Intelligent, witty and five feet ten inches of smooth charm, meet South African model Phoebe, a closet artist, who hopes to work for animal welfare in the future.
By Asmita Aggarwal
Ten years from now England-born debutant at AIFW SS 16, Phoebe hopes to be on a yacht, well…tanning. But the South Africa raised stunner as a kid was too shy to ever think of taking up modelling as a career, but with a father who was a producer, this seemed impossible. So she won her first TVC at the age of 13 and her first paying job, again a TVC for Nokia at 16 and by 18, she was travelling all over the world doing fashion shows.
My dad got me my first job and after that I requested him to get me an agent, as offers were pouring in. Education always came first for us as a family, so after school, I took up a correspondence course and today I have done two films (Tamil and Hindi). Who knew I would get this far? she smiles.
Modelling didnt pose a serious challenge for Phoebe, as she is blessed with a small built, and has never had any battles with the bulge, but what remains a hurdle is night shoots, which she avoids, but counts patience as her biggest virtue. You have to report for hair and make-up sometimes at 4 am in the morning and wait for three hours for a shoot to even begin. It requires equanimity to deal with the pressures of modelling. And I dont complain and have learnt to entertain myself with music or a good bestseller, she grins.
Counting Liya Kebede, the Ethiopian model as her inspiration, Phoebe loved Gemma Ward while growing up, till she disappeared and had kids and of course the Brazilian eye-popper Isabeli Fontana, who took the world by storm. I was greatly influenced by the book Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad, an autobiography of Somali model Waris Dirie. The book was also made into a movie by the same name, where Liya played her role, she remembers.
Though there is more to Phoebe than just a 24 inch waist, her witty repartees, quick humour and easy smile which make you fall in love with her instantly. As she will tell you that boys on bikes will come out of nowhere and help give you directions, even though they have no idea themselves where the destination is. In India people are nice, in China you work for straight four hours before you are even asked for a cup of tea. Indians are warm, helpful and embrace you with open arms, she laughs.
Observing catwalk reigning models Sonalika Sahay and Laxmi Rana, Phoebe says that to be a successful model you dont just need perfect face or body, what is essential is the right attitude. No one wants to work with nasty girls or tantrum queens. I see Sonalika and Laxmi and they are known for their professionalism and treat it like a job. They look after their skin, hair and health which is crucial, she affirms.
A budding ceramist, Phoebe has enrolled in pottery classes, an artform which has remained a passion, something that she picked up in school and never pursued due to hectic travelling. Now that I am based in Mumbai, I have more time and making sculptures greatly interests me. Though I would like to do two things—animal rescue and their rehabilitation and also work for the environment and urge people to recycle waste. Or maybe work in a chimpanzee sanctuary, she laughs.