Radio Miraya
2745: South Sudan's next generation of top models
We continue with the nation's big conversations now. The creative director, Durham Azira, at Durham Model Management in Uganda, her powerhouse in the fashion industry, known for discovering a notary and credible talent. It's currently on an African tour to scout for the next generation of top models. Durham has travelled across the continent, and now he's here in South Sudan, and is currently with me in the studio, good morning, and welcome to the programme. Thank you so much for having me and good morning to you all, as well. - Good morning. Well, you arrived yesterday in South Sudan, right? - Yes, I just arrived yesterday, and I'm loving the city. - Really? - Super hot, but I love, love, love the people. - You call this super hot? - Yes! - When the rain is heathened. - I know, but, you know, like where I come from, you know, I'm just neighbours with you here in Uganda. The weather is very cool, and it was raining back at home, so when I came in here, this felt like, you know, the summer in New York. Super humid, but I love it. OK, so has last night's rain changed anything for you? - I would say, yes. - Mm-hmm. Now, it kind of feels like home. It kind of feels like home. - Right. As I have mentioned, you are on the African tour to scout out for the top models. Where have you reached for that? We will be travelling across the entire continent, but definitely you can't do all the 56 countries in Africa. So we will be travelling to 12 African countries, looking for the next, you know, generation of global leaders, supermodels. And so far, we've done Uganda, and we've also done Kenya, Nairobi. So we've done two countries so far, and now we are in South Sudan. - Oh, this also done is your third. - Yeah, this is our third country. Because we want to first do East Africa before we go to West Africa, then, you know, North Africa, and then Central Africa. - OK, so where is your next stop over? - Ah, the next stop is Zambia, Lusaka. - OK. - Yes. - OK. - And I hope the Lusaka people will catch this online to get ready for you. - Erm, trust me, they will. I'm very, very sure they're in the same somewhere, yes. - Right, right. OK, so, how long are you going to be here? I'm going to be here for three days, because literally what we're doing is that we do have the Satch today. It's happening at South Sudan Hotel, starting at 11 up to 4pm. And so immediately after the Satch, we will be getting these models and grooming them already. So we'll start workshops, and our workshops will be running, starting from tomorrow, and then the other day. So the three days that we're here, the minute we scout, we discover the talents, we go straight into developing them, getting them ready for, you know, the entire fashion world. And the other thing that we're doing is we have a partnership with For Real Fashion Festival. It's a festival that is going to be happening really, really soon here in South Sudan. So we're partnering together so that the models that we do not select as, you know, the girls that we want to represent, they're definitely going to be walking this show as well. So so many opportunities are opening up for them. And yeah, them getting their foot into the fashion world. Right. What a packed program you have, seven or two hours a day. I know! That is the thing. We have to do everything in 72 hours. But then who knows? I could be back very soon. OK. Well, fingers crossed for that. Yeah. So, like, how have you done your advertisement? Do the girls know that the Satch is on? Yeah, definitely. Yes. You know, we are leaving in the generation of the Gen Z, the Gen Z generation, whereby everything is like online. They're listening to us online, they're watching everything online. So we've done a lot of promos on social media a lot. Extensive promotions, you know, on social media. And then also our partners here in South Sudan as well for real fashion festival. They've done an incredible job, you know, promoting, you know, this Satch as well. And then another thing that we've done is that we try to work with, like, the different influences in South Sudan as well, different beauty queens, different agencies altogether, because this is not just about us. This is about getting that one ambassador that is going to represent South Sudan super well. Because the type of girl that we're looking for is the type of girl that who's who's going to be walking in New York, Paris, London, Milan. So, honestly, this is beyond them. It's beyond just, oh my God, I come from South Sudan. This is them selling marketing South Sudan to the world. So it's just one beauty queen you're looking for. Honestly, we're just looking for one girl. But the thing is that South Sudan has so many stunning models, like really, really, really say, like, I've been walking around and everyone, everyone looks like a fashion model, to be honest. So it's going to be very, very tough to just get one girl. But who knows? We could take two. Yeah, I know. Because Milanan lives here. That's it. This is the land of the supermodels. Right? Yes. Okay. So what are some of the requirements for them to get in? So we're looking for girls, girls and boys. We usually expect for girls, but now this is South Sudan. So it's up and we, literally opening up more doors for the boys as well. Between the edge groups of 17 years old to 24, that's the edge group that we're looking for. And then for the girls, every girl must be about five feet, nine inches tall. For the boys, it's six, standard six feet and above. And of course, you know, they should be able to express themselves. They should be, you know, they should be confident. They should be articulate. But let's be realistic. All these things will teach them. So mainly what we're looking for is that style quality effect. That one person that walks into a room and you turn, you're like, who's that person? Did we just get a dude, a catch back here? Do we have a leg quick here? Do we have Naomi Kambil here? So we're looking for that wild factor as well. Yeah, because that's where her leg and the legs come from. That's it. So you're home. This is the home. I'm in the home of a leg, a dude, like all these iconic supermodels. Yes. Right. Durham, thank you so much for making our time to speak to us today. What is your message to those who are listening right now? To all those that are listening right now, I want you to believe in your dreams. Dreams are super valid. Irrespective of where you come from, irrespective of what your story is, wake up every single day and believe in yourself and speak it to the universe. Because I strongly believe that whatever energy you give to the universe is the energy that you get back. So if you believe that you can be a star, if you believe that you're going to be great, it will definitely come to you. Right. Durham, was there. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for having me. So it sounds down until what time? Is it up into the public or do we have to pay? Oh no, it's an up-and-call casting. So literally won't be having spectators. It's only people that want to be models. So it's literally up into anyone. If you fall in the edge group of 17 years old to 24 years old, I mean just pop by. Right. Yeah. And irrespectable sizes, colors, ethnicities, everyone is welcome. Absolutely. Durham, thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much for having me. All right. So if you've been listening and you fall inside that bracket 17 to 24 and you're interested in modeling, hey, the opportunity just came knocking at your doorstep. In a way to go South Southern Hotel.