SUPERMODEL, JOURDAN DUNN DISCUSSES HER WINS, PAINS AT GTCO FASHION WEEKEND
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Jourdan Dunn
Talk about those who are on the biggest stages as a model and Jourdan Dunn would pop up. Jourdan has modeled for top brands such as Prada – in fact the first black woman in 10 years – and being on the cover of many magazines, she has done well for herself.
Jourdan Dunn is a champion for all black models and African models and a lot of them look up to her. She also advocates for sickle cell. She was in Nigeria at the just-concluded GTCO Fashion Weekend which held at the GTCentre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday 11th – Sunday 12th November 2023.
In her chat with Trek Africa Newspaper at the just concluded GTCO Fashion Weekend in Lagos, the world classic model, Jourdan Dunn who got her first modeling job aged 15 shared her journey which has been filled with twist and turns. Jourdan noted that in the beginning of her career, she had resentment towards her career ‘because I felt like I was missing out. But then I also know they’re probably looking at me and thinking, girl, we wished that we were you and travelling to New York and all of that. But I was like, no, I’m just going to be a teen and get up to what teenagers do. And speaking of that, you know, like people looking on the outside and thinking that everything is perfect, you know.’
On how she has been managing the big expectations and pressures of the spotlight from fans worldwide, Jourdan said: ‘So with my mental health, it’s definitely been a journey with everybody. But I feel like when you are growing at such a young age and the position I am in where I am a model, where it’s like my insecurities are celebrated, being tall and skinny is celebrated.’
‘But growing up, being from the black community, being from the Caribbean, that’s not it. Like every time I went out, I always felt that people would put eyes on me and judge me. And yeah, I just was at a stage where I just did not enjoy being in my body, I felt uncomfortable. And then I’m now a model and it’s all about the body. It’s all about the face and that’s what I’m selling. So I really had to learn the most important thing. I have learned about self-love and self-acceptance. I had to just learn to love myself on a deeper level. Once you accept you, then others will accept you for who you are. And if they don’t, you don’t care because you’re that girl and no one can tell you anything.
But it’s a journey, though.’
Sharing specifics about how she got the Prada job, Dunn who has won several laurels including the Model of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year agreed that it was a barrier breaking move for her. ‘In the moment I didn’t feel how big it was for me, I just wanted to make sure that I’m confirmed for the show and I’m walking on that runway. Because Prada at the time was notorious for cancelling girls in the line-up. So I was just like on my feet and just looking over. It wasn’t until I got to the top of the line and the casting director held me.
He’s like, Jourdan, this is your moment. You’re about to make history. And then I was like, wait, what? Okay.
And then I went on the runway and then I felt the energy. It was overwhelming.
And that’s when I was like, oh, wow, this is happening. This is actual history that’s in the making. This is actually happening right now. And then the next day it was all over the papers.’
She advised young models never to give up on their dreams to become a supermodel. ‘I would just say if this is your passion, if this is something that you desire, never, ever, ever give up. And I think it’s important to stay focused on your lane and your journey and not look left and not look right and look at what that girl’s doing or what that other person’s doing.
Because that’s their path, that’s their journey.
And comparison just kills everything.
So it’s all about just focusing on you, getting to your destination, because the way that they’re going to get it is going to be completely different. So if it’s something that you really want to do, I would say just don’t give up’, Jourdan told Trek Africa Newspaper.
