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Patricia Akello Talks ‘Pakello’, Her Swimwear Brand, Working as a Black Model from Uganda and So Much More
Not many models manage to stay relevant in a highly competitive business for years. Ugandan model Patricia Akello is counting 8 years as a working model, a job that has seen her travel to almost every part of the world, working with some of the most high-heeled brands in the business. The ‘Fenty Beauty’ model talks to Satisfashion UG about her swimwear brand called ‘Pakello’ plus everything else she’s been up to.
You started ‘Pakello’, your own swimwear brand during lockdown. How was that experience?
I started the brand during lockdown because I didn’t have anything to do to keep myself busy. I thought that a swimwear line would be an exciting venture. Whilst I don’t have any professional training in design and business management, I thought it wise to leverage my years and experience working in this business. Besides, it has always been a dream for me to be a Victoria’s Secret model, how about starting something like that back home?
Basically you realized that dream through Pakello..
Yes! Definitely not on Victoria Secret’s level but on one, where we can have things like Swimwear Week Miami back home. We have beautiful beaches and equally beautiful people to match, I believe this brand is perfect for our market.
You also hinted on it being a possible plan B
True! As a model you must have a plan B. You just can’t model forever because at some point, just like we learnt during lockdown, things can flip over in a second.
When I started Pakello I wasn’t looking for money, I was just pushing myself. I realized I had the potential, but there’s of course been challenges. I literally do everything myself. Over time, I’ve learned that it’s not okay to run a business like that. Creating a solid team to work with is my number one priority right now, but also no one is pushing me, I’ll take my time to learn, unlearn and re-learn.
You’ve been a model for a while now, have you found your niche?
Yes! Usually, you start by doing everything; runway, editorials, look books and everything else as you figure out what works for you. For my case, I realized that there’s not much money in these things. So, right now I’m not doing runway. It’s amazing to do runway because people get to see you but there’s no money there, you cant survive on just exposure. I’m doing a lot of commercial work, high fashion, e-commerce, beauty and jewelry work.
As a model how do you zero down to what works for you?
You can do anything you desire. The question is, can you survive on it? I’m really lucky I have the look and features to do other things. Some models cannot. The word is, “they are too fierce.” You know, when you are ‘too fierce’ you are suited mainly for runway.
Thank you for bringing this up. Do model scouts look out for such details as they are scouting new faces?
No! No one has everything, you cant have everything. There are people who have bad feet yet they are pretty everywhere else. You just cant have it all. It really depends on what you can do best.
What does it mean being a black model in the industry today?
It’s not easy some times. You get to a show and they only need like two black models. They’ve since increased the number to five. Why are they giving us only five spots? Like literally out of 100 models they need just 5 black models.
The other issue is about products because the products are made for more light skinned bodies and I’m very dark. Brands are trying to create more but what people don’t know is that we have different shades of black. I recently did a campaign for a brand and they used the darkest foundation on me and it wasn’t my shade. It was their darkest, but it was two shades lighter than me. You get on set and can’t tell the client that this isn’t my shade because they’ll be like you are being too hard to work with.
Is it easier for established black models?
(Laughs) We only have like 5 established black models
Let’s talk about work. What are you working on currently?
I have my clients. I’m doing a lot of beauty. As you grow, the body changes too. I’m lucky that I have kept some clients for a while now.
I believe working in beauty comes with some pressure to look perfect. What happens when you get a breakout when there’s a job to do?
The only thing to do is to first sit back and not panic. Sit back, relax and work on that one thing. If it’s the skin, you have to watch what you eat because no cream will fix it.
You’ve talked about body changes as you get older, how do you deal with that? Because it definitely impacts your work.
It’s not easy but you tell the casting agent in a polite manner that your body is changing and they should understand. You keep fit to maintain your bracket shape. Definitely there will be clients looking out for your shape. Lately, the market has changed. There are a lot more sizes available than there were before. Now any one can be a model because specifications have now changed to like 5’10, all you have to do is to tell the agency and maybe talk to the client and they’ll adjust.
Do models really get free stuff from designers?
I mean to some extent it’s true, but of late, due to the times and all, designers are also struggling, its not easy but they do give us free stuff. For example if it’s a sample sale they give you like 70-80% discount, so they give us some discounts here and there but of course not everyone, its just clients that you usually work with and you know every well .
Anything memorable you ever got from a designer?
OMG I got a Schiaparelli suit. I’m sure if I sold it right now, I’d make some good money because it’s really expensive. I checked online and I was in awe.
How often have you worn the suit?
I don’t even know where to wear it, because they gave it to me to wear to an event. They were launching in New York. After the event, they asked me to keep it. That was it, I’ve never worn it again.
What your biggest career lesson from so far?
The biggest lesson I’ve got is to love myself. Love yourself so much that even the world cannot shake you. I’ve grown to love myself more than anyone can love me. Even if my hair can be considered the worst, I’ll still tell you how beautiful it is. I don’t have to comb and many people strive to have my ‘Kaweke’ hair. When you love yourself, you see yourself as a very unique being. When Fenty is looking for dark skinned models, they are going to look for me. I love myself so much that it can be irritating like there are some things I can wear like a neon green shirt and every one will stare at me. But can you do the same?
Do you ever get home sick? What do you do when that happens?
Yeah! I mean I get home sick sometimes, that’s why when anyone is coming to New York from Uganda, I tell them to bring me something from home. I miss home so much but when you think about why you are there, you hold on. Yes, I miss home, I miss my family but I need to earn a living so that I can have a comfortable life.
What’s in the future, do you plan to permanently move back?
Future plans I don’t know what the future holds for me, I don’t look so far ahead, but my plan for now is to build all these personal projects in order to have something going on for me back home. In Africa women aren’t given these opportunities. I’d like to explore all available opportunities.
You come off as a very grounded person. And you have been this way even before you landed success.
It costs nothing to be humble, but its costs you something to be rude to people. I’m a deep thinker, I think about who I may have hurt or wronged. I feel bad when that happens. It costs nothing for you to be nice to people. You wake up happy. Also, why do I have to change?
This interview has been edited and condensed.
satisfashionug@gmail.com
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