When i was a little girl, I used to love eating 99p Flake. ( I still do but the price is a bit deviant now!)
I remember once when i was 5, my Father took me to the icecream van to buy me one. He picked me up and in a tiny voice i said "Flake icecream with 2 flake and red sauce!" and giggled.
I assume now as an adult, it meant raspberry sauce!
The man quickly whipped up a cone and handed it to me. I was rather happy and beaming with pride as i started to eat it, not sure which side to begin with! My dad wasn't impressed. With one eyebrow raised, he questioned me.
"What do you say to the man, Nadia?!"
I blushed and said thankyou with a smile. He was pleased and flashed a grin.
As an adult,each time someone does something good for me, i thank the person. And silently when i am saying thankyou, i thank my Father for teaching me how to respect other people.
And as he once said to me "Manners will cost you nothing and serve to gain you the world."
After all these years as a young woman, i now understand why. People respect me because i respect, them.
Thursday 29 July 2010
Monday 26 July 2010
The holy grail of pictures !!
As a model, you tend to build up a stunning set of pictures from tearsheets( sheets literally torn out of a magazine that you have appeared in) and general shots that are taken. However to me, i don't think that i have photographed better for any other shoot, than i did for Fanfair Magazine!
I write this post in hindsight more than a year on, when my pictures have been published, printed, downloaded and circulated all over the fashion world. I remember fighting long and hard for those pictures that i wanted so very badly because i knew how fabulous they would have turned out like, once they were passed onto me.
The interesting thing is they are the only set of pictures that haven't been airbrushed. Most of my other pictures, i am required to have airbrushed to be viewed in a professional light. Sad but true. When i opened the folder that the company sent me via dropbox, i had to download Photoshop itself to open them. What i saw next blew my mind...quite literally...
I saw two outfits that i had modelled for. One a brown dress and another a blue skirt suit. The brown dress was tight, itchy and confusing to wear. Made of polyester and to be worn with tights in 30 degree heat was not my idea of fun, at all. The other skirt suit, beautiful ravishing colour, so tight that i couldn't wear a bra and could hardly breathe-let alone sit or stand in it with again nylon tights-was sheer torture.
Sitting still and having your makeup done for 2 hours when you haven't eaten is so frustrating. They have to perfect your eye makeup, get the highlighter perfect, the lipstick perfect. Even counting sheep is more interesting at that time. I finally shot for both the outfits and left the gallery to face the outside world in 32 degree heat where my makeup was melting, i had to tie my hair up and drink 3 bottles of water to take the tube home.
What happened that night will never escape me. I came home and wasn't feeling great. Slowly i crawled into bed and started to shake. I felt like i had malaria-i was shaking uncontrollably. I was struck by some sort of strange virus that made me within 3 days-physically incapable of moving. I stopped eating and drinking until a full week in which i missed two fashion shows and a shoot.
However when i look back at those pictures. I don't regret the illness, the heat and the frustration. Those pictures have booked me numerous jobs and got me millions of compliments!
I write this post in hindsight more than a year on, when my pictures have been published, printed, downloaded and circulated all over the fashion world. I remember fighting long and hard for those pictures that i wanted so very badly because i knew how fabulous they would have turned out like, once they were passed onto me.
The interesting thing is they are the only set of pictures that haven't been airbrushed. Most of my other pictures, i am required to have airbrushed to be viewed in a professional light. Sad but true. When i opened the folder that the company sent me via dropbox, i had to download Photoshop itself to open them. What i saw next blew my mind...quite literally...
I saw two outfits that i had modelled for. One a brown dress and another a blue skirt suit. The brown dress was tight, itchy and confusing to wear. Made of polyester and to be worn with tights in 30 degree heat was not my idea of fun, at all. The other skirt suit, beautiful ravishing colour, so tight that i couldn't wear a bra and could hardly breathe-let alone sit or stand in it with again nylon tights-was sheer torture.
Sitting still and having your makeup done for 2 hours when you haven't eaten is so frustrating. They have to perfect your eye makeup, get the highlighter perfect, the lipstick perfect. Even counting sheep is more interesting at that time. I finally shot for both the outfits and left the gallery to face the outside world in 32 degree heat where my makeup was melting, i had to tie my hair up and drink 3 bottles of water to take the tube home.
What happened that night will never escape me. I came home and wasn't feeling great. Slowly i crawled into bed and started to shake. I felt like i had malaria-i was shaking uncontrollably. I was struck by some sort of strange virus that made me within 3 days-physically incapable of moving. I stopped eating and drinking until a full week in which i missed two fashion shows and a shoot.
However when i look back at those pictures. I don't regret the illness, the heat and the frustration. Those pictures have booked me numerous jobs and got me millions of compliments!
Saturday 24 July 2010
Modelling and Islam
Lots of people have often asked me why i model when i am a muslim. Most are confused about my religion and often are surprised to know that i promote my face for money. I have had numerous vicious threats made to me, insulting remarks and comments that have all led to my success today.
Islam encourages women to fend for themselves, be educated and create inspiring knowledge to spread to others. It is one of the fairest religions in the world, tarnished by a few who shouldn't even belong to this validity. It is a shame that many see modelling as a disrespectful job and i have "lost" many people i once knew because they assume i sell my body for money. No. That is PROSITITUION. I do NOT sell my body to men in exchange of gifts or cold cash.
I model. And modelling is wearing a garment or donning accessories, that are then photographed either for magazines or campaigns. I have my full respect whilst doing my job and i am very proud of what i have achieved through my own hardwork and numerous people's support-I am truly thankful. I am more spiritual than religious and my motto is Live and Let Live. Due to the fact that it is ONLY GOD that is able and willing to judge in a correct manner.
Islam has given and shaped a way of life and righteousness for me through which i am able to spread love, respect and inspiring talent to other women who feel bound perhaps through culture or religion itself.
In itself- I am proud to be both. A Muslim and a Model.
Islam encourages women to fend for themselves, be educated and create inspiring knowledge to spread to others. It is one of the fairest religions in the world, tarnished by a few who shouldn't even belong to this validity. It is a shame that many see modelling as a disrespectful job and i have "lost" many people i once knew because they assume i sell my body for money. No. That is PROSITITUION. I do NOT sell my body to men in exchange of gifts or cold cash.
I model. And modelling is wearing a garment or donning accessories, that are then photographed either for magazines or campaigns. I have my full respect whilst doing my job and i am very proud of what i have achieved through my own hardwork and numerous people's support-I am truly thankful. I am more spiritual than religious and my motto is Live and Let Live. Due to the fact that it is ONLY GOD that is able and willing to judge in a correct manner.
Islam has given and shaped a way of life and righteousness for me through which i am able to spread love, respect and inspiring talent to other women who feel bound perhaps through culture or religion itself.
In itself- I am proud to be both. A Muslim and a Model.
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