We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chidera Aniagba. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chidera below.
Chidera, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?
As a creative model, I have faced quite a number of issues in the past few years that I’ve been in the industry, one of them is being underpaid. A lot of people don’t really understand the time, energy and resources that models put into their craft, whether it’s the countless hours of rehearsals and fittings for runway shows, hours spent getting hair and makeup done for photoshoots or the time spent waiting in line at casting calls. People undermine models especially if they are just starting out their careers, forgetting that they need these models to portray their art.
Another issue is the difficulties black women face in order to stand out as models especially if they’re not dark skinned or have unique features. Black models have to work twice as hard to get the recognition they deserve and it takes a lot of strength to persevere through those times! There is also the absence of a community for upcoming models in certain areas because people tend to gravitate more towards familiar faces or those that have had a foot in the door already.
The possibility of being scammed is also high, being a victim once myself, fake agencies, management and coaches tend to take advantage of the lack of knowledge and desperation of upcoming models to succeed in the fashion industry.
To tackle these issues, I’ve learnt to be firm when it comes to placing monetary value on my work because I recognize what I contribute as a model. I have continued to stay on the path I’ve set to reach my goals with the help of those that support me and I take time to do a lot of research and ask questions before signing or getting into anything to avoid getting scammed.
Chidera, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Chidera, I am an editorial, beauty and runway model based in Dallas Texas. I got into the modeling industry after exploring my love for all things fashion and beauty with the support of the people that saw potential in me. What sets me apart from other models is my determination, consistency and passion for what I do. I have set goals for myself that I’m determined to reach and I am proud of how far I’ve come in the past few years and the connections I’ve been able to make thus far. I would love to work with more creatives, walk in more shows and be hired for more gigs in the DFW area!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the joy it gives everyone involved in a project once you successfully portray a vision. Modeling is definitely a learning process and there’s nothing more satisfying than recognizing your growth as the years go by, it boosts your confidence!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
As a society it doesn’t take much to show support and love to creatives because you never know how far it could go. Buy those show tickets, repost those pictures and recommend those creatives to someone that needs them, it goes a long way!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Credits: @thecarlosvincent
@shotbykimanixo
@fiz__co
@leefphotographyllc
@dondre_esta