Modeling in Tanzania is a relative new profession and has been misjudged often to be a promiscuous job. It has taken time to gain some acceptance within the society. But what makes things more difficult has been the more modern clothes that are often short or revealing. For instance, posing in a swimsuit could be deemed ‘immoral’ or ‘loose’, and may even result in the family exerting influence on models to stop modeling. Swimsuits have slowly become more acceptable in everyday and also in magazines although tolerance is still very little in the case of local models.
(Miranda Kerr)
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But then there is another issue that arises from modeling especially abroad in more advanced economies. Revealing body parts in a suggestive manner is acceptable to a certain part without such poses to be regarded as pornographic or immoral.
(Cindy Crawford)
However such requests is unacceptable for many of us models from Africa as just revealing your upper leg was a struggle. The stigma associated with slightly revealing photo has already conditioned many of us to be cautious and highly uncomfortable with such poses. The most acceptable cut is mid thighs and very rarely bikini for professional purposes like portfolio. However to expose breasts for example even if cupped by hands is not something that would come easily.
(Naomi Campbell)
Even if African models push the boundaries but this may a boundary that is too far and too dangerous, as at the end of the day we still keep in touch with our families and the stigma in our home countries remain. So many questions, possible scenarios and assumptions race through our minds that it becomes like a burden to many of us and we opt to decline such offers.
(Naomi Campbell)
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Such struggles have also meant a probable loss of i
