Ayan Makoii

This week In Conversation series, we chat with high-spirited Wellington based model Ayan Makoii, about living in the moment, pushing forward and not taking things too seriously

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What industry do you work in?
I work in the fashion industry as a model, I am currently in my last year of high school at sacred heart college.

Tell our audience a little about your background: What’s your heritage, where did you grow up and where do you live?
I’m originally from South Sudan but I was born in Gambella, Ethiopia. I moved to New Zealand when I was two years old. We briefly lived in Auckland before moving to Wellington!

What was your biggest motivation for your career choice?
I've always wanted to be a model because I thought it'd be a cool thing to do for fun. However, Imogen Wilson who is my agent has been instrumental in my pursuing modelling seriously. She encourages me to give things a go in the nicest way possible and let's me know I have the option of not doing a shoot if I’m uncomfortable. Knowing that makes me feel secure and confident enough to step out of my comfort zone! Sometimes all you need is someone telling you to give something a try and with no pressure in you doing it.

If you could be anything — besides being a model— what would you be?
I would love to be a teacher. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher but not secondary I don’t think I have the patience for that. I would definitely teach primary and younger.

What advice would you give to yourself as a 10 year old?
Ten year old me - love yourself, step outside your comfort zone, it’s okay to be different and most importantly it’s okay not to be okay and it’s okay to open up to people!

You recently took part in your first big campaign for Karen Walker Eyewear. Tell us about that experience (ie. how you got involved, what you learnt and loved about the campaign).
I had previously been up for a Karen Walker online store shoot. I think that’s how I got the Eyewear campaign. Imogen messaged me saying that they (the team) wanted to use me. I was so surprised! I really didn’t expect it; that was a nice blessing. It was a great experience to be shooting for such a renowned brand. In terms of shoots, it wasn't majorly different to ones I had done in the past. What I found challenging was the range in facial expressions required for the shoot. It was all head shots and for that, you need to show a variation in facial expressions. It was a real learning for me. I loved how nice everyone on set was. The team were very encouraging and always told me how the photos were looking. I found that helpful. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and meeting Karen was very cool.

If you had the power to change one thing in the world what would it be and why?
Poverty! It’s so sad that we are in 2018 and there is still poverty around us.  I don’t like to see people struggle or people be homeless. I think that as a society, if we could work towards ending poverty what a beautiful place the world would be.

What advice would you give a young person aspiring to be a model?
Young person! If you do not feel comfortable doing a photo shoot let your agent know. Do not get caught up in comparison. Also make good friends within the industry and do your best to be confident and don’t be so hard on yourself!

Who is an Africa creative you look up to, and why?
I came across this girl a few months back her name is Mowalola Ogunlesi. She’s a menswear print graduate from Central St Martins. The products she makes are just so beautiful and very out there! That’s what I love about her, she doesn’t limit herself when she creates these really cool fits. I think that she is paving the way for young African creatives. Her recent collection is all about the celebration of black African male culture, sexuality and desires. It’s nice to see her creating something that would make some people uncomfortable and that I find it very inspiring.

What has been the best advice you've ever received?
Sometimes you can’t capture the most beautiful moments and love always win! So love everyone even if they hate you.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I don’t know what I want to do next year so ten years time is so hard! Hopefully, I’ve come up as a model, been a part of big shows and campaigns while branching out and networking with different people. I would love to do something big with a charity for my home country.

Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?
It would be a dream to collaborate with Vans. I’ve always wanted to make shoes and vans is my favourite shoe brand so collaborating with them would be surreal.

What’s your biggest fear?
My biggest phobia is heights! I hate anything to do with heights. My hearts starts beating crazy fast and I just have the biggest anxiety about being high up.  Even with flights!

What do you do for fun?
Hangout with my friends and dance parties at school.

What brings you happiness?
My friends. I love all my friends so much I don’t let them know enough.

How do you overcome self-doubt?
With me, it’s been a journey. Some days my self doubt levels are very high and other days they are very low. The advice I would give is, surround yourself with good people who make you feel loved and appreciated because then you start to love and appreciate yourself.

What is the biggest lesson you've had to learn in your career?
I haven’t had a long career but I would say don’t be late! I’ve started a habit of being late to things and that’s not good at all.

What is your biggest strength?
I would say not caring what people think about me is a strength. I’m pretty good at taking risks too.

Tell us about the greatest lesson you’ve learnt from failure?
To just keep going and pushing forward no matter the situation. Always try to see the light at the  end of the tunnel. Also remain positive and definitely do not beat yourself up about failure because how else would you learn if you don’t fail?

