We recently connected with Chidi Ezemma and have shared our conversation below.

Chidi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. So, we’d appreciate if you could open up about your growth story and the nitty, gritty details that went into scaling up.

My journey has been filled with highs and lows, but I value both the good and the challenging times. I view everything that has happened in my career as essential phases of character development. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the hard work, sacrifices and countless rejections that eventually turned into opportunities.

From the moment I graduated college, I knew I was destined for the entertainment industry, whether in front of or behind the camera. I firmly believe that we control our own destinies. To make my dreams a reality, I knew I had to take risks and commit fully.

The early stages of my career were humbling and fueled my hunger to succeed. When I first arrived in LA, I expected my career to take off immediately. Looking back, I realize I had a lot to learn and needed to grow before I could reach my current level. Each year has brought me closer to my goals. Pursuing a creative career is complex; it involves doing gigs for little to no pay, spending hours on set and still needing to find an income to support oneself.

To advance my life, I had to balance multiple paths. I maximized my income with side jobs without losing sight of my ultimate goals. While working as a model and producer, I also took on roles such as nanny, security guard, assistant, and receptionist.

Eventually, I faced a critical decision that required me to choose a path for elevation. At the time, I was a receptionist at a visual effects company, where my duties included opening doors, answering calls and filling candy bowls. I received an audition call to work with a major entertainer, a big break I had been praying for. I needed to find a way to attend the audition without jeopardizing my job. Despite the risk, I decided to go to my audition during my lunch break.

The audition was quick, but LA traffic caused me to miss an entire afternoon of work. Unable to provide a logical excuse, I was let go a few days later. To add to my disappointment, I didn’t book the gig. This double setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Without an income, I was driven to work even harder. Giving up or moving back home was never an option. I was determined to accomplish my goals and establish my life.

With newfound time and opportunity, I immersed myself in content creation. What was once a hobby became my full time job. To make a living from modeling and producing, I knew I had to study my craft, perfect my talents, and market myself effectively.

One of the best decisions I made was to treat my Instagram as my resume. Having worked as an assistant to a publicist, I gained valuable knowledge and combined it with my degree in communication and business. I became my own publicist and manager.

I dedicated my Instagram solely to my modeling and producing career, posting high quality content regularly. I created mood boards and shot campaigns to showcase my talents. My consistent posting attracted the attention of brands and businesses. I approached every brand deal, big or small, as a major campaign, often exceeding client expectations. If a client asked for 2 deliverables, I would do 4. If I was asked to create a video, I would make 6 different versions. I went from doing brand deals for $250 to earning $20,000 per deal. My determination and hard work paid off, leading to collaborations with companies like H&M, Fashionnova, Target, BoohooMAN and directly with Meta as a content creator.

My career has advanced through leaps of faith and unwavering focus. Life’s path is rarely linear, but with determination and resilience, achieving one’s goals is inevitable.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a content producer, social media manager and model. I have done commercial modeling for brands such as Gillette, Express Men, and Stacy Adams. Currently, I manage and create social media content for four television networks and produce campaigns for brands like Amazon, Absolut Juice, and Remy Martin. I excel both in front of and behind the camera, known for my innovative ideas, creative concepts, fashion sense, and physique but most importantly for bringing positive energy into every room. I love the camera as much as it loves me.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I entered the entertainment field, my primary focus was on perfecting my craft and thriving. Eager to hit the ground running, I seized every opportunity that came my way. However, I overlooked a crucial aspect: contract negotiations.

My first major opportunity was a reality show for a major television network, featuring an ensemble cast of thriving Africans in LA. It was the biggest break I had ever had. The production team told me everything I wanted to hear and I signed the contract without hesitation. A mutual acquaintance suggested that I have a lawyer review the contract, and during that meeting, I discovered some alarming terms. I had agreed to pay 20% of all my earnings to the network for the next five years and was prohibited from working with any other network until the show’s expiration date.

What I thought was my big break now felt like a prison sentence. This realization dampened my spirits throughout the rest of the filming. It taught me the importance of being patient, observant, and thorough. Although I was locked into the contract, fate intervened when the show never aired. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it released me from the contract.

Since then, I have made it a point to triple read every piece of paperwork before signing. This experience has made me more cautious and diligent in protecting my interests.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My social media platform has been a crucial factor in my success. What began as a social network on Instagram evolved into my visual resume. Posting about my daily life, travels, and producing and modeling images steadily grew my following over the years. I was fortunate to have many talented friends who were photographers and creatives, allowing us to transform a simple brunch photo into a Vogue-worthy shoot. The enjoyment of these shoots with friends ignited my interest in pursuing a full-time career in modeling and producing.

Initially, my social media presence focused heavily on my physique, which garnered a significant number of followers. However, my goal was to attract brands and build a career as a commercial model and producer, so I needed to pivot to be taken seriously.

I had to ask myself if I was doing this for followers or for a career. The answer was clear: for my career. Consequently, I revamped my Instagram to align with my professional aspirations. Although it was difficult to remove some of my most liked photos, I understood that being marketable to clothing brands required a different approach. Showing myself in underwear wasn’t going to achieve that. Once I showcased more of my style and personality, brands began to recognize my potential and started reaching out.

Today, my social media platform is dedicated to showcasing my personality and talents. I view it as a runway, with my followers enjoying the show from the sides and brands and businesses at the front, whom I’m pitching to. My advice is to treat your social media as if the whole world is watching. Once you identify your passion, gear your platform towards that. It’s all about building a community of like-minded people. When you create content that you love, it shows, and brands and businesses can feel that energy through your work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SirChidi.tv
• Instagram: https://Sir.Chidi

Image Credits

Chris Jordan