Nigerian models and designers desirous of raising their game and taking it global may have that opportunity on their lap already as organizers of Afro Model Awards, UK beams its search light on African talents.
Established in 2011 by three partners, Afro Model Awards seeks to recognise, acknowledge and reward excellence of models, agencies, personalities, designers, and innovators throughout the fashion and style industry.
Although the event features a lot of white and mixed race from countries like Barbados, Jamaica among other, the award is expanding to feature more African talents. According to co-founder, James Durodayo Jegede who is of Nigerian/ Jamaican origin, the award is specifically created for black talents.
“We created it to suit the black anatomy with categories like Best Behind which is one of the most talked-about in Afro Model Awards. The process is transparent and can be followed on www.afromodelawards.com. Our winners have leveraged on the fame from the Afro Model platform for international breakthrough appearing in videos for renowned pop stars like Nicki Minaj,” he explained.
Continuing, he added, “It has been running for five years in the UK but we needed to build the brand to enter mainstream in the UK. We have had a lot of Nigerians participate individually but now, we want more Nigerians to participate. This is the right time to get the most populous black nation fully involved in the Afro Model Awards, UK project. We are in Nigeria to interact with the modelling industry.”
At the 2016 which held on Sunday May 29 at Crown Moran Hotel, London, attraction includes music performance by wave-making West London sensation, WSTRN. Others include Live Catwalk Show, UK Model Search, Fashion Exhibition, Awards Show, Music and Comedy. The award has been witnessed by Mayor of Hackney and Hempstead
Aside the Best Catwalk category which is a live event endowed with cash prize, other categories are to be nominated. Other categories will reward photographers, makeup artists, agencies, designers, beauticians, accessories designers, magazines, personality, fashion blogs, fashion events and so on.
Buttressing on the need for Nigerians to participate more fully in the annual event, he said, “We are here in Nigeria to solicit for the support of the Africa’s most strongest and influential black nation in the world. We have done this for five years in London and it is an award every black in London picks interest in but we have realised that without a strong participation and support from Nigeria, Afro Model Awards is likely to fail in future. So I am here to get more blacks, especially Nigerian models to participate in Afro Model Awards in a full and functional level because Nigeria has got what is required to add more credibility of Afro Model Awards. And at the same time, we want to give Nigerian models the opportunity to come down to UK and participate in the event.”
Jegede who said he has got a lot of international modeling agencies calling for black models, noted, “Such opportunities can go for Nigerian models who are good and that in turn can boost the GDP in Nigeria. We are a beautiful people and we export a lot of things and so I want Nigeria to add fashion and style as part of its exports. So I want to call for more participation by Nigerians and also to solicit for support from stakeholders while interested persons should log into www.afromodelawards.com for more information.”