Spotlight Interview on Adliad Kwawu a.k.a Elaine Afrika
- bkingangelica
- Mar 1, 2016
- 3 min read
Adliad Kwawu popularly known as Elaine Afrika on social media is a 22 year old college student and model. She is from Ghana but currently resides in New Jersey. She is a creative fashionista and is also studying computer information technology. She excels in finding a balance between academics and her modeling career. She aspires to be a humanitarian and also use her modeling platform as a source to be an inspirational figure to younger people.
ANGELICA: At what age did you know you wanted to model? What challenges have you faced so far as a model?
ELAINE: Being a model has always been something I've always aspired to be as kid. The idea of ripping a runway or owning and wearing all the fashionable trendy clothes sounded really cool to me. It wasn't till I got kind of older did I realize I really wanted to take modeling serious and so far I really like it.
ANGELICA: You have modeled in many cities across America. Have you ever modeled in Ghana?
ELAINE: I have never modeled in Ghana but the idea of doing that is actually one of my future goals. I do aspire to go back and contribute to the fashion industry in Ghana since it's now growing out there.
ANGELICA: Besides modelling you are a college student as well. How do you manage to balance academics and modelling?
ELAINE: Im currently a college student majoring in Computer Information Technology. Balancing college and modeling has been pretty easy for me since I'm a freelance model. I basically pick and choose when I want to shoot, so my modeling works around my school schedule very well. I usually do my modeling jobs on the weekends and focus on school on the weekdays.
ANGELICA: What Ghanaian designer(s) or model(s) is the most influential to you? In what ways have they motivated you to continue pursuing your goals?
ELAINE: Honestly I don't know of any top Ghanaian model or designer dominating high fashion at the moment, or maybe there is and I just don't know of them. I hope that changes though, because I know there are a lot of talented aspiring Ghanaian models and designers out there wanting to get a breakthrough in fashion. I hope it works out well for them, I would love to see my people dominate the fashion world.
ANGELICA: What are your goals as a model, what do you plan to achieve within five years?
ELAINE: As far as my short term goals as a model are, well, I haven't been to any agencies yet so I would like to check some of them out as soon as possible and hopefully one of them would see the potential in me which could possibly lead into getting signed. I would love to work with high end photographers and better my portfolio. My long term future goals as a model when I do become successful would be using my platform to be a role model to younger people. Being a humanitarian has always been something I aspire to be so having such a platform would make it easier to pursue that. Yea would definitely love to go back to ghana and use my platform to better my country.
ANGELICA: Is there anything else you would like to share?
ELAINE: My advice to young women aspiring to be a model would be that, from what I've learned so far is that modeling isn't as easy as it seems, so wanting to get a big break in fashion might take some time. Just keep on working hard and be consistent with your photoshoots. With God anything is possible.
Follow Elaine Afrika via Instagram
ANGELICA: What advice would you give to young women who are aspiring models?
ELAINE: One thing I have to have during my photoshoots sessions? Hmmm haha well, I do have a couple things I like to have on me besides my cellphone but I would say lotion is a huge necessity. I can't be ashy my skin gotta be on fleek lol.
ELAINE: I would like to say to all my ghanaians out there when you make it big out here in the United States please go back to your country and help better the place. Ghana need us!.