Melissa: I sublet nude roles to other models
…my killer look will melt you
Soft-spoken Nigerian model, Melissa Chidinma Uzoigwe from Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, her both parents are from the same state.
The pure blood Enugu state-born size 8 model is six feet tall and she has a Higher National Diploma (HNDI in accounting, from the Ogun State Institute of Technology, (OGITECH).
She is in her early twenties, and she had her ‘Under the rain, under the sun’ mandatory youth service at Link Strides Security Systems Limited in 2020.
She stuck out when she contested for Miss NAPAS (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC ACCOUNTANCY STUDENTS), a departmental Beauty pageant, and against all odds, she won the 2018/19 pageant. She was a runner-up for Miss OGITECH, and Miss Prestige Nigeria in 2018.
Some of the things she did as Miss NAPAS were to coach upcoming models on morals, poise, carriage, and cat-walking and also to tutor them on choreography including how to talk and do a presentation while in public, and she delivered excellently.
The model who has been featured in ‘Saturday Morning’ a Cinema movie and ‘Street Profit’ contested, and won the Face of Maritime International in 2019, with a whopping prize of N500,000 and a saloon car.
It may surprise you that the 6ft tall model also likes to put on shoes with six inches heel to her advantage, her standing equal 6ft plus six inches.
The passport-ready model from a family of Seven is open to an international show, although she has not done any foreign show before, she is optimistic she will perform above 90 per cent if given the stage.
Melissa, whose role model is supermodel, Naomi Campbel took a few questions from CREKKVIBES OLUWADAMILARE DANIELS. Excerpts
What kind of food do you eat to maintain your accentuating beauty?
Truth be told, I eat everything, although there was a time I went on dieting just to lose weight, I was on fruits and veggies, and it was not working, so I let it go and resorted to my normal diet.
At what point did you realise you want Naomi Campbel’s runway business?
Right from when I was a child, I had wanted to be a model, watching African Fashion Shows but then, because of my family, my mum was always on the lookout for me, she never wanted me to be a model. Someone approached me shortly before I got admission, did you know what he said that amazed me? ‘I am an already made model’ but I couldn’t oblige, but when I got into the tertiary institution, I had a little bit of freedom, I took up the courage and I started participating in pageantries, my decision to contest for Face of Prestige Nigeria wasn’t planned, because they were almost dropping the blinds on entries, a friend told me about it because he saw pictures of me when I was crowned on Facebook, as at then, I couldn’t raise N5,000 to purchase the form, one of the organisers paid for me, favour took me in, I was supposed to be the winner but lost due to some factors, I couldn’t sell the tickets given to me to get supports for the pageantry, even votes were not forth coming for me; no one to cheer me up, I had a lot of shortcomings, some of the contestants sold about 40 tickets but I sold just three, (laughs) being a first runner-up was a compensation for me, and it lifted my modelling spirit.
Are you planning to vie for BBNaija or any other tv reality shows?
For now, no, I use to nurture the idea of BBNaija, but not anymore.
What are your reasons?
They are personal.
Have you modelled for TV ads?
I have modelled for some brands like; Memphis Cocoa Butter, which is a skincare product with its base in the US, I did one for Classic a makeup brand, another one for Tianah Empire, and I also participated in Ogun State Fashion Show 2019.
I did win Ogun State model of the year 2020, I was at the casting of African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) and I was selected, I was at Lagos Fashion Show, in 2021, and I was also at Ibadan Bridal Weekend, in 2021, I did something for Weck Design International and Olabisi Poundo Yam flour.
Those designers outside of the country, how were they able to reach out to you; were you well paid after you modelled for them?
I was contacted through a Nigerian base contact person, for the payment I will score them 80 per cent.
Why did you decide to go independently as a model?
I have always wanted to stand by BETH Model Academy, I was at FEW Modeling Agency, I would have loved to join them, when I went for the casting two years ago, though I was selected one of the judges said, I am more of a pageant model; size 8 model and they do more of size 6 models, so I was excused.
As a model what are the three things you can’t do without?
Like taking pictures
Pose
To always appear elegantly.
Is there any part of your body that you appreciate more?
Yeah, my eyes because I have a killer look, I learned about it during my training at Lawmodel International in 2020, they also have an outlet in Abuja. I appreciate my lips too.
Why your lips, as a model I think you don’t do talking.
Yeah, several makeup artists have talked about my sensory and sexy lips.
What are the stage tips for an upcoming model?
Ok,
1, She needs to be prayerful
2, Believe in herself
3, Understand the duties of the job
What do you mean?
A lot of girls out there want to be a model but they don’t understand the nitty-gritty of the job, she needs to define which area she fit into, there are petite models, and if she has beautiful eyes, she needs to make use of them, she needs to create a portfolio for herself and at the same time she needs to get more knowledge from a modelling agency, before locating brands that fit her kind of person. Her poise must be standardized, and she also needs to be on the lookout for a casting call, many models want to get the job but they don’t want to go for casting.
Do you also model Lingerie?
Yes, I do.
Who do you look like, mum or dad?
My mum.
Can we say she gave you your beauty?
Yes, my mum is a very beautiful woman.
What are your goals in life?
I look forward to great achievement to be an independent woman.
Does that mean you don’t want to settle down?
I will, definitely will, I will want to have a fashion house including a modelling agency.
What do you expect from your ideal man?
He should be tall, and cute, I prefer dark skin but if he is light skin no problems, even if he is average height it’s not bad, he must have money and must be hard working with the fear of God.
How much will it cost you to pose nude?
It is priceless, I can’t do that, no amount is worth posing nude.
I have been approached before and I turned it down, sometimes I sublet nude roles to those models that do the nude pose, I don’t discriminate but I just don’t do it.
What is your worth?
Undisclosed.
Are your parents in support of your chosen career?
My dad is late, anyways mum is not fully in support
Are your sisters not interested in modelling or acting in movies?
No one models, but I have a sister that acts in movies, we have both acted together.
I am also a content creator, I do a lot of that on my TikTok page.
What else will you want Nigerians to know about you?
To know that I am an aspiring model that wants to go international, I am open to international shows, I am passport ready.
