Adeola Ariyo (Top African model): Interview

Going shopping and being randomly spotted by a modelling agent is something we often see or hear about on T.V but that is Adeola Ariyo’s story. She is going from grace to grace and doing well for a twenty-one year old. As I prepare for the interview (it is quite early), Adeola is surprisingly cheerful, she’s got her hoody and refuses to show what’s underneath it, and we don’t push it as we’re just grateful she even got out of bed so early to do the interview. I’m still getting ready while she happily chats away, yawning the whole way through, but I can help but notice how stunning she looks even at this time.

MQN: You’re doing really well at the moment, what’s a typical Adeola Ariyo day like?

Well it’s really chilled right now because it’s the winter season and not much really happens

I have a few castings here and there and I usually get direct bookings from clients i work with often : so my castings aren't as much as they would be in summer

MQN: You're in South Africa right? Have you worked in other places?

I am, I have worked in London for 6 months. And had a couple of shoots in and around South Africa

MQN: Okay, you did a photo for a hair magazine here right?

I did, black hair magazine

MQN: Did you always want to be a model and is it something you want to do long-term?

Well I didn’t always want to be a model, when I was in high school I was more interested in sports than anything else. I had been with an agency in London like 9 years ago but didn’t really take it serious.

MQN: So how did you get into it initially, did you look for jobs yourself or did u randomly get discovered?

Well I was in Topshop with my dad when I was like 10 and an agency called maodes1 was scouting around the area so my dad got me to go and meet them and I took a few Polaroid’s and basically got called back a week or so after.

MQN: Wow, have you had any 'pinch yourself' moment

(laughing) well not really not any I think of at the moment, oh I think it was when Alek Wek walked into my agency in London it was amazing as a young girl to see someone who you admire on tv, standing right in front of you

MQN: Yeah I can imagine, did you talk to her?

I was really nervous; I remember all I said to her was that I was a big fan of hers and that she was beautiful

MQN: There's a lot of press on models behaving badly, have you ever fallen into that category or been diva-ish?

No not at all (laughing)

MQN; Common, never, so you never gotten pissed off at what you had to wear?

I think there is a misconception on models being divas but I have been pissed off loads of times but at the end of the day, a model is just a walking mannequin, The only thing I think gets to me a lot and I will complain about is when the wrong foundation is put on me, it’s always hard because I’m so dark.

MQN: So what happens when the wrong foundation is put on you, do you have to deal with it like that?

No way!!! Not me. (Laughs), I have had a few experiences to know that i need to have my foundation with me at all times.

MQN: How do you juggle you personal life and you career?

Well most of my friends are models so we are all kind of free at the same time, also I have a very loving boyfriend who understands that I could get called up at any time of the day to work

MQN: Was going to ask you if you were seeing someone, I'll take that as a yes.

Yes I am

MQN: is it serious? Is marriage on the cards?

(Chuckles) yeah it’s pretty serious, the M word only comes into consideration after I have finished university

MQN: So is he a mortal or an industry guy

No way, definitely not an industry guy

MQN: What's wrong with the industry guys? You said no way

Yeah, to me, it’s not really a good idea

MQN: Apart from modelling, what else do you do?

I work with a promotion company called KREAME and I study as well

MQN: We saw you in the movie "Doomsday", you acted as a nurse right?

I did

MQN: What was that like and how did u get the role?

It was very interesting to see how the film industry works, there was a casting here in Cape Town for the parts being shot here, the casting director happened to be British and I guess just being myself got me the job, it was very interesting, I’m sure u saw that my part was not that long but the scene was shot for almost 14 hours. Goes to show how much work is out in to a production

MQN: Were there any arguments on set?

Well not really, not with the scene I had to shoot. I was not present for the other scenes

MQN: It must have been boring shooting for 14hrs

No it wasn’t. There was so much going on, so many people around that u actually forget about the time

MQN: Did you attend the premier of the movie?

No I didn’t, I was here in Cape Town

MQN: Are there any new designers you think the world needs to know about?

Wow, there are a lot of upcoming designers here...too many to name, but there is one designer who I think his work is absolutely magnificent: GAVIN RAJAH, he has showcased in Paris fashion week and is very well sought after here

MQN: Everyone watches America's next top model, is a model's life similar to that or is it just TV stuff

Well it is similar to that in certain ways, the bitching and fighting thing is not exactly like that. Well I’ll speak for Cape Town. I have lived in model houses before where there are about 15-20 of us in a huge house and there wasn’t any fighting.

MQN: Okay, if I wanted to be a model what would I have to do?

Well 1st of all, you would need to meet the average requirements of a model, would have to be in good shape, be at least 5'8 tall, it takes a lot of courage because there is a lot of rejection in the industry. Also u need to be able to perform in front of loads of people, so shyness does not cut it

MQN: Three things you love about the industry and being a model are...?

Meeting new people and networking with them, being in the spotlight... (Smiles) and being able to travel around

MQN: Three things you hate?

The early call times, having to shoot summer clothes in the winter, the fact that my body can get really tired at times...not good

MQN: Are u involved with South Africa’s fashion week?

I am, I have already done Durban fashion week, so it’s Cape Town I’ll be doing next

MQN: Have you seen any of the clothes?

No we only get to see the clothes when we go for fittings for the shows

MQN: Any more plans for acting?

Well we'll see....

MQN: How about designing? Models always eventually branch out into making their own line of clothing or underwear

No, I don’t think I would go into that, but you never know, I do have a very creative mind, so maybe in the future

MQN: Last question: Tyra Banks or Naomi Campbell?

Tyra most definitely.