ONE-TO-WATCH Nana Afua Antwi THE ONE – TO – WATCH


The recently crowned Britain’s Top Model of Colour 2010/11 Nana Afua Antwi is a young lady with a big dream – to become Africa’s top model and con- quer the international modelling indus- try, which is increasingly criticised for being glaringly Caucasian-dominated. Nana, an Ashanti girl from Kumasi,


Ghana, is currently studying art and design – specialising in fashion – in Lon- don. She is signed up with Mahogany Models, part of Top Model of Colour, founded and run by Sola Oyebade (see Osworld). In 2009 Nana won the best model category competition run by Movie & Music Stars magazine, which is published by renowned Nigerian en- trepreneur Otunba Abiola Asalulola. Nana spoke to New African Woman


about living beyond the cliché “more than a beautiful face” .


New African Woman: You are now the UK’s Top Model of Colour – what does it mean to you, the next Naomi Campbell or even more? Nana: Top Model Of Colour is a huge life- changing event to me, as it is one of the prestigious competitions for black mod- els in the UK. Definitely the next Naomi Campbell and even more (giggles) as I have so many projects lined up.


What type of projects are lined up for you and what are you passionate about as a model? I hope to work hard and do a lot of cam- paigns in the modelling industry. Not too long ago, I watched a BBC TV documen- tary about the plight of single mothers in remote parts of Africa, including Ghana, where I come from. I was deeply touched and I would like to get involved in a project that will help these young women. Tat’s one area I would love to channel my mod- elling and fashion into, and I am working


8 | NEW AFRICAN WOMAN | WINTER 2011


els in the fashion industry. In my opinion though, I feel that such campaigns only help to re-enforce the wrong perception that we are begging the western world to accept us, and as a result our potential as black models is underestimated. I believe that all black models should believe in their huge potential and have self-belief, while supporting each other within the industry, instead of just focusing more on making it big in the mainstream model- ling industry. We can build our own main- stream! Tat way I hope we can make the mountain easier to climb. .


towards that. My passion in the modelling industry is mostly with the fashion aspect as I see a lot of concepts and ideas evolving through fashion.


Do you feel you are ready to take on this cut-throat industry, particularly here in Europe, where it is not a secret to say models of colour have a higher and more difficult mountain to climb? I am very aware how tough the modelling industry is, especially here in Europe for models of colour, but having said that I believe in possibilities, which I know, have brought me this far. It is believed in the mainstream circles that black mod- els don’t get a lot of bookings, and there have been those who assert that this is so because we don’t sell and we are not very professional. Which are very wrong assertions. However, I have seen campaigns aimed at highlighting the use of more black mod-


Who inspires you at both a personal level and a professional level? Wow! I have been inspired by a lot by peo- ple who have been a huge success, but defi- nitely, for my personal inspiration it has to be my grandmother, Florence Boatemaa. I grew up around her a lot and learned so much life experience. She was not educated but was of admirable intelligence. She has always told me to believe in possibilities and always put God first in everything I do. My professional inspiration is simply Tyra Banks because I see a lot of myself in her. She just didn’t do modelling but progressed to be a huge entrepreneur and that is the kind of direction I would like to take in life.


What is your motto in life? My motto is “Never say Can’t’’!


Who in your words is a New African Woman? A New African Woman is a black woman with high dignity, who knows who she is, what she wants to achieve and works on it to be successful. A woman with a strong voice to be heard, a leader who never forgets her roots, she is always an inspiration and a role-model. Simply, New African Woman could be any black Afri- can woman with potential and the right set of mind to succeed.


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