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BAKARE MUBARAK Tells City People His Story
Bakare Mubarak is very tall and lanky. He is 6ft 9 inches. The Nigerian holds the record being the tallest model in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mubarak is co-founder of expedition 54. He was among the great Nigerians honoured at the maiden edition of the Glam African Fashion Festival held in Lagos, Nigeria a few months ago. Mubarak, the high towering young model was celebrated at the prestigious festival organised by Nigerian-born, Canadian-based fashion enthusiast and promoter, Naomi Olapeju Sigimund. I’m a model and of course a youth ambassador as well as culture ambassador and entrepreneur. City People Journalist, JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886) approached him to get him to speak about his career as a model and how he became a star in the art. Below are what he said for your reading pleasure.
Let’s start from the height of a thing, how tall are you? What’s the figure like?
I’m actually 6ft 9 inches.
How do you come about this, does it resonate in the family?
Of course, there’s no short person in the family but I’m actually the tallest in the entire family, including the extended family.
What was it about you when you were growing up?
Well it was quite a roller coaster of several experiences. At some points in time, I was bullied because I went to boarding school. Some seniors usually bullied me because I was taller than they were. There was a certain guy who was my senior at the time and he would always tell me not to be taller than he is when he was talking to me. So, growing up I got to realise that it is one of the greatest feelings in the world because then, I see it as a huge point of endowment; as a natural endowment which is very unique. I think it is actually a big blessing rather than a curse.
How long have you been in the modelling business?
2016 literally, since 2016. At that time, I actually contested in a pageantry in my mum’s local government in Kwara State, making me the Mr Kwara International 2015/2016. So in 2016, I started modelling.
When you get to know that you are the tallest model in Sub Saharan Africa, how did you feel?
Basically, this is based on evaluations, in 2016, I was about 6’8 and I was the same height as the tallest. I was the same height as the tallest professional model in the world, Evelyn Eve. At the time she was 6’8. And about a year or two after, I became a little bit taller, an inch taller actually. So, I became 6’9 and when the award switched to Ekaterina Lisina who is the current tallest professional model in the world. I happen to be of same height as her as well. That is how that record came about.
How have you been coping since you joined modelling a few years back?
Well I have actually done my part pretty much. You know, it is a cut throat industry. I mean it’s a very tough industry because you have to understand quite a number of things that go into the basics. You have to be comfortable in front of the camera just like the basics as well. You must also be confident enough in yourself and be able to believe in yourself because it is an industry that is able to actually challenge your self-esteem. If you don’t understand the concept of uniqueness and the fact that we are unique however we look. You begin to feel inferior because there are quite a few good-looking people out there. I think it’s been a very interesting one.
If you don’t do modelling what other things would you have been doing?
I will definitely be a business person. I will be a businessman.
Why not basketball?
Well at a point in time, to be honest with you I considered Basketball because of the entire mundane pressure that oh! Every tall boy must play basketball. By the time that I started having the mind of my own, I got to realize that not every tall boy must play basketball. We could be great doing other things aside from playing basketball.
Was there any time you ever felt discouraged about being a model?
Never! I never feel discouraged. I rather kept on increasing my drive and hunger to get to where I was going. The secret to that is that you have to be sure where you want to be. Where you want to be is what keeps you going. If you’re really sure you want to be there, that will keep you going ultimately.
What’s your advice to upcoming models?
I will just say they should try as much as possible to understand the industry. They should understand the basics. Contrary to popular opinion, a lot of people think modelling is all about the runway. It’s not just a runway. There are over 20 types of modelling you could do rather than just runway models. You can be a commercial model, you can be a high fashion model, you can be a glamour model. You can be quite a lot of things, whatever you want to be basically.
Do you have any academy where young people can learn modelling?
Not at the time. Ultimately at a time, I co-founded Expedition 54 Limited Company. And the vanguard of our endeavour at Expedition 54 is connecting and integrating African businesses with other businesses around the world. We are focusing so much on the creative industry in recent times. Fortunately for us, we got the World Fashion Exhibition Nigerian franchise. And we are going to be hosting designers from a little over 60 countries around the world later this year or by next year tentatively. By doing so, we are going to have a platform which is unique and of global reach that would elevate youths and creatives most especially in the fashion industry across all the value chain.
Which show would you say gave you the big break in modelling?
I partook in the Mr. And Miss Kwara International pageant. That was in 2015. I represented my mum’s local government, Ifelodun Local Government at the time. My mum is actually from Kwara State and I am from Oyo State, Oko in Surulere Ogo Oluwa Local Government.
Tell us a bit about your academic background
I was actually brought up in my mum’s local government, the Ifelodun Local Government in Kwara State. I attended Flora International School for my basic education. I also attended Federal Government College. I attended the school called Arts and Science International after which I attended Al-Hikmah University, a private university in Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State as well.
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