NEW ERA with : MOMO NDIAYE
Photographed by Nick Scaife. Styled by Marina German. Words by Charlie Newman.
2020 will be a year that marks the history books for many reasons. We are experiencing a pandemic of historic standards whilst simultaneously writing new history books for the future, welcoming diversity and equality for all. For the majority of us work has been a write off this year but nevertheless our minds have still been challenged and expanded. Covid-19 has demanded we pause to think on what really matters and the Black Lives Matter movement has forced us to question and examine how we live our lives, paving a way for a new and improved future.
You’ve been modelling for almost a year. What has been a career highlight?
My career highlight has been walking for Tom Ford in Los Angeles with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry.
Travel comes hand in hand with working in fashion. Where has been your favourite place to travel to? What would you recommend our readers do/see/eat there?
My favourite place I travelled to was in Los Angeles.
If you weren’t modelling what would you be doing?
If I weren’t modeling I would probably be working as an I.T. Engineer for a computing company.
Where and you have you been quarantining with?
I’ve been quarantining in London with my family.
If you could choose one famous person to quarantine with, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
That person would be my grandfather, he taught me so much in life and he inspired me a lot.
It’s very easy to get bogged down with the negatives of Covid-19, but what positives have you taken from this period?
It made me stop and reflect on my life and career, and where I wanna take it and all the things that I wanna achieve.
Lockdown has afforded us the time to pause and reflect. What have you learnt about yourself over the past few months?
I learned several things that made me listen more than talk, observe more than judge, and most importantly compassion had filled my heart toward my own self, toward all living creatures. I’m not what anyone expects, I’m in a transformation process, and indeed my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise.
What are you most looking forward to post lockdown?
Post-lockdown I wanna take my career to new heights, know more people, and get everywhere around the world.
Only 9% of people would like to return to their former lives pre lockdown pre lockdown. What changes would you like to put in place in your life post lockdown?
I wanna start exercising more.
On the topic of change, the Black Lives Matter movement is rightly changing the world one march and petition at a time. It’s been couple of weeks with a lot to process. How does this make you feel?
I feel like people need to understand how important it is that we unite and fight against natural disasters and climate change instead of fighting one another all lives can’t matter until black lives matter, we need to end the systematic racism and give power to the people.
The fashion industry may be celebrating diversity but its still has along way to go. From your own experience and knowledge, where would you like the industry to improve and change for the better?
I find the fashion industry to be quite diverse from the catwalks to the stores but I feel like people of color need to be at the table when decisions are being made.
Whilst the BAME models are gracing covers and campaigns worldwide, behind the camera this isn’t necessarily the case. Are there any BAME creatives you would to shout out and share with us?
I would like to shout out Sonia GISA and her new book "Slaughter baby" you should definitely read it if you get the chance, it talks about what she experienced during the genocide in Rwanda
Momo appears courtesy of Supa Model Management.
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