FCA has outdoored the Fashion Connect Africa Model Bootcamp.
FCA is an International Organization which is known for supporting & giving creatives in the
Fashion Industry the global exposure they need to better their craft through training, capacity
building and an annual Fashion Week to display their talents and give them the right global
exposure. We may also provide them with startup resources depending on what their individual
needs are.
On the 30th of September, FCA happily outdoored the Fashion Connect Africa Model
Bootcamp, first of its kind in Africa for Models and Creatives alike. This event, an initiative of
acclaimed Top Model and Entrepreneur Victoria Michaels who is also the Chief Inspiration
Officer of FCA, is slated for the 22nd & 23rd Of October, 2021.
The goal of this event is to create inspiring environment for models across Africa, in order to provide them with skills and global career best practices such as:
• Empowering them with additional skills to generate multiple streams of income
• Preparing them for global modelling opportunities, cultural shocks and social diversities
• Tutorials on creating Z-cards and portfolios
• Photoshoot tips
• Masterclasses on the importance of having the right management, placement and agency.
• Educating models on the importance of pre-audition and casting preparations.
• Capacity building on -the importance of 360 grooming
The above programs were designed to mitigate some of the challenges models face in this part
of the world, like the lack of career sustainability due to limited opportunities, lack of global
acumen on the part of most models and the growing lack of capacity largely due to deficient
education. Unfortunately, these are sad realities that continues to stare us in the face.
In her presentation, Victoria Michaels indicated that, “it is increasingly obvious that we don’t
have enough events/platforms for models to gainfully monetize their craft on a consistent basis.
Over the years, there has been a continuous migration of models to other climes to seek greener
pastures and we at FCA believe that these talents can be nurtured, empowered and deployed with
both the right mind and skill set for generating multiple streams of income.”
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She stated that she faced similar challenges a few years ago before leaving Ghana to pursue her
modeling career in abroad. It is her experience and the lessons she learnt from her sojourn
overseas and being part of such programs that has inspired her to create this platform to change
the narrative for younger and upcoming models.
According to her, the Entrepreneurship training is centered on the evolving of models into both
Modelpreneurs and professionals with the requisite skills. The training would be on how to move
from being a model to an entrepreneur or more. The dialogue session will be tagged- “The Power
Room”. “This event will be mostly an all-girls affair; we are also determined to see women
provide most if not all the ancillary services required for the event. The panelists will be women
and men role models that depict who a model can become if they are pointed in the right
direction”, she added.
Modeling should be just one of the means to an end, at some point you have to do something
different. This platform would help educate and enlighten models on the opportunities they can
capitalize on in the pursuit of BECOMING MODELPRENEURS and more.
In attendance are Pieter Smidt Van Gelder – Deputy Ambassador of European Union in Ghana,
Ayesha Bedwei – Tax Partner at PWC Ghana, Mr. Gabriel Ibe – CEO of Goldcard Resources
Limited, Sonya Sharara – life Coach and CEO of Spark Africa, Gisela Gagakuma – Africa Rep
for Swaroski, Herman Macmillan – Fashion Industry Stakeholder , Ami Tonye Yomekpe – CEO
of MOD Africa, Bedwei Kweku Sonny (Rhyme Sonny) representative of Abeiku Santana,
Michael Akpawu – Country Manager, Green Eight Capital, Emmanuel Smend – Operations
Coordinator, Uber Ghana, Lillian Sally Addo – CEO of Models Union of Ghana, Julee Bocoum –
CEO of D’joulde Online Ghana.
During the solidarity messages session, His Excellency Pieter Smidt applauded Victoria
Michaels for all her laudable initiatives and this one in particular which is geared towards
transforming lives positively. Life Coach, Sonya Sharara also emphasized on the need for
models to strategically position themselves for access to the right opportunities. Key industry
players like Gisela Gagakuma, Herman Macmillan, Ami Tonye, sponsor representatives and
corporate leaders all reiterated the need for models to partake in this Initiative in their various
remarks. We were treated to good music by Elorm Gh and DJ Alighaton.
The event was climaxed with appreciation of the New Africa Foundation gesture by Victoria
Michaels. She expressed her gratitude to Business Mogul and Philanthropist Freedom Jacob
Ceaser for taking up the registration cost of forty models who are financially constrained but
would love to participate in the boot camp.
The sponsors are Uber, Melcom, Green 8 Capital, Coca-Cola, Goldcard Resources and Belaqua
Mineral Water. Supported by New Africa Foundation, Maybeline & Sincerely by Menaye.
We implore you all to support this laudable cause dedicated towards industry development.
This event is powered by VM Consult and refreshed by Alisa Hotel.
For more information, kindly visit www.fashionconnectafrica.com or follow us on Instagram
@fashionconnectafrica.
