Ocean View bodyguard earns national honors

When Adriano “Bubba” Almony isn’t working as bodyguard for celebrities such as YouTube kid trainer Demarjay Smith or the family of rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, he’s likely to be found near his home in Ocean View mentoring area youth.

For his philanthropic work, the celebrity guard and U.S. chairman for global personal safety organization Bodyguards Against Bullying, Almony was recently named the 2020 Humanitarian of the Year by digital publication LV Magazine and featured on a Times Square billboard. 

While Almony now lives in New Jersey full time, he grew up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and still maintains property in Ocean View, where he returns each summer to serve as a volunteer mentor for area youth programs, fostering interest in health and fitness, and helping kids stay on the right path in school.

Almony’s first experience working in security came at age 17, when he worked to support the extreme sports competition Dew Tour being held in Ocean City, Md.

“I was blessed to discover it was my passion and purpose in life to protect people and their property,” he said.

At 19, he started working as a bodyguard for “Jersey Shore” star Vinny Guadagnino.

“I would look after him and his group of friends every summer,” he said.

Almony then made his way to New York, where he met music artist and producer Swift on Demand, who hired him to work security for his music studio. The connection led to work for more celebrities, success Almony attributes to building relationships and trust with clients.

“It’s all about people skills,” he said. “It truly matters how you treat people.”

Almony has his sights set high; when he meets the age requirement, he hopes to be a candidate on the presidential ticket.

“Life is all about service to others,” he said.