The ramp is his world

| Tuesday February 4, 2014 15:05

 

As a child growing up in the dusty streets of Phase II in Gaborone, all Ramaijane could dream of being on billboards and magazines advertising clothes and brand products. So he did not sit back and wait to be ‘discovered’.  He put in the hard work, and it seems to have worked as he is slowly achieving his targets.

In a chat with Showbiz, Ramaijane revealed that initially, he pursued other interests, but when a friend’s brother opened a modelling agency, he took a chance.

“My friend’s brother who is the CEO of my agency, Tanasha Fortune Madyise introduced me to a world I have been wishing to be in. We did an advert shoot for him and the advert impressed a lot of people after that I was initiated in the world of modelling,” he said.

Ramaijane likes the fact that the job has flexible working hours. 

“The schedule is not fixed, it just keeps changing from time-to-time.  For instance I can spend two months without any job lined up and although this may be bad on my finances the good thing is that it gives me time to do other things,” he said.

The youngster who joined First Models Agency in 2009 added that it has been a joy ride as he has been able to model for big shows such as Gaborone Fashion Week, Colour in the Desert, Airport Junction fashion show and Riverwalk fashion show.

“When I model I make sure I leave a lasting impression on viewers and organisers so they remember me and offer me a job in the future. I market myself,” he said.

While the money is good, he insisted that it is not a priority, as his interest is to brand himself.

“I believe what sets me apart from other models is my ability to perform and deliver without complaint or hindrance to the actual idea put out by the designer.  The trick is to impress and deliver with a smile,” he said.

As a male model, Ramaijane feels they have the same equal opportunities as female models.

 “In some cases you find that female models are more on the ramp as compared to male models, but I feel that is all because many males have not yet discovered their talent. Society still feels that this career is only for females and if you are a male model then you are considered gay.  But they should know that times have changed and we are living in a changing world,” he said.