Joram Muzira is SatisfashionUG’s ‘Person of the Year’

A star maker

Joram Muzira Job, the creative director of Joram Model Management, is Satisfashion UG’s ‘Person of the Year’. His track record boasts of discoveries like Akello Patricia, Angair and Achan Biong, Lamich Kirabo, Akello Joy Winnie, Adit Priscilla and so many more recognizable faces.

See a few excerpts below:

“This has been my year, I have to admit,” Joram comments, and indeed it has. From taking multiple models into the international modelling circuit, attending fashion week – no, fashion month, as well as producing what is arguably Africa’s biggest fashion award show, it’s a wonder how he gets a moment to breathe. Not to mention the number of modelling masterclasses he hosted, scouting exercises as well as hosting his Star Maker show.

“I strongly believe that dreams are valid now. Before, it was more or less like, ’Oh my God, I pray this happens for me; I pray one day fashion changes for the better,’ but I feel like this particular year has been a big manifestation of those dreams. When you put in the work, the consistency, and passion, it pays off. I imagine 10 years ago; I was a little boy dreaming that one day fashion is going to change in this country. I’m super happy that 10 years later, people respect the industry.”

“Every time I see the girls and boys that show up for castings and even the ones who just constantly text or send DM’s, I put myself in their shoes. I remember that one day I was that person,” he tells me. His ten-year journey to the top of the fashion industry is one paved with rejection and redirection. He started out wanting to be a model, but at the time, the look most agencies were going for was a far cry from his own. He tried to pivot and audition for Big Brother Africa, but even that was met with resistance. This didn’t stop him from trying to make a difference anyway he knew how, and along the way he found his niche nurturing and managing models.

This doesn’t stop him from having to reject others though. “I’m always quick to say no, because to be realistic, I hate to lie, or give them false hope. If you don’t have it, I’m very quick to tell you that ‘sorry you’re not exactly what we’re looking for.’ But alongside that, I always tell them not to give up. I tell them my story so that they understand that dreams are valid, but you also have to put in the work.”