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A MODEL OF GLAMOUR DID YOU TRAIN TO MODEL? No, I had to learn through experience and watching Fashion TV, and looking through magazines.
OLE MORAPEDI PROFESSIONAL MODEL: ICE MODEL MANAGEMENT • OGORGEOUS MODEL MASTERCLASS (OWNER)
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE A MODEL? When I was young a relative encouraged me to enter a modeling competition. I received 1st position in my region (North West) and went on to represent my region in Gauteng. Coming from a small town, Rustenburg, representing my province in big cities was a big deal; it sparked my love for modeling. I also love travelling, so when I discovered that I would be travelling for competitions, my passion grew even more.
DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DAY Modeling is seasonal, but when a gig is on it gets hectic! I usually do ramp modeling like fashion weeks and bridal expos, but I also model for magazines in fashion and beauty spreads. A photo shoot can take hours in cold weather and as a model you must always look on point until the photographer gets the perfect shot. During fashion week, in one day there could be about four to six shows. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? I enjoy the glamorous side of it. You get exposed to a sophisticated lifestyle. One day you’re wearing a dress worth R100 000 for a shoot; the next you get an allexpenses-paid trip to Cape Town or overseas.
WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? I don’t like the ridiculous hours waiting the whole day doing nothing until a show starts, or working in freezing cold weather. ANY HURDLES? I had to overcome dealing with rejection, being concerned about my body weight and how to handle jealousy and competition. ANY HIGHLIGHTS? The highlight was when I was booked for a big campaign in Cape Town for the Italian brand Carpisa during the Soccer World Cup. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? Currently, I offer a modeling masterclass called Ogorgeous to young aspiring models in Rustenburg. I started it with no capital and no business background, so I studied a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. I now have about
16 students in total. My goal is to guide them and educate them about the modeling industry, so they can identify scammers vs legit modeling platforms and choose the right direction. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO MODELING? You need to believe in yourself. It’s the era of Instagram – marketing companies don’t look for tall and skinny anymore but rather for people with a huge following or who are influencers. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR WOULD-BE MODELS? Do the research and educate yourself. Be respectful, be on time and always follow instructions. Get a degree so you have something to fall back on when there are no gigs. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Glamorous and cut-throat.
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