An A.S.M Conversation with Aketch Joy Winnie

ASM Blogger
May 5, 2020
5 min read

Height 5'10" Bust 31" Waist 23" Hips 34" Shoe 10 US Hair BLACK Eyes BROWN

Agency: Select (London) Fusion (NYC)

@aketchjoywinnie

Theme of the year- Embracing imperfections

Fav color- Lavender

Zodiac- Taurus

Fav movie- War Room

Model/Writer

Yvonne: Aketch and I met while modeling in Capetown, South Africa. We were roommates for 3 months and I'm so excited to share a little bit of her journey with you, amidst the pandemic. Aketch is from #Uganda, a country in #EastAfrica. She is currently living in New York and she joined me on Saturday, May 2nd for a video chat.....

YH: First off, congratulations on signing with Select Models in London! Thank you for meeting with me and doing this interview for #AllShadesModel.

AJW: Of course! and thank you.

YH: With everything going on how are you keeping busy during this time?

AJW: I do quite a few things right now especially working on my channel (Aketch Joy on Youtube). I'm grateful I started this channel before this whole thing (#coronavirus).

So, I keep busy creating content, working out, cooking, keeping busy like that.

YH: How has your agency supported you during this time?

AJW: My agency has been quite supportive this season. Making sure I have enough supplies at the house and colleagues check on me. So I feel loved and I feel wanted.

YH: I love to hear that... are you missing home?

AJW: Of course, I miss home so much after #quarantine I'll be going home!

My agency has been quite supportive this season.... So I feel loved and I feel wanted.

YH: About payments....I read in an article that clients are calling the agencies to defer payments to models during this pandemic. Were you able to get paid from old jobs before the industry shut down?

AJW: Basically, you know we usually get #payments within a 3 month timeframe and everything. Even before this situation we have cases where 3 months come and there is still no check. So I feel like it didn't affect me.

YH: Right! It actually worked out that it takes so long to get paid because I'm getting checks now from months back. Now, when I need it most.

AJW: Haha yes, so it kinda worked out.

YH: How have you been emotionally?

AJW: Yeahhhh (shakes head) I believe everyone even the strongest has been a little down. The anxiety, the hopelessness, the fear. Actually when the whole thing started I was crying, I was really scared and worried. I just felt like I should be home with my family right now and I can't go home. But I coped, I adjusted and helped myself get my emotions together. At the end of the day if you can't help yourself no one (else) will. Even when you call and talk to people all day what about the rest of the time? You will still feel low. So I felt down for quite some time but I managed to get up and be hopeful, be happy and live my best life!

YH: That's amazing, it's definitely been challenging. You said immediately you felt down, but for me I was inspired immediately and later I felt down. So it helps to stay busy....

AJW: Yes, I think during this period our emotions and inner being is very important. What really drains us now the most is from the inside. So, if we keep our emotions strong then even when work starts again and we go through the same challenges of not booking, we can still stand strong because you've established yourself and have a strong emotional being.

YH: Hmm mm and that takes work. What is your agency asking you to do during the pandemic?

AJW: Well, like indoor pictures and #digitals. They are asking us to take pictures of how we are spending our quarantine. It's kind of hard especially by yourself. I have equipment but its still difficult.

I believe everyone even the strongest has been a little down. The anxiety, the hopelessness, the fear.

YH: I think it's important to keep planning. So tell me what are your goals for the rest of the year?

AJW: Well, I had my goals planned but now it will be quite tricky to achieve. I'm still working on it. I want to build my #brand as a person....so when everything gets back to normal or by the end of the year I can stand alone. I want to create a brand that I can work anywhere with freedom and have more control.

YH: What are you goals in the modeling industry specifically?

AJW: Every models dream is to do all those big runways and I'm still working on that, but most of all I want to stand for aspiring models out there. That's where I get the greatest satisfaction. I don't just want to wear the clothes and get the "bag" and go back home. I want to represent what I stand for and that is to blend #Christianity and modeling. I have so many friends that say, "Can you be a Christian and a model?" So, I want to represent both. God is the greatest #fashionista so I want to bring him more into the modeling industry.

YH: That pretty much covers my next question about what you want to represent and the energy you want to put out. We do end up becoming someone that aspiring models look up to and it's always important to know what you stand for...

AJW: Yes, it will help you not to be eatin' up by the industry. It gets so crazy, everyone wants you to act like them even the #agencies will want you to do what they want you to do. So its important to know what you represent and live up to it in every single way. I don't mean you have to hate other people or isolate yourself but just not letting what you believe in be taken away from you.

YH: What do you think of the future of the modeling industry?

AJW: I think it's going to be more #diverse in different ways. This situation has taught us so many things but the most important thing is that every single person is valuable. So the next time we get back to work maybe models will be more loving and more considerate of one another. Maybe people will realize, yes we need to get big brands and big shows but at the end of the day we need to take care of ourselves. Another thing is to put more value to life...we give up everything just to get what we (think) we want. I think it's going to be more #human.

YH: I hope it humbles everyone. And I think your right about it being more diverse and inclusive. We can find jobs independently and people can reach models directly. So, I think agencies will be more willing to work with their models in a collaborative effort.

AJW: This situation has taught us that we're all important. I think it will be more chill because sometimes it's just too much. Just too much! haha.

Maybe people will realize, yes we need to get big brands and big shows but at the end of the day we need to take care of ourselves.

YH: Hahaha yes. What is your theme this year?

AJW: Embracing #imperfections. I want my imperfections to work for my benefit. I think subconsciously we end up wanting to be like another person, to walk like another model... you know what I'm saying? So, I had to question myself like, what makes me different? What makes you stand out? So I wanted to start standing up for myself.

YH: Beautiful, thank you Aketch! One last question what's the last song you listened to?

AJW: Graves Into Gardens feat. Brandon Lake