What is your favourite piece in your closet at the moment and why?
I can’t decide on one. so here are a few ... I have these red track pants and they can unzip at the knee to be shorts. They are just the coolest pants and I got them for $8.50! Another fav is my lazy oaf pink tracksuit that I got for my birthday last year. It’s so comfortable and a bonus is the track suit still looks cool if I don’t wear both pieces! Another fav is my illegal civ brick jumper. I love the jumper so much it’s literally me in a clothing item. I don’t wear it much because I don’t want anything to happen to it!

Where can our audience find out more about your work?
You can find my work on The Others website and Instagram.

Lindo Khandela

Lindo chats to ADJOAA about the importance of positivity, dreaming big and her obsession with all things colourful.

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What industry do you work in?
I am a visual artist.

Tell our audience a little about your background: What’s your heritage, where did you grow up, where do you live now and what you do for work?
I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. I moved to London in 2004 and I have resided here ever since. I am currently in my second and final year of my MA in painting at the Royal College of Art. I am a practicing artist, I also make hand painted false/fake nails.

What was your biggest motivation for your career choice?
I chose to become a visual artist because art is something that has always been with me, from a young age. I was naturally drawn to colours and patterns I observed in the traditional attire in my cultural background.

I loved looking at the illustrations inside story books I would read and I was generally drawn to anything that was colourful. From early on I really enjoyed drawing and painting and I knew that this was a career path I would pursue as an adult.

If you could be anything — besides being an artist — what would you be?
I would probably be a tattoo artist, a nail technician, or even a cake decorator. It’s really hard to pick one. Pretty much everything that I would pick as a second choice would involve art and design in some aspect.

What advice would you give to yourself as a 16-year-old?
I would tell my 16-year-old self not to be so doubtful and scared. I would encourage myself to fully go for what I want and not let negative opinions deter me from my goals.

If you had the power to change one thing in the world what would it be and why?
I would end all suffering. Be it poverty, violence against women and children, illness... It all just has to go.

What advice would you give a girl aspiring to be an artist?
As cliché as this is going to sound, I would tell her it’s going to be a long and hard obstacle course but no matter what, she should hold on to her passion and never give up because you only live once so you have to make it count. I believe that everything you plant in the universe will come to fruition.

Who is an Africa creative you look up to, and why?
I am drawn to Nigerian born, California-based artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby because she is very relatable for me. She is a woman, she has a dual identity (Nigerian, American) and she draws inspiration from political and personal references, much like myself. I really look up to her and she gives me hope, as a black woman, that you can make it in the visual arts industry.

What has been the best advice you've ever received?
My mother always gives me some of the best advice. Whenever I am in doubt she always reminds me to think positive and work hard and keep pushing on because nothing good comes easy.

Where do you see your work in 10 years?
I see my work occupying galleries, museums, and art collections. I also hope to expand my practice into other creative realms.

Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?
I think my dream collaboration would have to be with a fashion designer — someone like Lisa Folawiyo. I really admire the prints and patterns in her unique designs and I have always wondered what it would be like to translate what I do with my art to fashion.

What’s your biggest fear?
One of my biggest fears has to be public speaking. Being that I am naturally a shy person I absolutely hate it. My anxiety gets the best of me, and since [public speaking] is a requirement in my field, I am determined to overcome it.

What's the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
The craziest thing I think I have done was probably printing and proof-reading my dissertation two hours before the deadline!

What do you do for fun?
I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family. I like going out to parties, eating out, watching documentaries, doing nails, baking, listening to music, reading, experiencing new things — new cultures — and just relaxing.

What brings you happiness?
Some of the little things in life, like a good meal, good company, a sentimental gift and money in my account lol!

How do you overcome self-doubt?
It is something I battle almost every day. But I’m thankful to have family and friends who always encourage me and I just have to keep reminding myself to believe in me because, if I don’t, how will somebody else?

What is the biggest lesson you've had to learn in your career?
The biggest lesson to date for me is to always trust my gut instinct and to not get caught up in what I think people want to see from me but actually do what I feel is right because you can never go wrong with something you firmly believe in.

What is your biggest strength?
I think my biggest strength is my patience. A lot of people tell me how patient I am and I think patience is a very important trait to have in the creative industry because things don’t happen overnight and you have to face 10 no’s before you get a yes.

Tell us about the greatest lesson you’ve learnt from failure?
Failure suck and it hurts in the moment but 10 months down the line I can look back and thank God for that lesson because, I would know how to better deal with the failed situation if I had to face it a second time.

What is your favourite piece of art and why?
One of my favourite art movements is surrealism and my favourite piece would have to be What the water gave me by Frida Kahlo. I was about 11 or 12 years old when I first saw it and it just blew me away. I was not only impressed by her use of colour and detail but also by the narrative behind it. The fact that she was able to transform her trauma into these beautiful works of art is really inspiring.

Where can our audience purchase or find out more about your work?
You can find out more about me and my work on my website at www.lindokhandela.com I am also on social media, you can follow me on Instagram @khandelaart.