Interview: Ovo Drenth - How to break through: As a Black Model In Europe!

Elegancy101 caught up with well-known Dutch model Ovo Drenth. In this interview we will talk about her modeling career, the ups and downs of the industry, her beauty regime and the problem of racial discrimination in the fashion industry in Europe. There is still the same three lines about black models not selling well, their various looks not being “in” at the moment and the usual finger pointing. Although this is a sensitive issue, it is an important one to discuss. Read the interview after the jump:

Who is Ovo Drenth exactly (your age, origin, place of birth etc)?
I am Ovo Drenth I am originally from Nigeria but now I’m based in Holland, since I was a baby. I’m a model and I’m 25 years old. I started modeling through a TV program called Holland’s Next Topmodel.

How did you become a model? Were you discovered by a scout?
Well, I am from a small village in the north of The Netherlands and I was always waiting for a scout to see me. I was always saying to myself “when am I going to be discovered” I was waiting forever. Finally, I saw a TV commercial about Holland’s Next Topmodel and that they were looking for contestants. I immediately signed up through internet and I got accepted and it all started from there. Unfortunately I didn’t win the title, but I became the third runner up and got on the fourth place. After that I gained a lot of opportunities like getting a modeling contract by MAX models and I’m still attached to them.

So you always wanted to be a model?
Yes, I always wanted to be a model but I never said it out loud because of the negative reaction I would have receive like; why do you think you are going to be a model (sarcastic)? So I was always being quiet about it. I always had a thing for fashion, I love clothes and accessorizing so fashion was always in my system.

How long have you been modeling and what are the advantages and disadvantages of the modeling world?
I’ve been modeling over six years and the advantage is traveling and a good chance to see beautiful countries of the whole world and meet many new people that you’ll never meet on a daily basis. It is also nice to work with different designers. The downside is that it’s really an insecure business. You’ll never really know when you’ll get a job and how much money you are going to earn. The traveling could also be a disadvantage because you always have to do it alone. You travel to a new place all by yourself and you have to meet new people all over again every time you’re somewhere else in another country. Another disadvantage is the waiting! If you are a model you’re going to wait forever during castings, photo shoots etc. So you really have to find your own entertainment like bringing your IPod or a magazine along otherwise you are going to be very bored.

So they don’t really keep you in consideration during a shoot or a casting?
No, they just let you wait because they are busy with their own struggles like making sure the light is ok or if the make-up and styling is alright. So sometimes you are waiting for hours until you get your work done.

How many assignments do you get during one month time?
I could definitely make a living out of the money I earn, that’s not a problem. But I think during a month time I would get like 8 assignments. I don’t do all my assignments here in The Netherlands because there is not enough job here, so I work a lot in Germany and Belgium because I’m also signed in modeling agencies over there.

What does it mean for you to be an successful model of Nigerian descent here in Europe?
I think it is really special because there are not a lot of black models and it is a shame because we can work as hard and we can be as beautiful as a caucasian model. It is time that commercial clients think about the black models because we are often forgotten. They always automatically go for a white model instead of a black model and that means that we have to work twice as hard. So I’m honored to be successful in the modeling business and get recognition.

When you started modeling, did you ever encounter people who said you wouldn't make it as a model?
There are always people that thought that I was not going to make it because I was too short, I am 1.75 cm but most of the models are 1.80 cm or taller. And there were also people saying that I was to black, and it’s going to be a struggle for me to break through because they are not looking for girls like me and etc. But I prove them all wrong because I do a lot of fashion shows and I’m even a catwalk coach.

How did you overcome that negativity?
I always told myself that this is a job and this job doesn’t define me. So if you don’t think I’m pretty or this or that, I really don’t care.

We've all heard fashion experts and industry insiders talk about racism in the industry (especially in Europe) whether it’s on the runways or in the magazines. What is your own experience, were you ever rejected because of your skincolor or did they make any comments that have made you feel uncomfortable?
I don’t know exactly if I was ever rejected because of my skincolor, you don’t really know that for sure because if you’re going to a casting and they don’t book you, it could be several reasons. But you’ll never know that because they never tell you in detail why they didn’t book you. I don’t know about racism in the industry itself.

Is it true that models of color should work twice as hard as their white counterparts?
As a black model you should definitely be on top of your game. You have to be perfect, your skin needs to be flawless, your body needs to be great. I mean you have hundreds of white models and a few black ones in between so you should make yourself stand out. Every model agency have like 15 white models and 1 or 2 black models. They will obviously first pick a ton of white models and afterwards they will be choosing between you and the other black model so you should really make yourself stand out.

