The world of models is a world of beauty. To be a model, your beauty must be widely recognised and acknowledged. That means with models, beauty is not just in the eyes of the beholder. Her general outlook must convince all about her exceptional beauty.
Welcome to the world of models; a world of beautiful faces, tender skins, straight legs, fabulous outfits, guided meals, exquisite accommodation, endless catwalks on the most fabulous stages around the world, the klieg lights and the paparazzi.
But beneath the facade of the extremely good life is the burden that comes with being a model; a burden that does not discriminate between male and female models. While the issues may vary from one individual model to another, there is but a thin line between the burdens carried by models of different class and clime.
That much is demonstrated by the words credited to world acclaimed model, Naomi Campbell, who recently lamented that the colour of her skin undermines her earnings. “As a black woman,” she said, “I am still an exception in this (modelling) business. I always have to work harder to be treated equally.
“I may be considered one of the top models in the world, but in no way do I make the same amount of money as any of them… There is prejudice. It is a problem and I can’t go along anymore with brushing it under the carpet.
“This business is about selling, and blonde and blue-eyed girls are what sell.”
But while the journey up the ladder of modelling may be tasking, pretty young ladies still choose this path. One of such models is Jennifer Chukwurah. According to her, “As a model, I have big dreams. I wish to become an international super model one day.”
It is an ambition shared by her counterpart, Dianabasi Edo, who said “it is the dream of every model to go international. That is my dream too. That is, to get higher every second. I want to hit every top television station screen and local and international magazine cover.”
Tall as this ambition may seem, young models like these don’t look back, especially if they have achieved some elements of success like Gladys John, who said “for me, the journey to modelling has been fruitful though also exhausting due to the need to participate in events and interact with people from all walks of life.
“I have worked with different kinds of professionals like fashion designers like Kiki Kamanu, Modella Couture, Feron Designs, Zhalima and so on, and appeared in several top magazines and newspapers”.
Models do not only believe in the fame they gain from their works, they also believe it is a good job which brings in the money as quickly as it can come. But first, models believe in themselves. They believe and accept their beauty and actually get ready to use it confidently.
Seun Ajayi said it all when she thumped her chest and declared: “I think my beauty is a gift from God and I am thankful to Him. Yes, I know I am beautiful, though I don’t believe that anyone is ugly because we are all created in the image and likeness of God. But I also know that being beautiful gives me some kind of power over men, women and my environment. Yes, in a way, it does.”
Still, Seun admits that modelling is a tasking job. She said: “Yes, people accept me when I tell them that I am a model, although a lot of people too find it hard to accept me as a professional model.”
Gladys John gave a better insight when she revealed another perspective of the profession.
She said: “I would say that modelling gives an advantage to my self-esteem. It is also a bonus to me wherever I go. I blend and adapt easily. However, it has never been a profession to me. It is simply an avenue to build my dreams on.
“The profession has its good and bad sides, and as a model, the challenges I face include persistent advances from the opposite sex. I also have to regularly put my diet in check. Then every now and then, I suffer pitiful glances from people, perhaps because of the belief that we models starve or are culture rebels.
“However, like I said, it has been passion-driven for me, and I realise that it is a job that everyone involved in it should approach with wisdom and care. Otherwise, he or she won’t be living an exemplary life.”
Speaking about the pains and gains of being a model in Nigeria, designer Segun Adetunji of House of Style says: “Modelling is a frustrating business in Nigeria. It is a business in which prophets are not honoured in their own town. Models are not appreciated here, even successful ones like Agbani Darego, who had to go abroad to be noticed. It was only designer Frank Oshodi that noticed and appreciated her here. She didn’t even have to pay him.
“Here, a model has to struggle to survive and they are paid peanuts. The story can only change if a model gets a lucky break. I don’t blame anybody who struggles to become a model despite the pains, because we are not all the same. There are people who believe in fame. So, they go all out to get it. Even I am guilty of this because I was once a model.
“Modelling is a mirage. It is colourful. It offers you the moon, but you must remember that you can never hold the moon in your hands.”
Analysing the lifestyle of models, style writer, Signor Cerruti Osagie, said: “I have the most part of the life of models. I have reported models from Nigeria to South Africa and then Europe. I knew Agbani Darego before she hit fame. There is also Oluchi Onweagba and the likes of Oji who later got married to a millionaire’s son and left the country. I related closely to the organisers of Mnet Face of Africa.”
Osagie added: “I must confess, it is a tough work being a model. But when you get recognised, you make money faster because of your popularity and the new friends you acquire.
“But just as you make the money, you spend it too. Models spend money on the vanities of life: clothes, accessories, perfumes, shoes and the good life. I know a model who was paid N1.5m and she spent it within four days. The first night, we were at a night club. We drank heavily. She changed her wardrobe and the money was gone.
“But then, the following week, she cried to one of her admirers who had given her an SUV months earlier, and he gave her another half a million naira, which also kept her going for a few more days.”
“Modeling is a mirage. The glamour life is always ahead of you and as a model, you keep going after it. The higher you go, the more of the glamour you want. It is showbiz, and showbiz is about make-believe. You keep chasing, if you find luck, then you are lucky. And if you don’t, then too bad!”
On the issue of love, relationship and marriage, some models hinted on the mindset of models with regard to these issues. To Jennifer Chukwurah, “marriage is a blessed union between a man and a woman. It is a good thing. But I just hope that I get married when I find my soul mate.”
Asked if she feels scared that modelling may not allow men to desire her for marriage, her reply was simply “I do not think so.”
Miss Edo on her part had this to say: “Marriage is cool. I will model till I leave this earth. I so much love what I do and no man can stop me in the name of marriage. When the time is right, I will say ‘I do.’
