» Model City
Sandra Omo on the importance of versatility and confidence
After my ordeal of last week, I saw an amazing upturn in my modelling career this week. Sitting at home all day, expecting a miracle to happen – as I really needed one to get on the move again – I got a call from an unknown number. Oh yes, I always do. I am a model you remember? Yeah, there goes my arrogance again – I need it once in a while. It helps me keep my focus.
“I can look like the pretty girl next door and the next moment like that sexy diva in your dreams”
Back to the point. I got a call from this agency, wanting me to feature in a music video to be filmed in Brighton. I was glad. I did not even think about the offer before I accepted. Firstly, it felt so good to be getting a call from serious people in the business, compared to the crap casting I went for last week. Secondly, what better place is there in England to have fun than Brighton? The woman on the other end of the line sounded very sweet as she began to explain to me the conditions and requirements for the job. She stressed the fact that they wanted a hard rock look for the video. In her words: “What we want is a really funky rock look. Do you think you can look this way?”
For a moment, I was perplexed. I felt like someone had just questioned the whole essence of my career. Can I look a certain way? Boy, I am a model. I can look any way and be anything. I can look like the pretty girl next door and the next moment like that sexy diva in your dreams. I mean, there is no limit to how I can look and the expressions I can show. This is what being a model is all about. One’s ability to produce different looks is constantly under test: innocence, anger, fear, pain, love, lust, happiness, seriousness, romance etc are emotions a model must be able to express and switch between at any time.
Showing comfort in the most uncomfortable positions is a norm with photo shoots. Boy, only God knows how relieved I feel after such shoots. However, I always look forward to the next, because I know that with every photo shoot comes a new experience and opportunity. So, with no offence taken – and knowing that she had to be sure before she could pick me for the job – I began convincing her that I can be anything and look any way. With boldness that she could sense in my voice, I answered: “Oh yes, I can look any way you want me to.” “That’s perfect then. We look forward to seeing you,” was her reply.
Yes! I have just bagged another job. And the opportunity to show that I can be the perfect rock ’n’ roll girl for this video is one that I am looking forward to, because I have never had such a look for any job before. I have been pretty, sexy, elegant, sad, happy – you name it – but never the hard rock girl. Therefore, as I prove to the producers that I can be anything, I am also proving to myself that I have boasted right so that the next time I say ‘I can be anything and look any way’ I know I have proved it again – professionally.
