Maryam Elisha is a model and A-list
fashion designer. In this interview, she
talks about her reasons for not going into
acting and what to expect from her this
year.
My name is Maryam Elisha, I am a fashion
designer. I was once an ex beauty queen.
I have been an ex model for about two
years and I am still into it. I modeled for
about 8 years before I retired into fashion
designing. I modeled for so many
companies like, MTN. I did bill-board, and
TV ads for MTN.
Presently, I am a full time fashion
designer. I have not really acted, though I
love acting. I do not think I am called to
act. Acting takes a lot of time trying to be
what you are not, and I do not really love
that. You know every career has its
challenges.
Way back when I started modeling , I had
several challenges of casting.Most of the
time, models are not well treated you
have to wait in line, But, all those things
are not really challenges because, I would
tell you that, there was money in
modelling then. I made more money and
I had fun. They paid me really well then
unlike now that models are giving
peanuts.
I think then, they had few models and
few people were willing to dabble into
modelling business unlike today where
everybody wants to be a model. All I can
say is that I was well paid.
Talking about my growing up, I will tell
you that it was fun. I am from Kebbi
State, I speak Hausa fluently. I attended
my primary and secondary schools in
Kano State before I relocated to Lagos
State where I studied English in the
University of Lagos. After my graduation,
I started doing fashion.
Well, I would say that fashion designing is
not all about what the person did in
school. It is all about style, glamour and
creativity. My course in school, I would
say, has something in common with my
career as a fashion designer because it
has to do with interpretation.
Fashion designing is all about interpreting
what people want, you have plans and
ideas while, English is all about
interpretation of Language. So, both of
them have interpretation in common.
But, the funny part of the whole story is
that, I never knew I was going to be a
model.
All I know is that, I have always loved and
admired models but I didn’t know I
would become one someday. The whole
story started when someone called me
one day and told me that I could be a
model. I was like, I do not have money to
start looking for costumes.
The person said, “No you don’t have to
spend, just indicate your interest. We will
do all that for you”. So, I decided to give
it a try and that was how I found myself
in it. I think one of the first brands I
modelled for, was V-mobile when they
were new in Nigeria. I was the face of the
brand then. I did recharge cards, billboard
and Television series for them.
At the beginning it was not that easy, but
when I got the first job and saw the
money in it, my interest intensified. It
was really fun. I did not only model for
telecommunications companies alone. I
have done for Diamond bank, Locozade
Boost billboard and MTN. The secret of
my good looks is, that I keep fit, I
workout a lot, I am very conscious of
what I eat.
I take more of fruits and water. Besides
that, I do not really have anything special
that I do to stay young. Anything goes for
me. I can’t do without my nails looking
neat. I don’t really know what attracts
men to me, I think my looks and
charisma.
I know that most people come to tell me
that they love the fact that I am a young,
pretty hard working girl. It is not only
men who tell me that, my female friends
also tell me that as well. People just look
at me and tell me that they like me, I
dont really know what my selling point is.
My ideal man is a very nice, calm and
polite man. Just a normal gentleman. A
man that is willing to accommodate other
people besides me. A man that can help
other people and is willing to be there
when the need arises, not just financially,
but otherwise.
Am not particular about being handsome,
tall or whatever, you just have to be like a
normal human being and be nice. You
must have a good sense of humour and
you must be God-fearing. Be nice to
every other person and to me. As a
model, I do not think I have been
sexually harassed unlike what people say
that models are usually sexually harassed.
As a beautiful girl, guys will sure ask you
out but it all depends on what you want.
It is not just in the industry, if you see
what you like and you feel like having a
dinner with the person, you are free to do
that. It is not like, anyone is forcing you. I
was invited recently to the Washington
DC fashion week to showcase my
collections.
It was really fun knowing that we can
have African and Nigerian designers
especially, being invited to such an event
without paying a dime. We were treated
well and everything was properly done.
We were asked to showcase our
products.
This year, I have been invited for, New
York fashion week, Washington DC
fashion week and Paris fashion week
Mercedes Benz fashion week.
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