African Modeling

I have befriended a lovely South African woman, Jacquie, who is just about as crazy as I am, and is even taller than I am! We are the “twins” at work since we both have short brown hair, are statuesque and tall. Quite a stretch for twin, but I will run with it.

She invited me to a free concert and I said yes. I had no idea where it was, what kind of music, or whether it was indoors or outdoors. She laughed when I did not hesitate in my answer, it was in that moment we both knew that this was a good start to a friendship. It was an all weekend event with multiple concerts on each night, with of course a reasonably priced beer garden. 5 Euro per pint which is only about a 25 cent mark up from the pubs. There were some great DJs and we danced and danced. On the last night of the venue, it was an African band. Her French friend, Clemantine who was also an architect, joined us and helped as a translator since the band was from the Congo and they were singing in French.

Since Jacquie works part time at a South African shop, she knew about the upcoming African Festival. Karen, Jacquie and I started the long bank holiday weekend with an Art Gallery Opening the first night. The Lord Mayor of Dublin kicked off the festival. During the speeches I noticed the commentator kept checking me out, but since I happened to be front and center, I did not think that much of it. We enjoyed some beers, African food, poetry readings as well as some wonderful artwork that if I had a few grand just lying around, I would have brought home a piece. We had just left when the commentator, Joshua, recognized us and stopped to chat. When he asked if we were going to the fashion show, which we all promptly replied no, since 65 Euro is quite spendy. He then asked if my name was Jo, which it is not, because I looked exactly like his ex-girlfriend. Hence the staring. He then whipped out 3 free fashion show tickets for us and made us promise to go.

And how could we pass up such a great free experience! The three of us again met up, but this tim with Karen’s friend Niamh it tow, who we scored yet another free ticket for. Helps to look like the long lost love….. There where 6 different designers to see, along with two musical acts. About a third of the way though watching some very innovative designs, Joshua got up and introduced the biggest designer of Uganda, Madoi Latif, and said that he needed two volunteers for the designer to make a dress for them, in just 4 minutes. Jacqui told me to stop making eye contact so I kept listening, but was somehow drawn to look at Joshua again who smiled a smile of desperation thinking that no one would volunteer, and next thing I knew, my hand shot up. Oops, well I am known to act without thinking! Joshua asked me to again if I was sure, and I said of course, I want a pretty dress! Good thing they had free drinks that were pretty stiff, that helped to get over any stage fright I could have had.

volunteers. We were whisked away to a back room. The designer sizedI got up on the stage, and then another hand shot up from the crowd and he had his two me up, and gave me first color selection which of course I choose black, so the other volunteer got white. We went back out and waited while he got started so we did not miss the musical acts. A few minutes later they were done. I had to quickly borrow Jacquie’s shoes since I had flip flops on (nice to finally have a friend that is about my same size!) and I seemed to have the perfect jewelry on for a floor length, scoop neck, back dress with a long train. The other dress was a little shorter than mine, and of course see through, which is why I was so happy I picked black. We then had to go out and do our thing on the catwalk. And I was ready! I even kept the straight face, did a few poses where I needed to and showed off the dress very well, until I turned to final turn and saw my friends when a smile just lit up my face from the excitement. I made my way up to the stage to be further photographed with the designer and then were escorted back to change. I had Niamh grab a few more pictures of me to let the other girl change in privacy. After I was done changing Latif let me select a hat for Ben and I got to keep my dress. What a keepsake to have after my successful modeling debut!