And what is your beauty regime?
I don’t really have like a beauty regime but I don’t wear a lot of make-up. I wash my face really good and put olive oil all over my body, I heard that its really good for your skin. I drink a lot of water and tea and just eat very healthy. I never sleep with my make-up on, I always take it off put a mask on and I scrub my face and my body and that’s it!

Do you agree that the fashion market in Europe is behind and that they’d rather stick with what they know (using white models)?
Yes, the industry here in The Netherlands for instance is stuck with the white model look because obviously The Netherlands is a very multicultural country and they’re always promoting and advertising about toleration and permissiveness towards other cultures and ethnic backgrounds so I need for them to show it in the modeling industry too. In Germany the industry is way bigger, you have so many catalogues and magazines. Of course the high fashion magazines all work with the white models I even experienced that in South Africa. But in Germany there is room for a lot of commercial work like posing in catalogues instead of high fashion magazines like Elle etc. But for me it’s ok because you earn a lot from commercial work.

Do you rather where a weave or your natural hair?
Obviously I wear my natural hair and I’m also known for that. But I also wear wigs for photo shoots. So they can always book me with long hair or short hair.

UK Supermodel Jourdan Dunn unleashed her frustration at another fashion industry failure through a tweet that simply read: “I swear some people need to learn how to do black hair/skin.” Do you agree with her comment? Have you yourself experienced something similar? Oh yeah, a lot of times its becoming quite normal. I’m always afraid and ask myself ‘what are they planning to do now’. They don’t know a lot about the black skin and that it haves different kind of skin tones and types. They never do a lot about my natural hair they just say it’s beautiful like that and leave it while I was waiting for 12 hours for them to style it.

How do you protect your real hair from getting damaged from all that junk that hair stylist put in it at various shoots and fashionshows?
They always like to blow-dry my hair when they are trying to straighten it. And that means that my hair could be overheated but I always condition my hair or put a hair mask and give my hair enough nourishment.

Would you consider yourself as a role model for the Dutch colored girls who want to breakthrough in the fashion industry in The Netherlands/Europe?
I don’t know if I’m a role model but I often do get a lot of messages on my facebook about that I should give advice on how to break through. I think it’s an honor to be considered as a role model and I am also trying to work hard to let people see that it doesn’t matter where you’re from or how tall you are, everybody still haves a chance to break through if you really believe in it.

  What will it take for the fashion industry to see the world has so much more to offer in terms of beauty outside of the "white" look?
It takes time, everything takes time. But it is changing because I see more black models on the runway and campaigns like Joan Smalls, Sessilee Lopez or Chanel Iman and there are more. Before it was only Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks and Alek Wek. But what’s strange is that I recently found out that there was a Dutch black model during the 80ties that was very successful. Her name is Louise Vyent and she was one of the first black women who covered Vogue magazine and did a Revlon campaign with Iman and Beverly Johnson, and I can’t believe that no one really talked about her here in The Netherlands but we do talk and praise the more irrelevant retired models who didn’t accomplish being on the Vogue cover or other multiple big campaigns back in the day. I think we definitely need to be credited more.

Topmodel Louise Vyent

What qualities do you think makes a girl truly beautiful?
Natural beauty! We shouldn’t exaggerate our make-up but we should show people our real beauty.

Black and mixed raced models are often scouted, for use in the 'urban scene' so to speak. But how can they break through in the mainstream fashion world?
They use them for the 'urban scene' because they don’t think black is high fashion and that is an insult. We can definitely be on the cover of Vogue and L’official but it obviously takes time and luck to see that more often. For the black models who want to break through in the fashion world it’s important to go to the important castings and find yourself a good agent or agency and hope that the luck is on your side!

Do you have any inspiring words for black models who are dying to break through in the mainstream fashion world?
The fashion world is really popular among youths because of all the TV programs and fashion exposure. Before you start you need to have a realistic mind, you don’t need to starve yourself in order to be a size 1, be realistic with your body seize and your height because not everyone can be like Kate Moss and break through as a short model. If you are determine to make it, don’t stop following your dream and make sure you make your own portfolio with upcoming photographers and send them to agencies and let them know that you are out there waiting to be discovered and maybe you’ll get invited!

Follow Ovo Drenth on Twitter and Facebook.
Read her story on Vogue.it here