Death to the dinosaur-walk...again?




Swarovski studded <3

Every girl, woman (and some boys), at some point in their lives, love to admire or wear a gorgeous pair of high heels. As little girls, most of us grew up watching our mothers, aunts, sisters or a female figure we admired, getting ready for work or a night out, rocking their favourite pair of high heels! I always knew to wait in the lounge for my mom, because she'd sometimes walk in, and say goodbye, as she was about to leave, which was my chance to catch a glimpse of her shoes.

Funny enough, I was a tom-boy that hated wearing dresses or 'girly' looking shoes, and of course, my mom used to dress my little sister and I in the girliest of outfits & shoes, especially for church on Sundays. This childhood contributed tremendously to how I dressed myself, when I was finally afforded that right, and thus began my love for jeans, slacks, sneakers and anything as far from the frills and florals of my toddler and puberty years. That, and also the sight of women on our family trips to town, where I'd witness women looking very beautiful AND equally uncomfortable walking in their high heeled shoes.



Red bottom glitz <3

 

I did grow out of my tom-boy sense of style, to a certain extent, because I'm still a jeans, slacks, sneakers kind of girl most days. However, I did also develop a keen interest in womens beautiful shoes, and not right away, it was a gradual liking. I was introduced to my first pair of high heels, when my mom had entered me in the Face of Africa model search in 1999, and one of the requirements for a model search competition; was obviously to wear high heels at some point during the contest. I made it through the casting process to the semi-finals in Swaziland that year, and God knows how terrified I was when I was given my 1st pair of heels, EVER!

I'd done two photoshoots as a model already, before the competition, but neither had required me to wear high heels in the shots. The reason I was sweating bullets at the semi-finals, was because I felt I would have been exposed for the un-girly nature I so comfortably had had all my life, by the catwalk training session we had to attend during the contest. This was the beginning of the love-hate relationship between me and stilettos.

I was glad to discover, that I wasn't the only '1st timer' and we appreciated the lessons in walking in high heels so much, we didn't complain too much. What got us few amateurs through that process, was simply laughing at each others awkward, dinosaur-walk kind of strides, because honestly, it was ridiculously unatural and a funny sight to see. On top of our strides resembling those of pre-historic creatures, our long limbs amplified the awkwardness.

It would be years later, after my umpteenth time of doing my thing on the ramp, for a fashion show or a Fashion Week somewhere in the world, did I find my comfort zone and catwalk stride. Even in the most highest of stiletto heels, I've developed a 'natural' skill most professional models acquire from years on the runway, and if my feet could talk, they would cuss me out over the years of torture they've endured. Most of the shoes I've walked in have been a few sizes too small or had an unstable, weight sensitive pencil heel, that should one set one foot wrong, one would be kissing the ground involuntarily.

I've had my fair share of slips and trips on the catwalk, but have never had a tumble, thank God. If you ever wondered what goes through a models mind as she walks down the ramp in a breathtaking designer garment, accessorized with a gorgeous pair of killa heels, it's more often than not, a hope and prayer that we don't trip or fall flat on our faces while looking hot and strutting our stuff. The catwalk has seen many victims tumble, even the most famous of supermodels has kissed the ground they walk on, but the show must go on.

All that, to say something that has bothered me for quite a number of years now, and that is the dinosaur-walk I witness everyday, not on the ramp but in the streets and malls. I see women everywhere, walking ever so awkwardly in the loveliest of shoes, that make one watching them walk by; cringe out of pity with every step they take. The thought that follows the cringing is usually a question to; the universe I guess, as to WHY anyone would torture themselves, by wearing heels they obviously aren't comfortable in, or perhaps even don't know how to walk in? (The universe never answers back of course!)

 

Like I said before, most of us love a good looking pair of shoes, and like looking at them, or trying them on at the shoe store, and definitely enjoy purchashing the trendy stilettos we see out there these days.

One thing I am sure about; is that not all of us should be wearing our stilettos out in public, and have come to the conclusion that; if one really does have a fetish for ultra sexy and gorgeously crafted 6inch heels(1 inch = 2 centimetres #FYI), one should be able to walk well enough, or at least look convincingly comfortable in them in public....and if not, one should make a shrine in their home, that is dedicated to shoes, instead of humiliating ourselves, whether they're aware of it or not, and to finally put an end to the dinosaur-walk! Those pre-historic creatures were extinct, as far as I thought. *shrugs*

 

Death to the dinosaur-walk...again?! -__-

Triple L - Live Laugh Love

The typo in my blog title 'Mogullling- Model Biz' is in fact a convenient mishap, that I will elaborate on just now. I'm very sure it was not the first thing that stood out on the page, unless you're a 'grammar nazi' of course.

The triple L philosophy, is a popular slogan that speaks a lot of truth for me, because I've learned that life is way too short to sweat the details. I now do my utmost best to live in the now, and only to visit the future as opposed to living in it, living in the moment ensures I enjoy life more. Love, laugh, live are three words that have become a sort of mantra, and I remind myself to focus on those three things in whatever I'm doing. I know I'm not the only one that uses this slogan, and am pretty darn sure we all have our own interpretation of it, or at least a certain way it helps us individually.

