Halimotu Shokunbi : NYFW FW20 – Secteur 6 collection
FB: Halimotu, how long have you been modeling?
H: I’ve been modeling for about a year
FB: How did you get your start as a model?
H: I Bot discovered on instagram so that’s really how I got into it.
FB: you family is from Nigeria, is that right?
H: I’m from Texas but y family is from Nigeria, so I’m Nigerian.
FB: What is your experience as an African model in the industry?
H: We’re definitely underrepresented still. I feel like we need more representation in the industry, There are a lot of Black American models but I don’t see a lot of African or Caribbean models. So we definitely need more representation.
FB: In addition to using social media, what advice would you give to women who are looking to enter the industry?
H: Do a lot of work, network with a lot of people. Take pictures with a lot of photographers. “Hash tag” your pictures that’s a really big thing “hash tagging”. It’s all about knowing the right people, and being at the right place at the right time. Make sure you’re always where you need to be.
Monroe Douglass: NYFW FW20 Turkish Group Runway Show
Monroe Douglass at the Turkish Group Runway Show. Monroe is originally from Kingston Jamaica.
FB : How long have you been living in New York, and how did you get started in modeling?
M: I’ve been in New York for three years now. Really I got started just from school, and everybody saying I should be a model. I did my first show in school. I liked how it felt so I decided to do more.
FB : What show are you walking in today, and how did it happen?
M: It’s Turkish designers for the Turkish Group Runway Show. I just went to a casting did my thing. The walk is great, the confidence is there so they picked me.
FB : What have you found to be some of the challenges, and rewards of your work as a model?
FB: Now that you are a model, what has tuned out to be different than you thought previously?
M: I’m 5’9″, I also have an athletic build so I’m all over the place. I’m not just runway, I do fitness, showrooms, and whatever else. So I find that a bit hard when I’m doing all those things, I can’t really focus on one thing. if I’m doing a bunch of fitness, all the brands that I want to walk for probably won’t look at me. Even though that part is difficult it’s also good because I make a lot because I’m in different categories. So that part is rewarding.
FB: What’s something that has turned out to be different than you expected with regards to the industry?
M: Actually I thought a lot of the girls were going to be extremely catty, and they’re not. It’s so much love when you walk through. Everybody is rooting for each other, especially Black models. So everybody expects it to be just hatred, whole heap of back talk. It’s not like that, you go in, and everybody is wishing you luck, hugs, kiss up,
FB : For some the modeling industry can seem very far away and unattainable. What advice would you give to those who want to be on the runways like you are.
M: They should keep in mind that everybody’s journey is different. Don’t look at somebody else and let that stop you from doing what you want to do. So even if you’re over 25 or you don’t think you’re quite the right height; gwaan fe it anyway cause if dem want you, dem want you, none of that matters.
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