Godfrey Mutebi, a Ugandan model living with albinism is not here to prove himself. “I’m just as good as everybody else,” she emphasizes.
Mutebi started out in 2017 after high school, after meeting with Michelle Omamteker of Malengo Foundation. “She says she was impressed by my personal style,” he shares. She immediately invited him to Malengo Foundation’s annual fashion event ‘Hot Pink Fashion Show’ to walk as a model.
“It wasn’t easy because I had no experience at all,” the 3rd year student of Psychology at Makerere University remembers. “It was such a rewarding experience seeing people of all different abilities and skin tones on the same runway.” He gathered his confidence and walked the runway.
This show opened a stream of opportunities for him, as he has since gotten ‘a little bit of recognition’, “which I’m still very grateful for because It’s such a cutthroat industry,” he shares.
He has appeared in look books for Eguana Kampala and Mutara Bloom of Mutara Brenda. He has also worked with celebrated model coach, Joram Muzira on a number of projects.
This, has however not come without challenges. “People have all sorts of perceptions about you. Getting judged because of my look is like a norm,” he explains. “I would like everyone to know that I’m not very different from you. I can pretty much do everything you can do, probably even better,” he pauses.
“But, you need to give me a chance.”
Mutebi stresses the need to create more awareness to the population that disability is not inability.
Being 5’9, his dream to create a name as big as famous models like Sanele Xaba, Shaun Ross and Leo Jonah.
“I’m confident that my star will shine, I’m therefore not holding back even for a bit.”
Photos by Gerald Ochieng
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This story was produced in collaboration with Weren’t Born Rich. Weren’t Born Rich (WBR) is a community interest company focused on empowering and creating awareness on social issues that affect the youth. Support them by shopping their collection here.
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