Numerous men and women often want to be models without knowing or really understanding the insides, insights and nitty- gritty of the modelling industry. But if you missed the memo, you must know that modelling is not all about glitz and glamour and that there is a not-so-glamorous side to it. And this ugly truth is that it is competitiveness, cutthroat catwalk and hard work out there accompanied by rejections , criticism at times destructive and opinionated views. Time Out’s Selma Neshiko caught up with professional model, Meriam Kaxuxwena, who has been long in the industry to share her trials and tribulations in being a model.
Meriam Kaxuxwena (Meriam)
Meriam is a full time professional catwalk model who has been in the industry for over ten years. She was crowned Miss Valentine at Augustinuem High School in 2006 and Miss Augustinuem in 2007. She has participated on both local and international platforms including Miss Valentine, Miss New Comer, Miss High School Windhoek, Moda Angola Fashion Week, Angola Fashion Week, Angola International Fashion Week, Fashion and Beauty Fashion Show in London the and also at Fashion Finest in Nottingham City in the United Kingdom (UK). Last month Kaxuxwena also represented Namibia in the World Bikini Model International in China in which 48 countries took part walking away with two awards as Best Catwalk Model and Best Complexion. In October she will be going to Togo for Miss Beauty Africa and in November to India for Miss Supranational.
What it takes to be a model
Anyone can be a model but it depends on which type of modelling you want to do, not only being skinny but in the fashion industry they also have plus size models. If you want to be a runway model your body must be fit (slender) because they usually look for size six, you need to be taller than 173(5f8) to make it as a Runway model. To make it in the fashion industry you have to be nice, easy to work with, confident in front of the camera, you have to be professional, you need to know how to market yourself and promote or sell brands according to the way they want it. You also need to build a strong portfolio shoot with different photographers to have professional pictures, You need to fight for what you want because as a model today you might be in and tomorrow you’re out so you need to be dedicated because they always need new faces and if you’re not good enough you hardly get jobs. If you want to succeed in the modelling business you have to put 100% work in it, you need to put your heart in it and try finding an agency to get started.
How do you stay in shape?
I’m a natural skinny model I don’t go to the gym like other models and I don’t starve myself. I was born to be a model so I’m naturally skinny, I don’t gain weight. I’m a size six.
Dos and don’ts?
You should always be available coz anytime you can be called in for a job. Stay healthy, make sure your nails are always clean but don’t get involved with anything that you’ll regret later like pornographic modelling which can destroy your career and also girls feel down when they are rejected I was once rejected at one casting too so it’s normal don’t let rejection let u down.
What are the challenges and expectations?
The worst is being forced to cut your hair off or to stay natural. Sometimes you are forced to wear designer’s clothes even if one doesn’t like it. You need to have a strong character cause there is so much rejections that even if you cry in front of agencies, they will tell u straight forward that u don’t fit to be a model, it’s sad but you keep trying cause we all start somewhere. Sometimes they expect you to be perfect in everything like in advertisements or pictures they want you to sell and you trying to do your best but some agents or designers are never satisfied with your work. They expect you not to gain weight.
Are you getting paid and how?
I get paid differently. At one of my shows in china I got paid N$18000, I got paid N$10 000 for Nocal in Angola, N$600 for Angola Fashion Week, N$3000 for Angola International Fashion Week, N$2000 for Africa’s Finest Fashion in Windhoek, N$4000 for the Moda Luanda Fashion Week in London and the fashion show in Nottingham was 300 pounds [about N$3000], every show pays differently.
Have you noticed any improvement in the industry thus far?
I’m satisfied with most international designers and event organisers I’ve worked with so far but I think our local industry is still growing. We need to make more fashion shows. We need good agencies and we need support from the government. We need models to work hard to start working on their portfolios, walks and images. We need companies like MTC to start using models to promote their brands in TV adverts or on billboards. Every model needs to get paid when they do fashion shows because in Namibia 99% shows don’t pay models or they get paid less but they should understand that modelling is a job too. They need to understand models are not only doing it for the love of modelling but also for the money as some of us live on modelling
Your last comment?
Modelling is fun, I have been to places I never thought I would got to. Dedication will take u far anyone can make it to the top. Remember once you do it for the money you become very cold hearted, so you should do it as a passion but also it’s always good to have an extra job to help u out in case you might need some extra money.