‘…I guess I am lucky
to come from a family where we are allowed and encouraged to pursue
our dreams. For me, my mum had been a great motivator and inspiration
to becoming a model...’ – @_queenfraze

Stardom and success is one inch away when you are objectively
passionate about what you do and want, have family members as
cheerleaders and also the right team encouraging you to never let your
head drop until you win. This is the case with Grace Akande. This
model and make-up artist will become a force to be reckoned with in
years to come. She’s talented, young, hungry and lucky to have the
right people around her at the right time; but most importantly, she
keeps her head down learning, taking advice and remaining focused.

TALK ABOUT YOU IN DETAILS AND HOW MODELLING STARTED

I am a dark, young, beautiful, Nigerian, Yoruba Lady from Osun state
with a passionate spirit and a soul for the art of beauty. I love to
be happy, so I smile a lot. I dance in front of the mirror, and I love
to admire myself. I am the last girl out of five but second to the
last born. Growing up with my family has had a major influence on who
I have become and most likely what I am yet to be. I guess I am lucky
to come from a family where we are allowed and encouraged to pursue
our dreams. For me, my mum had been a great motivator and inspiration
to becoming a model.

It all began with my involvement in event sessions while I was still
in High School. I guess fate had her plans when it continually made me
the High School queen at our interhouse sports which in turn began to
influence how I see and carry myself and also defining my wish of
becoming a successful model and beautician.
In JSS 3 I found myself selected from an audition of a lot of students
to represent the school as a runway model for Godwin Green Couture at
Golden Tulip Hotels which was a collaboration with my institution and
the fashion empire. This opportunity gave me my first exposure to
learning how to catwalk and present myself publicly as a model. My
love for modelling began to grow as I started to give more attention
to this desire. I started watching and reading fashion and beauty
contests to better myself.

After High School, I began to get jobs of ushering and modelling for
photo shoots. At this point I had become aware of the different areas
of modelling and I needed to decide how I wanted to be seen by the
world therefore my areas of specialization. I guess today, I could say
decision making is an integral and never ending process in my career
but for now I find my interests in commercial modelling, creative
photography, beauty photography and fashion shoots as well as being a
beautician.

In 2015 I put in for my first beauty contest – Sisi Oge ( the pride of
Africa), tagged the number one heritage pageantry. I attended
countless auditions before I qualified as one of the finalists. As my
first, it was another step in growth to my career even though I didn’t
win. It gave me the chance to mix and connect with other aspiring
models as we were all camped at La campayne Tropicana resort beach.

In 2016 I thought to kick start my journey into becoming a beauty
specialist, so I made the move to do an internship at Zaranza Beauty
ville, where I learnt skin care, facials,  massage and makeup.

In 2017 I met with Matthias Aragbada of Dudutoonz studios, who
encouraged me greatly and helped shed light on how to advance further
as a model and a beauty therapist. I am still in this process, so be
expectant of exciting things to come out of our collaborations as he
is presently helping to work on some projects which are still in the
oven *wink*.

WHAT FORM OF MODELLING DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN AND HOW IS THE JOURNEY SO FAR

My desire would have been to model according to my interests but this
would only make it a mere hobby instead of a career. Modelling as a
business has been a bit tough, as countless proposals have been thrown
at me regardless what I think my specializations are, but above this,
it is important as a model to know the limits because in the long run,
the model remains the victim if publication goes bad. But I would like
to think that at the moment I have found my interests in commercial
modelling, creative photography, beauty photography and fashion
shoots.

I KNOW YOU ARE INTO DANCING, LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

Well, I wouldn’t say I am into dancing per se, because it’s just a
hobby and nothing more for now. I have received countless good remarks
about how well I dance, but I am not sure I want to take it onto a
professional platform for now. I literally dance just to make myself
happy because dancing is a great way to exercise and it also a good
practice for the soul.

WHAT ARE THE HIGHS AND LOWS SO FAR?

The highs for me have been the hope I derive from encouragements that
I have received from family, friends and fans alike. It keeps me going
and believing that I could make it exceptionally.
Modelling brings a lot of attention, which also means so much
expectations from people who love you and what you do. Managing people
I would say has been one of the most difficult things for me as I know
you can not please everyone (though I keep trying to). Secondly, I
would say the lack of definite structure in the industry also makes it
very difficult to know what or how to approach your career at
different stages, talk less of rising. Your success therefore depends
greatly on your little decisions influenced most times by confidants,
guesses and on luck.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE LOOKING FORWARD TO FROM YOU IN THE FUTURE?

Well I can’t be definite about the future, but I can assure you to
expect an unusual launch of my products which would be new to the
modelling world. In the immediate future, I would be doing a lot of
features in my areas of specialization and putting proper structures
in place for the birth of my beauty empire.

– Sesan Adeniji

Culled from Mystreetz magazine ( Blackmagic Edition )