For instance, the way I tend to use the slogan is; to love as if I've never had my heart broken, laugh loudly and from the core of my being (gee whizz do I love to laugh :D), live and enjoy every moment as if it were my last. To me, this is a constant reminder that life isn't that bad, especially when things don't seem to be happening the way I'd planned for them to. I've realized that a lot of what I experience usually has very little to do with what I may have planned, so I take it within my stride.

Imagine for a minute, having gone through a 3hour long fitting with the designer, a 1hour rehearsal and occassionally another 1hour dress rehearsal, with the show producer, 3hours of hair and makeup backstage, and to walk out onto the ramp and slip and trip as you make your entrance. It's not something you planned, and any professional model knows, the show goes on regardless, all that's left to do is to carry on walking as if the slip and trip did not even happen. The audience may gasp at the whole incident, but one has to be focused on getting the job done, and not on the comments of those looking on at you. Don't let the spectators deter you, chin up, and eyes on the prize.

I've never taken a spill, thank God, but have had my fair share of slips, trips, wardrobe malfunctions, ramp-traffic mishaps and the occasional choreography blunder. Never once in any of these situations, have I stopped in my tracks, turned around and headed backstage instead of walking it out, because I was too embarrassed by the blunder, that's unheard of. I have seen a model take a spill, that was caused by a number of unfortunate factors; a wet perspex surface, that had a 35 degree slope; wearing 7inch stilettos. She slipped and fell, landing on her wrist while attempting to break her fall, and after she'd gathered her wits about her, she slinked her way down the ramp looking as beautiful and graceful as she had looked before the fall. Now that's a professional.

Later on, we all flocked to her to make sure she was alright, and found the paramedics had had to bandage her hand, because the she had another show to walk, straight afterwards, and folks think this model biz is 'easy'.

Living in fear of failure is also something I consider a detriment to any goals and dreams I would want to pursue, therefore instead of remaining stagnant in the grips of fear, I use a statement a wise friend told me once; "Go in the direction of your fears, that is where your destiny lays waiting for you." Whatever challenges we face, we must always remember to be grateful that we could be worse off, and that no matter how bad it may seem, someone else is dealing with more than you could possibly take on.

We're all built for our own personal life experiences, believe it or not, and most times it may seem you cannot get through whatever trial you're facing, but you always do right? Regardless of circumstance, never let a spee-bump in your journey prevent you from loving, being loved, laughing heartily and living an abundant life, because most times that mountain you see is merely a molehill.

Walk on with the faith and hope that God's got the details sorted, while you enjoy and live every precious moment, take it within your stride, because noone will walk this journey for you!





No one will walk this journey for you, but YOU!

You may trip and slip, fall or take a mean tumble, and as long as you have breath in you, you can get up and make it through to the end of YOUR catwalk! Peace, love and strawberry cheesecake y'all!

@leratommoloi www.headsmodels.co.za www.angeldust.co.za

New Era

It seems long overdue, but all things happen in due time. The beginning of something, always starts at the end of something else, and in light of not wanting to sound like a cliche-inspired blogger, I'll end the wise cracks right there...

When one decides to take on their dreams and vision head-on, the path to their destiny miraculously appears in front of you, or is this just a one-time occurance that happened to me? Thing about the path you're meant to walk is, it won't be a straight, clear, pot-hole free journey, but one filled with obstacles that are 'designed' purely for YOU to take on. When you look at the end goal, which in itself isn't 'The End', but the life of ease and comfort you may desire, the path before you can be discouraging at first glance.

                                                  ('99 Autumn/Winter campaign for Julian)

Much like the 1st shot I ever took as a model, in 1999,there's an untainted naivety that is so easily reflected in my eyes; that reminds me of every new level or season in life I've faced. No clue as to how difficult the challenges that lay ahead would be, in fact, I couldn't have cared less about that, all I could think of as I stood in front of the cameraman is; "Wowee! You're ACTUALLY doing this, what were you thinking dude! Hope they don't see that I have no idea what I'm doing!"

At some point during the shoot, I was getting some direction from the designer and photographer, until eventually, I had a flow of my own going. This was a weird and strangely natural feeling, as if I'd done this all my life, which I obviously hadn't, and adding to this were the comments made by the crew, that I was a naturally beautiful. For me, those words were alien to me, because most of my life, I thought I was a below average looking human being, so I thought these folks were pulling my leg or blind in one eye.

The initial reluctance I'd had in joining the 'stables', mostly because this word used to freak me out a little, but in time I had accepted that in a sense, one is born and bred to be a professional model. Much like the race horses that from birth, are destined for the big races. Personally, I've realized that most 'success' stories in this biz happen to the reluctant participants, and the course in which it takes place, happens naturally.

Truth is, one can't really be trained to become a professional model, most of the skill will come from a place within, a hub where the 'natural' talent resides, but hey, don't get it twisted, we aren't all born 'smizing', that comes with experience...

Well, this is the beginning of a new era, in my life's journey, and what I believe is a new era of business of fashion. Africa is my heritage, South Africa is where I reside, the world is my oyster, it's time I take time to enjoy it...welcome to the ride, if you're keen on it, I can only promise you an authentic experience of ME, and that who you thought I might be, is nowhere near who I am....

Peace, love and strawberry cheesecake y'all!!

'Cause MamaBear Cares :-*