“Scared about a man not marrying me because of my profession? Hell no. I am not! If you can’t marry me because of my career, that’s good for you. Marriage is not a do-or-die affair.”
Faith, an upcoming model, however believes that modelling has made some girls rich but “it’s just that most people feel that models are wayward. That doesn’t bother me because I know I am not wayward.”
Designer Segun Adetunji did not mince words in his blunt reaction. According to him, “models live a one night stand. Most of the men they come across are rich but already married. They have their wives and probably their homes at the water fronts, and only need fanciful young ladies to share lustful passion with. And this they find easily with models.”
With pockets of bias here and there about the profession, we asked Ubong Ekanem who runs a modelling agency if the Nigerian climate is really ripe for the profession, considering our culture, tradition and prejudice, and he said: “Models are real people. They have body, soul and spirit. They are creative people who do creative things that add value to the society; from product endorsements, TV adverts, print adverts, exhibitions and brand representation to a lot of other marketing communication solutions.
“Models ensure that economics is in the works. The world is now a global village and everyone must represent his or her self under that paradigm. The more we begin to see models as creative people, the better for our immediate society.
“My happiest moment working with models has been, when a total ‘Plain Jane’ graduates into a Cinderella. There is nothing like that moment when a girl you just found on the street is walking the ramp and making photography more picturesque. From being a green horn in the fashion plain, she gets groomed and becomes a supermodel. You see them do their thing and you say to yourself, ‘I made that happen.’ “
Although harsh the path of models may be to the top, Osagie has a piece of advice: “The most successful models in Nigeria are those that were smart, made money and used it to face their education. Modelling is for a while. You may not be able to keep the beauty forever. So, you get the money, get education, do business. That way, your reputation stays on the rise and you can be made a brand ambassador.
“Nike Oshinowo, for instance, is a brand ambassador. She was able to succeed in making a name and she invested in her image and education and then business. So, it is either you go to school or you enter into hard core business or you drift into prostitution.
“Modelling business is that of razzmatazz. There is only one hope, and that is to go to school. Some of them work while going to school, but after they’ve laboured to become recognised models, they suddenly finish school and let the ambition die maybe because of the pursuit of other factors, such as emotional needs.
“Only a few models who are real professionals get married. The profession caters little for models who are married, though it is not like married ones don’t or can’t survive. It depends on the model. She has to put in more effort and work every day on her beauty and physique. Models don’t get married because most of the time, it is all about business. There is little space for true love, which is ever demanding.
“Models get to meet so many millionaires who are already married but need them to be mistresses with all the promises and benefits that money can command. Most often, in such situations, real love is on the back burner. It’s about need, desire and survival. Though I know of top models abroad who are married to movie stars or footballers and still keep a successful marriage.
“Most models, however, have to choose between two options, that is the ‘FF option,’ which is to choose between fame or family. And in the showbiz world which modelling belongs, fame is usually more interestingly opted for than marriage.
“In showbiz, it is either you show up yourself or you show off. One usually has to choose between the two.”
Gift Osarobo, another model, admits that there is an ugly side to the profession of modelling. “For instance, I am told to come and do a photo shoot for a magazine and I get there only to realise that it’s a sex movie that they want to shoot. If I don’t want to do it, I tell them so. And if I want to do it, I just do it. It’s a matter of choice. They won’t force you to do what you don’t want to do. So, models should be able to ask questions a lot about the job before getting involved.
“Then again, a lot of people in the industry are not truthful to the contracts they sign. They don’t keep to the rules. They tell a model, we’ll give you this, and they end up not doing so. Most of the time, the job has already been done. Personally, the job could be stressful when moving in traffic around the city. If I’m having a late night job, I get a place there to sleep or the management provides a way to take me home.
“I know most models have a different idea of what modelling should be or do for them. The people I work with are lovely people. But is every management like that? No! And that could be because they face pressure. Working with different people means that you expect different kinds of things from them. A model has to take her stance on matters!”
Ejiro on her part believes that “modelling could be frustrating because you get a call from a designer for a job and you get there and the designer says, ‘oh sorry, we actually needed somebody who is a little fair complexioned.’ That could be terrible because you wasted time, money and convenience. Sometimes, you are paid peanuts as far as I’m concerned. But then, this is the business.”
Many models are also into night life and prostitution. But Gift Osarobo believes that “when it comes to prostitution, it is a matter of choice. But modelling is a job. They are two different things. If a model mixes up the two, it becomes a matter of choice. And it is always best for a model to be registered with a good agency. No agency will allow its model to go off with a man late at night after work. They stress professionalism.”
Cases of models going out for modelling jobs only to be declared missing are also heard in the industry.
“I’m so sorry about such a thing,” commented Gift. “But it still boils down to getting registered. Many go into modelling jobs without being registered.
“Basically, undue publicity is a pain to models. Another thing is having to avoid foods and trying to shed fat and weight. It is also time consuming shooting and going to locations. Also, being asked to wear what ordinarily you would not want to wear, being asked to go nude or topless for a job, as well as other such job hazards.
“The standard in Africa is, however, that you don’t go nude. As for me, I’ll want to be married someday, so I won’t want to do that. There’s also sexual harassment, though it is a general thing.”
Just like Osagie, model and fashion designer Modella has a last word for models in Nigeria: “Models should have more than pretty faces. It is a business, so they must treat it so. The lifestyle of models I don’t like is that they get carried away with the glamour and glitz of show business, too many parties, too many good looking men and pretty faces, and much money! There are too many trips and no time for other things! It is a life of vanity.
“So, models must plan a life outside the job. Good enough, the job opens doors”.
