#model interview

Nthabiseng Faith is a 23-year-old born and raised in Gaborone, She is the creative director of Kwa Jewelry, A jewellery brand founded by artist and arts educator LegakwanaLeo Makgekgenene.

She is also a model signed to Kult Models. Nthabiseng has worked with Glotto and LWE over the last three years, curates her own photoshoots, and collaborates with other creatives. In this conversation, she discusses how she got into the model industry, her work for Kwa Jewelry and much more.

How did you start your modelling career, what sparked your interest in the field?  

I actually was never interested in pursuing modelling until later on in life. I've always loved fashion for as long as I can remember, however growing up I had other outlets of expressing myself such as photography, thrift upcycles and writing. I started when a mutual friend (Thuto from Path Images) kindly reached out for a test shoot cause he believed I had "the look". The shoot was surprisingly comfortable and spontaneous for me which I absolutely adored, topped with the very lovely end results. So I decided to research the industry intensively and give it a try with more intention and direction.

Was it easy for you to get comfortable with being in front of the camera or just being around a couple of people during photoshoots when you started modelling?

Yes it was, I never struggled to switch on what I refer to as my alter ego. When shooting the outer world all becomes a blur to me, my periphery focuses solely on the lens plus allowing my body and expressions to flow as one with the camera.

Which photoshoot/campaign that you have done, is your favourite?

I don't quite believe in favorites. I am very peculiar with what I shoot and with who, so everything I have done I value.

Nthabiseng Faith photographed by Juliana Schaller

You are Kwa Jewelry’s creative director, how did that come about and what do you like most about the brand? 

I have previously worked closely with the founder as their personal art assistant, so when they decided to relaunch the jewelry brand I was fortunate enough to be on their mind. Even though I had not done something like this before, they believed in my artistic mind and work ethic which I am very grateful for. Which brings me to your next point, honestly everything the brand embodies is very likeable.

Since joining the Kwa Jewelry brand, how are you adjusting to the role and what have you learned from the experience?

Honestly, the adjustment was seamless. If anything, it just amplified parts of me I kept suppressed over the years. So it has been such a reaffirming journey. I can be harshly critical of my work so the biggest takeaway for me right now would be learning to trust myself despite not knowing how people will receive or interact with the content.

How would you explain the experience of being a model in Botswana, and how are you dealing with it? 

All cards on the table? It has been such a horrible experience for me locally. Again, as previously mentioned I am very particular. So I think that can easily be interpreted as being "difficult" which has resulted in such a disconnect and void. I am at a point where I no longer overanalyze or beat myself about it though. Still very grateful for all experiences, everything is a learning curve.

Nthabiseng Faith for LWE (then Versa La Troy) , SS23 POLENA Collection photographed by goodlivingmedia

Are you a freelance model or are you under management, between the two which is more is easy to work under?

Since I started in 2018, for most of my career I have been a freelance model. However, early this year I got signed internationally with Kult Models in Cape Town. As for which is easier to work under, each has its pros and cons. Also it would depend on your experience and the kind of modeling one does among other thing.

You've modelled for LWE since 2021, how did that come about and did you expect this 'partnership' with Troy Gabolwelwe to continue till now?

Troy reached out to me , which I was very open to without hesitation as I could see his passion and determination. Over the years I have watched him grow and hone his skills as a designer, each collection building towards a very distinctive style which absolutely makes me happy and proud of him. I think we are able to work so well together for so long as we have since built a friendship and connection where we are able to share our dreams and hold each other accountable.

Kwa Jewelry has branded itself as an Afrocentric brand, why did you choose to do so?

(I was not the one that decided on going with Afrocentric elements, I was fortunate enough to work with a team that allows me full creative expression, so my process does get inspired to create and lean more towards Africanity inevitably)

Nthabiseng Faith for Glotto SS23  “Glide into The Last Days of Summer” campaign photographed by Wenzile Dube

How do you balance staying true to your creative vision while also adapting to industry trends

By not adapting to trends. As cliche as it sounds, literally just doing me on a daily. Each day simply aiming to enlighten my creative self through experimentation and execution.

Where do you see Botswana’s fashion industry in the future and what role do you want to play in its development?  

Honestly hard to say but I hope we grow to be open-minded and respectful of all the different roles and of one another within the industry.

 What is the biggest you’ve had moment in your career? 

My biggest moments are yet to come.

Nthabiseng Faith photographed by Juliana Schaller

Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in Botswana’s creative industry? 

Myself.

 What message do you have for young aspiring creatives?  

