Mmuso the accidental model

Gasebalwe Seretse | Tuesday May 27, 2014 11:01

While minding his own business studying at a university in Malaysia he caught the attention of inquisitive photographers who kept on asking him to pose for them.

“I became a popular model while in Malaysia and started working for many Malaysian photographers and eventually, I embraced modelling as a part time career,” said the 24-year-old model from Lerala in Tswapong.

Nare said that he cannot ascertain what attracted the photographers to him but has been told many times that he has ‘exotic’ looks something that amazes him because both of his parents are Batswana.

“Interestingly when I was in Malaysia, many Asian people said I did not look like other Africans and even many fellow Batswana students refused to believe that I was a Motswana, which really surprised me,” Nare said.

The ‘exotic’ looks worked wonders for the young model and soon he was used to do both ramp and studio modelling.

He has since appeared in many Malaysian fashion magazines, newspapers, fashion shows and even some big billboards in the country.

A popular Malaysian photographer, Amri Ginang has used him for many of his shoots and even sent his students to take photos of the model who is also a fitness fanatic.

“I took this accidental modelling career casually although it was clear that many people in the industry were interested in me,” he said adding that while in the South Eastern Asia country between 2008 and 2012, he used to make a lot of money as a model.

In 2012, Nare returned to Botswana to work as a multimedia designer and got a rude awakening when he realised that the modelling industry was not as kind to him as it was in Malaysia.

He said that it did not take him long to realise that many industry players were fly-by-night crooks who manipulated and used models.

“In Botswana, most modelling agencies are not willing to pay models. 

his is sad and this shows that the country has a long way to go,” he said.

One of the few modelling projects that Nare has participated in was when he modelled some bracelets for a local designer recently at Thapong Visual Arts Centre in the Village, Gaborone.

Sadly, this model, who was admired in a foreign country said that he has decide to focus on his career as a multimedia designer as opposed to be a serious model.

How he maintains his good looks?  The model said that apart from the fact that he has good genes, he eats healthy foods and works out.

“There are many things that one can use around the home to do some workouts.

 I do all my sit ups, push ups and lift ups at home and I am not a member of any gym in Gaborone,” he said.

Nare also hopes that in future he could put some of those good looks to use in a local action feature movie.