We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Simi Sadiya. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Simi below.

Hi Simi, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Creativity has always run through every part of my core. I am not sure where I get it from; but it is always there, like the beat of our heart, the pulse in our veins. I remember mimicking Bollywood movie dance moves since I was a toddler and sketching the nature around me. Dancing and sketching just came naturally.

I was with my parents when a model scout approached them to talk about me becoming a model. I was in elementary school. Seattle was far from diverse back then with two Black people (my teacher and a student), and one South Asian person; me at my school. I was bullied for being different. I was confused and lacked confidence. My parents saying “no” to the model scout did not help either. On the other hand, I am not sure if my lack of confidence would allow me to get out of my shell.

Fast forward a few decades later I am asked by a friend of an acquaintance, who also happens to be a photographer and hair stylist if I would be willing to be a lead hair model. I was flattered and responded with “sure, but I have no experience and have no idea what to do.” He responded not to worry about it, and we discussed the logistical details. This was the start of a beautiful new creative chapter of modeling and acting.

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 have modeled in print, web, commercial, and editorial projects, published in online and print magazines in the US and Europe, walked runways across the US and Canada, shot in international music videos and tv commercials, as well as acted in independent films, YouTube short series, and as an extra in Hollywood movies and reality shows.

I love supporting designers and under-represented communities across the globe. I am passionate about providing my creative skills and unique perspective to help promote a brand, product, or company. I thrive in bringing the vision or message of a commercial or movie that a producer or director may have to life through story telling. My website is www.simisadiya.com. Most of my work is on my website but I have recently been trying to be more active on Instagram; www.instagram.com/simisadiya.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

This is going to be unpopular and may raise animosity. In my perspective, society can support artists by accepting more BIPOC artists of darker skin tones, petite (short) women, and women of age. This industry claims to accept BIPOC but how many brown and black skin BIPOC women do we truly, see?

I am not referring to light skinned BIPOC who have bleached their skin to be accepted by society or women whose photos are edited to lighten the skin tone. I am talking about truly brown and black skin women. Don’t get me wrong. The message here is not to “only” accept brown or Black BIPOC women. The message is to “also include” brown and Black women. Society comes in a variety of beautiful skin tones, heights, and wisdom. Why not show a child or young person they too are represented?

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There are misconceptions or confusion about a model or creatives role. Models provide more than their time. Models are often in extenuating circumstances and environments, wearing designer outfits in opposite seasons. Professional models are not told how to pose or what to do. I think of modeling as “silent acting” where models emote the projects vision through the flow, movement, and angle of the body and speak with their eyes. Creatives become the character we are portraying. It takes an innovative designer, a visionary photographer’s capture and edit, an imaginative make-up artist, an artistic hair stylist, and a creative (and often versatile) model to bring the project to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.simisadiya.com
• Instagram: www.instagra.com/simisadiya

Image Credits

Image credits (in no particular order):
– Alexis Sharpe
– Andrew Modeen
– Antwyone Washington
– Ayla Quellhorts
– Carlisia Minnis
– Dan McCormack
– Jennifer Denise
– Jerry Lois
– Jessica Renee
– Miguel O’Bara
– Nisha Sridhar
– Robert L Butler Jr.
– Sara Suffal
– Shivani