Do not shy away from being different. With it may come being or feeling alone. Find comfort and affirmation in knowing that despite all of that, there is a tribe for you somewhere out there and someday you’ll know when you have found it. People who will not only resonate with your highest growing self but make you feel seen, heard and understood.

What’s next for you Nthabiseng?

JOJO BAJENA by LUCA MASSARO for I-D

https://i-d.vice.com/it/article/wjwvj9/i-nuovi-volti-di-new-york-fotografati-da-un-duo-italiano

Il New York Kid che credi dovremmo scattare la prossima volta? La mia amica Dani Glovin.

La tua soundtrack di oggi? Echoes dei Pink Floyd.

Qual è la tua seconda casa a NYC? Riverside Park, o Greenpoint perché ci abitano tante persone polacche hahaha.

Il tuo designer newyorkese preferito? Three As Four.

YASMIN MOON

GOLDEN BOY PRESS INTERVIEW #323

Could you introduce yourself?

I'm Yasmin Moon I'm a New York based curve model, sometimes I think I'm an alien but maybe that makes me an artist.

How has you lifestyle changed since gaining popularity on the internet?  Do you find that it inspires you to inspire others?

Outside of working a lot not much has changed, I'm still prancing around nature like a wood nymph, or working on new projects with friends.

How do you try to incorporate your goals and passions into your work and daily life?  Do you feel they come through to those who see your work?

I use every opportunity I can to create art. When I'm at work I am the character I have to play, every complexity I try to empathize with even if it's for only 20 minutes

Could you tell us how it feels when you're in front of the camera? How did you gain the confidence you have now?  Any tips? Do you believe in having creative role models?  Do you have a muse?

I would say my intuition is my muse, in that after a lot of practicing I do want feels comfortable or cool, and connecting with the camera on a multidimensional level. I try not to care what my body looks like in an "attractive" sense. I'm so over the idea of having to trick our bodies to appear thinner in order to be more beautiful. In my opinion anything that is authentic and honest is the most beautiful

Do you have any rituals you do before you start your creative process for a new project, to get your mind and energy in the right place?

My morning routine is very ceremonial with lots of tinctures and homemade oils.  If that goes smooth and at my own pace it helps me feel refreshed and more confident in my creativity.

Coffee or tea?

Depends on my mood

What’s a typical day for you?

Wash the crusty face mask off, take my vitamins, have coffee while my partner makes breakfast and I watch cartoons, walk my pup around the city, go on some castings, and try to see a show or exhibition opening.

What makes you happy?

Fresh flowers, dim sum, the ocean, my puppy Pearl, finding designer pants that fit.

Any closing comments?

Be kind, our human experience is fragile

Madi Fogg

Striking a Pose

By Kayla Marra 

One week she’s relaxing by the bay in her hometown near Sydney, Australia. The next she’s walking her first show ever in New York Fashion Week. Madi Fogg is a 26-year-old model who has worked with a variety of prestigious photographers and brands – from Emilio G. Hernandez to Jean-Francois Campos, from Calvin Klein to Chanel. Madi was discovered while on the beach at only 18 years old and was immediately thrust into the world of modeling. 

Madi is very vocal about how much she loves what she does, as well as the challenges she has had to overcome along the way. We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with Madi about how she got involved with the modeling industry, what she does in her time not on set or walking in shows, and any advice she has for aspiring models. 

Tell us a bit about how you grew up, and how you got into modeling. 

I grew up about an hour and a half south of Sydney, Australia. I was very low key growing up. I lived in a beach town. I had never been exposed to meeting people in the city, so I didn’t really get the chance to even think about modeling. No one had ever approached me about it before I turned 18. I was in Byron Bay for a New Year’s holiday just after I finished high school, and this guy came up to me and was like, “Hey, you should really be working overseas modeling.” As soon as he said overseas, I was like, “Yeah. Let’s do it!” Then he just took photos with his iPhone of my face – a side shot, then the front. Two days later, I got a phone call from this guy in New York saying that he wanted to bring me to Fashion Week. He’s going to pay for my ticket and pay for my hotel so, of course, I was like, “Yeah, let’s go!” [I was] not really thinking about the job, more just thinking about traveling. That’s how it all started! One week later, I was walking in New York Fashion Week. 

Did you ever consider modeling as a career path before being scouted?

I had thought about [pursuing] fashion because I used to sew some clothes when I was growing up in Australia. So, I was interested in fashion and design but never modeling. 

What was the first brand that you worked with and what was that experience like? 

