Day 1- Free Fashion Forum: Q&A Seminar panelled by Fashion industry experts

Day 2&3-Fashion Workshops: Interactive Sessions lead by Fashion industry experts, where students can engage, learn and produce their own work, with a chance to win life changing and career enhancing prizes.

Day 4- Grand Finale Night: Students will partake in an entertainment and fashion show hosted by First Lady of Lagos State Mrs Abimbola Fashola and will be awarded prizes.

TBAB is proud and honoured to have a creative team of both Nigerian and international Fashion professionals who will be panelling the fashion forum and leading the Fashion workshops. The team will consist of world renowned Couture Designer Adebayo Jones and Creative Director of ‘House of Zebra Living’, Ugoma Ebilah. Award winning Fashion Photographers Suby & Sinem Onabanjo and Fashion Stylist Yoanna ‘Pepper’ Okwesa. Make Up Artist Extraordinaire Lola Maja and award winning Body Artist Tamara Crockett. Including, Top Model of Colour Winner Paula Okunzuwa and CatwalkChoreographer Andy Ogbechi.

The entertainment and fashion industry in Nigeria is experiencing an explosion however, there seems to be a lack of tools and resources available in order to equip young talent in harnessing their creativity into a creditable and valuable career. Thus, TBAB was conceived as an effort to help bridge that gap and aid in creating an economic surge through the introduction of fresh, young and untapped ideas, whose future works can compete on an international stage.

Uloma Enodien the Founder expresses; “My vision for TBAB was born out of my natural desire to see young people achieve greatness and bring change to their environment through realising their GOD given talents as a means to achieving economic value and productiveness.”

TBAB fashion event hopes to encourage and inspire youth engagement within Nigeria’s fashion industry as well as raising the standards and aspirations of Nigeria’s young and talented.

To reserve a place on the Fashion Forum is free and to book a place on a Fashion Workshop a registration fee of N2’000 is required on a first come first serve basis as space is limited.

The event will be recorded by Hi TV. Awards will be awarded to selected individuals from each Fashion Section Workshop, so far awards include;:

One year internship with House of Zebra Living,

Fashion Assistant Internship with FAB Magazine,

One Year internship with Sleek Make up,

Camera Start Up kit and One year modelling Contract with Beth Model Management;

and entry to Elite Model Look Nigeria.

For registration info. or to download form, visit: http://www.theboldandbeautiful.org/event.htm. Questions, email: info@theboldandbeautiful.org.

INTRODUCTION

Building on the tremendous success of the Top Model of Colour UK 09 which was hosted by his Excellency the President of The Republic of Gambia in Banjul, Gambia in November 2009, Mahogany Africa is pleased to host the first ever Top Model of Colour Nigeria in 2010.

Mahogany has produced shows around the world including Glasgow Fashion Week, Fashion Diversity, London Fashion Week, The Big Search, Lagos International Fashion Week as well as being invited to such countries as South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia and various countries in Europe to be a judge and show producer on a number of TV programmes and Fashion Shows.

Mahogany constantly receives international press and has recently appeared in BBC documentaries, More4 & Sky News, the Evening Standard, the Metro, The Independent, the Guardian, Sunday Times, Choice FM, Voice of Africa Radio, BBC London Radio, BBC World & so many more.

Building on its position as a major player in the International fashion and entertainment industry, Mahogany Africa through Top Model of Colour Nigeria 2010, intends to embark on a nationwide campaign to find the next Top model of Colour. The winners as well as receiving huge monetary prizes will be given exclusive dollar paying contracts to pursue an international career in Modelling with opportunities to work in these major international fashion weeks such as London Fashion Week, Glasgow Fashion Week and Athens Xclusive Designer Week to name a few.

THE CONCEPT
Top Model of Colour Nigeria represents a nationwide model search for one male and female Top Model. Entries are in any area of modelling i.e. Commercial, Editorial or Runway. By running the competition in this way TMC Nigeria eliminates the age long taboo that modelling is only for high fashion runway models. Our competition opens doors to a whole spectrum of intelligent and attractive personalities and future potential supermodels.

The criteria for selection is not just striking physical features but includes Character, Heart and a strong Sense of Self; all of which radiate and is reflected on the model’s outward appearance. The model search activities and publicity occurs over a eight month period and spans across five regional locations covering the entire country. At the end, a winner emerges and is declared the Top Model of Colour Nigeria.

