Encomium
‘Marriage has been good to me’
MONTHS after delivering her first child in London on December 14, 2010, ex-Miss Nigeria UK and boss of Elite Model Look/Beth Modelling Agency, Elizabeth Elohor Aisien is back on the scene again. The delectable Elohor, who moved to the UK shortly after her marriage to Owen Aisien Ogbebor on Saturday, May 28, 2010, says marriage has been good to her especially when the union has been blessed with a baby girl, Ivie Aisien, who is now six months old.
Looking chubbier and more refreshed the ex-model maintained her plans now is to take her agency to the world stage and ensure her 2011 Elite model competition comes out successful.
How will you describe the journey so far, running a modelling agency?
The journey has been good and worthwhile. I started Beth Modelling Agency in December 2005, we are five years in the business now. In 2008, I brought Elite Model Look into Nigeria and we are still running till now. The journey has not been easy, we have had issues with sponsors and those who support us, but at the end of the day we got those who believe in the dream. From Mercedes Benz to Moet and Chandon and few others I can’t mention.
What are the basic problems associated with getting sponsors for your shows?
I don’t want to blame sponsors because there are so many competitions out there. Miss this, Miss that, and you don’t even know the genuine ones. They receive proposals everyday, I mean, it’s not easy but for us we believe in what we do and so far we are the best in Nigeria.
As at the time you started and now, how would you evaluate the level of your progress?
Okay, we are improving every year. When I finished from the university, I was like trying to identify what my passion is. I still model though I won Miss Nigeria UK in … and I was coming home for holiday one day, people asked me why don’t you come and join us? That is their modelling agency and I looked around, there were not much modelling agencies compared to where I was coming from (the UK) and those that were around were not of international standard. That’s how I conceived the idea of starting my own modelling agency. I said to myself, this is my passion because I do it and I know what it takes to be a model. My aim is to help models achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Many people believe modelling is just all about wearing clothes and walking on the runway?
Modelling is fun and at the same time, serious work. People see models on the runway thinking that they just wear clothes and walk around, it’s more than that. To do a show is not an easy job. It may take you more than a month or so to find out which model you want to use, make their clothes and make sure they are okay, ensure the make up is good on them. It’s a lot of work, those are the things that go on behind the stage. If you go behind the stage at a modelling or fashion show, it’s chaos, it’s crazy, everybody is running here and there. It’s a lot of work.
What has always been your vision for Beth Models?
To be the best in Africa and in the world, we want to win a modelling agency that will help African models compete at the international scenes and to achieve that, we are working with different agencies in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and some other African countries.
Your agency don’t usually produce male models, why is it so?
We don’t, we used to do that but we stopped two years ago. But we can still supply them if t here is a demand. In Nigeria, there is little or no work for the male models, we have more demand for female models.
What is that thing you will love to correct about the operations of the modelling industry in Nigeria?
I wish I could sit down with all the people that do competitions, do models and agencies. I wish we could sit down at a meeting, we can change the industry if we work together but the problem I have is nobody wants to. Everybody wants to be on his own, nobody wants to come together. If I have like five people, who wish the same thing I have on my mind, the industry will grow and we will have so many girls doing a lot of job. I believe things will work better if we work as a team.
What are the basic problems of modelling in Nigeria?
The problem to me is the agents, if every agent work together, we won’t have problem. In Nigeria today, we tend to stick to one agent whenever we need supply of models but it shouldn’t be like that. If you have a fashion show, you can call like five agents to supply you models and you choose whichever one you want. That is changing now. Thanks to the Arise Fashion Week. Nigeria is now recognised as a fashion capital which is good for us because it means more shows, more events and more money for everybody in the industry.
We want you to differentiate the role of Beth Models and Elite Model Look in the search for models in Nigeria and other countries?
Beth is a modelling agency in Nigeria, Elite is a worldwide agency. They have been on for 28 years. They have their agencies around the world, we only work for them at Beth to search for new face of Elite, models who can compete around the world.
What does Elite International look out for in your models?
The face, the nose, even teeth. Whenever I send them pictures, they usually request for more until they get what they are looking for. They have their own way of assessing models.
We also realised black models have better chances than the light ones?
It’s what Elite wants. They are looking for the black models particularly black, tall models. Beth is also scouting for models if at the end of the day you don’t make it to Elite, you could join Beth and we will help you achieve your dreams.
What is the greatest achievement for you running a modelling agency?
We have had thousands of models, we discovered new faces, all the girls that do Elite competition every year are now working, getting shows here and there. They are now more open, they are no longer shy. That is a great achievement for us.
What are the greatest mistakes upcoming models could make that deny them getting to the top?
Doing competitions that will not help your dreams, I have worked with designers that I should not have worked with. For models you have to ensure you know the reputation of the company you want to work with.
As a married woman with a baby, how do you manage work and the homefront?
It’s just God and I have a husband and family that understands. My husband supports what I do, so is my family. Most of the models have kids and they still manage to do jobs. So, I thank God I have managed the two well.
When did you return to Nigeria after you gave birth to your baby in London?
I came back in February, 2011 and I have been working to put up a fantastic model search for 2011.
What is the name of your baby?
Ivie Aisien.
More than one year now in marriage, what’s the experience so far?
The experience has been good and fantastic. We thank God for making it work.
FOLUSO SAMUEL
This story was first published in Encomium Weekly on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
