19 Jan 2017

Talent comes in many forms and levels and for one to perfect theirs, hard work as well as determination are required.

This is what 19-year-old Thapelo Odirile knows and lives by.

Not only is he making his mark in the  entertainment industry as a model, but he is also showing his peers that there is more to life if one is determined to make their dreams come true.

Born and bred in Gaborone, Odirile is one of a few young male models who are living their childhood dreams. “Growing up I have always wanted to model but I somehow got discouraged because I felt I was not cut out for it so I let it go until I finished my Form 5. That’s when I started redeveloping interest in it,” he said.

Modeling, he says, is a skill that requires dedication and bravery especially if you are a male, and that he never knew he could be photogenic until he accidentally did a photo shoot with Artcapella, a local designer, and this was the day he realised that indeed he was born to be a model.

“I amazed even myself. I could not believe that it was me modeling those clothes on the photos. Everything about the photos was just amazing and the support I got from my family and friends from that day somehow pushed me to audition for Empire Model Management Botswana,” he says.

Odirile managed to impress at the auditions where he made it into the top 15 and eventually became the second male runner-up in the modeling competition. “I love fashion, it is my drug and I am using modeling as a way of expressing my love for fashion and everything that has to do with it,” he explains.

Although the modeling world may seem glamorous from outside, Odirile is quick to mention that models deal with a lot of challenges such as lack of opportunities in the local scene. “It is quite difficult to find a well-paying tender as a model and this is why most upcoming models end up giving up on their childhood dreams because as much as we love modeling, it does not bring food to the table,” he says.

Odirile however emphasised that he learnt to deal with these challenges head on as he decided to model not for the money but for the love of it. “As youth it is important for us to do the things we love so that we do not end up being involved in vices that can ruin our future,” he said.

Odirile has walked the ramp for many fashion shows but the ones that stand out were when he modelled for the Empire final runaway show, Eco fashion show and Party in the sky fashion show. He said this is where he felt his fan base had risen as the cheering he got when he appeared on stage was phenomenal.

Modeling is something Odirile believes he will do even 10 years from now. “I will keep to it for as long as I can, it’s my passion, it’s within me and it is something that I don’t ever see dying in me,” he says.

Although modeling is a career mostly dominated by women, Odirile added that this gives him hope as more and more males are showing interest in it. He said this gives him assurance that males are still marketable and wanted in the modeling industry.

“Males are somehow taking over and this gives the boy child hope of a better future and diversity in employment opportunities to explore and I would urge other males to pursue it if it is what they have been dreaming of,” he says.

In five years, Odirile sees a brighter future for himself and his career blossoming in other parts of the world to share his talent with other nations and show how talented Batswana are. BOPA