Former Miss Namibia Suné January’s passion for the world of modelling and pageants has kept growing since her crowning in 2017. So much so that she recently launched her own modelling and casting agency, Sue Models.
Located at Rehoboth, the agency helps improve the talents and confidence of local beauties through workshops in which January shares her wealth of experience in modelling and pageantry. So far the agency represents models from Rehoboth, Windhoek, Tsumeb, Okahandja and Mariental.
January firmly believes she could have been better at modelling at a younger age if she received some form of training sooner.
“I went to Miss Namibia without any training. Due to my personal experience I saw the need for such an agency. My year as Miss Namibia was challenging, both physically and emotionally. After all, diamonds emerge after undergoing a lot of pressure. I have grown a lot.”
The 26-year old said the agency was officially started after she conducted a training session with the contestants of the Miss Dr Lemmer High School pageant last year. “After the pageant I received numerous calls from people who wanted me to also train them. I then decided to open the agency in order to give everyone the platform. It is great doing something that you love. My hope is to help better our industry. Winning Miss Namibia made it easier for me to live out my dream of teaching and grooming,” she said.
January opted to base the agency in her hometown because she knows first-hand that young women from smaller towns find it more challenging to get the needed training.
“I grew up at Rehoboth and there was no agency. Travelling to Windhoek was costly, so I wanted to solve some of the challenges that young girls here face. I want to give them something that I did not have.”
As the brand ambassador for the fashion house and modelling agency The Fashion Entourage, based in India, January is looking forward to providing international opportunities for the young models she represents.
“I am busy opening doors for African models in India. We have a lot of great potential here that the world must see. I am also looking forward to my girls competing not only for the Miss Namibia title, but to win Miss Universe one day,” she said.
As a former Miss Universe contestant she knows that training helps boost confidence. “Confidence is something that many people lack. Growing up I experienced the same problem. I was never confident about the way I looked. I was bullied about the shape of my body. People made fun of me for being skinny and tall. It took me years to love and accept myself.”
Through her workshops January also delves into the issue of coping with rejection, something all models will experience at some time.
“I want models to know that when they are not accepted for a certain project that they are still good enough. Over the years I have seen how models lose themselves when they face rejection. This is crushing for many who never recover. To learn how to accept rejection is key in this industry.”
Later this year she plans to launch a website for the agency – something she had hoped to do in March, but due to Covid-19, which greatly affected the modelling industry, it was not possible.
“We can’t travel. Our plans to have photo shoots across the country have been placed on hold. We now also need to change the structure of our photo shoots, keeping social distancing and the prohibition of large gatherings in mind.”
For more information, find Sue Models on Instagram.
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