point I was confident enough to start using it. A lot of people didn’t believe it was my real name until I showed them my license,” he smiles. “I love the name now. People never forget it, so it makes introductions and conversation so much easier.”

BUILDING HIS BRAND

Scorpio was definitely successful over almost two decades in the insurance industry, but he wanted more. A practical need ended up opening a door he chose to walk through.

“Back in 2014, I was looking for glasses for myself to change my look and really couldn’t find a brand that spoke to me. I looked into getting some custom frames and the more research I did, the more I realized there was a niche not addressed. Once I found that out, this was my opportunity. That was my lane,” he says.

That same year, he launched Scorpio Lamonte, LLC. to offer a brand of eyewear that not only fits properly but is also stylish and elegant.

“When I was looking for eyewear, many frames were too narrow, which is what sent me down this path to find wider frames. Many styles are more functional than fashionable, so I wanted to be able to have wider frames that are also fashionable,” he notes.

He was adamant about offering frames that would fit wider faces while also making a style statement. He knew from his own search that it was important to have high-quality products that would hold up and not lose shape or integrity. 

As he built Scorpio Lamonte Eyewear, he encountered challenges while trying to get his products into large optical stores and private ophthalmologist offices. Fortunately, in the 21st century, a completely online business makes sense, so he adopted that concept.

Ever proactive, Scorpio reached out and made his brand known, succeeding in putting his eyewear on the faces of celebrities, such as former NBA players like John Salley, Cuttino Mobley, and former NFL player/ESPN personality Marcus Spears. Securing partnerships with entities like Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league expanded awareness of Scorpio’s company.

The eyewear business isn’t his only career, but he’s proud of the fact that Scorpio Lamonte Eyewear has grown to be self-sustaining.

FAMILY MATTERS

Scorpio and his wife Lynn have been together since 2004 and celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary this year.

He has two daughters from a previous relationship — Princess, 26, and Raven, 22. Scorpio and Lynn have two daughters together, Serenity, 11, and Harmony, 4.

“I’m a girl dad for sure,” he grins.

Spending time together is a priority for the Mosley family. “You’ve got to have balance,” Scorpio says, adding that some of their favorite activities together include time in the pool of their Clermont home, at theme parks and the beach. 

He thrives on “just seeing smiles on their faces,” at home, in business and as a mentor and motivational speaker.

“It all comes back to who I am at my core, which is pouring into other people,” he says.

He made his debut as a motivational speaker in 2024 when a friend hosting a women’s conference had a cancellation and asked Scorpio to speak.

“I started thinking about how I was raised by a single mother and vacillated between two households led by loving, yet strong-willed grandmothers. How my teachers and the professors who had the most impact on me scholastically were women. I’m also a girl dad, so I thought, ‘I’ve been preparing my whole life for this,’” recalls Scorpio. “This was the genesis of my motivational speaking.”

On stage that day, he spoke about the power of women and the impact they have on our lives.

“We view men as the most dominant of the species, but women are really the most powerful,” Scorpio says.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, which assured him that his speaking appearance wouldn’t be a one-time gig.

Since then he’s grown his platform as Hope Elevation with Scorpio Lamonte, focusing on both mentorship and public speaking.

INSPIRATION TO SHARE

Whether he’s talking about faith, family, fashion, finance or fitness, Scorpio’s life experiences fuel his ability to speak truth. The family attends Real Life Church in Clermont. Scorpio’s favorite fitness routine is cycling, but he’s also a runner.

“I always try to explore personal growth and development,” he notes.

Now 50, Scorpio is proud of those five decades of life and he looks forward to sharing what he’s learned to influence others. 

Scorpio believes that giving back and sharing hope are especially vital for young people.

He is a mentor with Take Stock in Children for Lake County and often speaks for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also chairman of the board at The Way Academy, a Christ-centered private school in Minneola, where he regularly speaks to students during chapel.

Owning a business has been a journey and learning experience, but he’s enjoyed every step of the process. But being a business owner is not what defines him.

“My goal is to lean into my passions. I’m at a point in life now where I truly understand I have a lot to give. I love that I’m in a place where I can tell my story so others can find theirs,” Scorpio says.

No matter what demographic he’s speaking to, Scorpio emphasizes that we have the power to turn things around.

“We all have the ability to make the right decisions when our back is against the wall. It’s just about taking action real time. I want to inspire people to take steps toward self-improvement,” he says. “Each day when you make decisions, you’re creating momentum. They either uplift you or lead you in a less favorable direction. It’s important to be mindful of the decisions you make.”

Scorpio has built an eyewear company based on the belief that people shouldn’t have to compromise between style and comfort. And his conviction extends far beyond entrepreneurial vision and eyeglass frames.

He is passionate about helping people find their own success despite roadblocks life throws their way. 

Call him purpose driven. Call him ambitious. But most of all, call him hopeful.

“My favorite Bible verse is Romans 12:12: ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ This verse always centers me,” Scorpio says. “You must hold onto hope; it’s your lifeline that prevents you from giving up.”   

Photos: Nicole Hamel