It was a funny experience because the first show that I worked for was with Victoria Beckham. The guy that flew me to New York had a personal connection with the casting director, so it was very easy for me to go straight there. The funny thing was that my hair was literally down to my bum cheeks. When I got there, they were making me walk around in high heels doing laps at 1 AM. Then the next day at the show, the hairstylist was trying to do my hair. All the girls’ hair has to look the same for the show. It has to look cohesive. He was trying and trying, and he was like, “I can’t work with this girl’s hair!” (laughs) They took my ponytail and they just chopped it. That was my first experience modeling. I just went from there and said yes to every opportunity and every crazy thing that people wanted to do with me. I was always down to explore everything. 

What has been your craziest experience so far? 

Here’s another hair story. It was right before Fashion Week. I was getting a lot of feedback when I first started modeling that I was “too pretty” and “too girly.” At the time, a lot of androgynous girls were coming into fashion. It was always in fashion, but especially for Fashion Week. That was the feedback for me. So we bleached my eyebrows white while he was smoking a cigarette and cutting all of my hair off. I couldn’t even tie it in a ponytail. It was off, and I had bangs, and it was dyed black. Straight after that, I walked for Celine. I was getting used as their fit model before the show and everything. It worked out, but it was crazy. 

Another crazy experience that we’re all going through as you know, is the pandemic. How has it affected your experience with modeling? 

It’s definitely changed a lot. I was based in New York before the pandemic and then afterward I moved to Los Angeles. It really affected my modeling jobs because a lot of clients weren’t meeting new girls anymore. They were just using girls that they already knew from before. Everything was really slowed during the pandemic, but now I have to admit that I’m loving my job as a model during the pandemic because when I’m shooting, I’m the only one that doesn’t have to wear a mask. It feels surreal when you’re working with a full team of 10 people, and everybody has to be wearing masks. It kind of feels like I’m normal. 

What is one brand that you would love to work with in the future that you haven’t already?

Hmm, that’s a really good question. That’s a hard question! I think for right now with where I am in my modeling career, I love having consistent clients that I work with regularly and are just great people. It’s not really about the brand for me anymore per se. It’s more about their photographer, who is part of their team, and the clients that I work with. I don’t really have a brand that I’m imagining working with anymore. It’s more about the people and the experience that you have working for the brand. 

When you aren’t at shoots or working on projects, what do you like to do in your free time?

I like cooking. I’m very passionate about healthy cooking. Since I have to stay a certain shape and size and take care of myself, being a model I have learned to have fun with food and still create dishes at a super healthy and tasteful level.

Do you have a favorite recipe that you like to cook or something that you learned to make recently? 

Yeah, I actually made these vegan Snickers bars, which were super good. They had dates, oats, and cashews, and they tasted exactly like Snickers! I’m never going to eat a normal Snickers again. 

What do you think your biggest accomplishment has been with modeling so far? 

I think walking for the Chanel Couture show was my biggest accomplishment, just because it was such a unique experience and such beautiful garments. Every single piece of clothing in that show was outstanding. I got to work with Karl Lagerfeld, so that was probably one of the highlights of my career. 

Along with accomplishments, obviously, some challenges must come along. What are some of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in the industry?

There are a lot of challenges that models are faced with that people don’t really realize because it’s the behind-the-scenes of the job, and the job is so glamorous. I know there have been a lot of struggles with body image and healthy eating habits, but for me, the biggest struggle was living away from home. Living in cities where you don’t know anyone, where you don’t speak the language, you don’t know how to get around and do everything at such a young age. That was the biggest struggle for me. 

Do you have any advice you’d like to give to aspiring models? 

I would love to tell any girls who are thinking about modeling just to have fun and not take things too seriously. It’s very easy for criticism and judgment to be taken personally when you’re a model because they’re judging you and the way you look. It’s really hard to have fun at the same time, and to not take things too personally, but I would definitely recommend that everyone goes and says yes to every opportunity, as crazy as it sounds. The more experience you have, the better. 

Copyright ©2022 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: February 3, 2022.

Photos © 2022. Courtesy of Anthony Mora Communications. All rights reserved.

Model Life: Model Interview with Jeraldine Kelly

  Get to know supermodel and actor Jeraldine Kelly!

          Nationality: Nigeria

Profession: Am a model/actor

Agencies: have worked with some agency ( quest model Africa, dice model management) but am currently a free lancer

Milestones: Was when I became Edo state top model

Current location: I live in Benin city

      Tell us about your career as a model. How did you get started? A friend bought…