Prizes for the winner and runners up include modelling contracts worth up to $20,000, a brand new car and many other exciting prizes. The different phases and timings of “Top Model of Colour Nigeria 2010” model search are as follows:

Event Time table
NIGERIA
Application closure Applications go on sale February 1st
April 1st – applications close

SHORTLISTING
Live casting- Screening & TV Coverage Abuja (12th April)
Enugu (14th April)
Port Harcourt (16th April)
Lagos (24th & 25th April)

Live regional heats
Screening & TV Coverage
Abuja (17th May)
Enugu (19th May)
Port Harcourt (21st May)
Lagos (29th & 30th May)

Maximum of 40 girls and 30 boys per heat – only top 5 from each heat gets through plus 5 wildcard entries- Attended by members of the public and top personalities

Rehearsals (or in the house) Televised In-house Grooming

2nd October to 10th October – 10 reality TV episodes will be made from these for showing on national TV.

Live final- TV
coverage 9th October – Choreographed display by contestants, Fashion Show, Photography, appearance by guest international and local artist, comedian.

Visit Mahogony for more details on TMC here.

~by Top Model of Colour Nigeria

Know what a modeling agency is.
A modeling agency is a legitimate business that recruits fashion models for their fashion and at times non-fashion clients. A modeling agency is not a modeling school or a talent agency. Modeling schools typically attempt to train you on basic model etiquette (how to walk, dress etc. to look like a model). If you sign with a legitimate model agency, you do not need this. Your booker will take care of this. Talent agencies typically represent actors and actresses, stylists, photographers, but you will come across some that are full service whic means their representation also includes models.

Make Sure you feel good about your booker
From the very first time you meet with a modeling agency, beyond looking carefully to see how professional they arel and asking questions about their business and how much work they get for their girls, you should meet the booker and make sure you feel a good vibe/chemistry with the booker.

A booker manages every aspect of your career as a model. As a new model, your booker helps put your portfolio together, have you shoot with photographers, gives you a makeover to highlight your strengths and market you to the agency’s clients. Also, your manages  your work schedule/availability for go sees/castings and model jobs. Bookers help refer you to other important professionals if you need help like doctors, accountants, personal trainers etc. So, you see the importance of having a good relationship with your booker? If you do not, you probably will not see many jobs come your way.

Choose an Agency that will NOT Ask for Upfront Fees
A legitimate agency works on commission. They are expected to put up the cost of developing you as a model to market to their clients. The agency absorbs the initial costs of getting you marketable but many will require you to refund those expenses once you start getting paid for the jobs they book you. If an agency says to you, you need to pay, “consultation,” “registration,” “administrative” or any sort of fees for that matter before you make money, say “thank you” and leave.

What are the examples of upfront fees that the agency pays for?
An agency should pay for your test shoot with photographers, comp card (your quick photo resume), portfolio (your book with pictures showing your flexible look), modeling lessons if they think you need one.

What is an Agency Not Expected to Pay for?
While an agency will cover the upfront fees described above, they are not expected to pay for your food and transportation when you test shoot, build your portfolio or when you travel for go sees/castings. Neither are they expected to pay for the clothes, makeup or accessories and shoes for your shoot.

Should I Choose a Small or a Big Agency
A small agency, especially as a new model, might seem like a wiser choice. In a small agency, you do not have to compete with other models for a job or for the attention of your booker. If there is a problem, because of the size of the agency, the booker will be able to quickly notice and work closely with you to help you improve. In contrast, in a big agency with so many models, bookers and departments, you can get lost and your needs ignored.

A small agency, becuase of its limited financial resources, has a greater incentive to work real hard for you because they depend heavily on your success to stay in business. In contrast, a large agency is not as dependent on you. They already have established clients and models that help them make a profit.

Inspite of the disadvantages with a big agency, it might still make sense to choose and sign on to a large agency. A large agency has the brand name and resources to help you work with only the best in the industry so you can have a very lucrative career.

How much of my paycheck will an agency take?
An agency takes 15-20% from your paycheck as commission for helping you book your model jobs. In addition, many will ask you to refund/reimburse for all that upfront fees they put up for your portfolio, test shoot etc. Typically, for payment, you are given a voucher. Your voucher has the agency’s contact information and address. When you show up for your modeling job, you hand over the voucher for the client to sign after you have completed your shoot. You give a copy to the client, keep one for yourself and give one to the agency (usually the original). The agency invoices the client and once they receive the check, pays you minus their commission and the fees explained above.

Some Recommended Modeling Agencies in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to check out.

Nigeria
Isis Models/Joan Okorodudu
Beth Model Management Lagos
Black Dove Model Management/Linda Ikeji

South Africa
O Models Africa
Ice Models
Fusion Models
Storm Models

Ghana
B2B Models

~Article by Uduak Oduok