Quarantine Didn’t Stop Tukei Malinga Jackson From Pursuing His Dream!

Tukei Malinga Jackson describes himself as ‘offensively funny’, he was pursuaded into modeling by friends, and he just got placed with Independent Models Milan. In this chat, he talks about his dreams and what it means to chase a dream during quarantine.

Describe yourself

My name is Tukei Malinga Jackson. A typical Uganda cocktail of an Etesot father and a Munyoro mother. I was born and raised up here in Kampala in a nuclear family of about ten biological siblings. I am a university student. I’m signed to Joram Model Management, and now Independent Model Management in Milan. Besides modeling, I have a lot of things I like. I like listening to loud music, hanging out with friends and doing aerobics.

At what point did you realize you could have a shot at modeling?

I started off in the pageant world of fashion in December 2018, when I unknowingly got registered for a pageant by some anonymous person I don’t know up-to date. It took a little persuasion from friends for me to attend the auditions and then, fast forward I won the Mr. MADS title. It did not take me long to realize my passion was more into modeling than pageantry.

What course are you pursuing at university?

I am a third year university student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and management. It is a career I have always trailed from childhood. I made up my mind at an early age to be an engineer and I am following up that dream.

How are you keeping yourself creative during quarantine?

Modeling is one of the most creative industries with new content being thrown in each time. So one is either going to be left out or they have to keep up with the trend. To me, this quarantine is the perfect time to contribute a lot to one’s career. Personally, I am thinking outside the box and reaching out to different photographers and designers. So far, I just concluded a high fashion photoshoot with Fred Bugembe and designer Kaijuka Abbas. Although it is not for the faint-of-heart since it involves kilometers of movements from our domiciles to designers stores and then studios on foot.

Also, I am constantly on the internet and the gram checking out what new content fashion houses are bringing out and making sure I am either adjusting to that or learning a thing or two.
And then, I like relating to international models a lot. There are times I am keeping awake the whole night talking to models that have walked great shows. So basically that’s what I am doing for now.

Who is your role model?

Oh, I really have never looked at a specific personality and adored them. I grew up in a society where it was hard for a child’s views and ideas to be shaped and taken serious. So I did not really look at anyone and say to myself that I wanted to be like them. This embedded in me a mindset that I could be anyone I wanted if I believed in myself. And until now, the picture of a model I want to be…I don’t have it.

Do you have a special talent?

I think people who know me really well enjoy being around me simply because I am un-offensively funny. I love being happy with people and so I naturally find my self making them laugh at most of the times and at the end of it all they don’t look at me like a clown. It is a talent to me, since not so many people can be me.

How do you feel about getting placed with Independent models?

I am very excited and thankful to God. I cannot wait to work on the international platform. On different occasions, I have set resolutions and work towards accomplishing them. When I don’t accomplish these resolutions, normally I aim higher. At some point, I aimed at working on the regional platform. Starting from home, I have been involved in shoots with one of Kampala’s amazing photographers Banji Bagwana. I had also [after informing my agent] planned to go to Nairobi and Kigali to shoot with their photographers and designers. So we were in touch with different designers who had been positive until this pandemic shot in. And then I had resolved to reach the international platform, and God has been faithful. So in all this, I am seeing God’s hand. Because it takes God, to be appreciated by fashion icons like Joram Muzira (models understand this better). So to me, this international placement is because God has been faithful along the way.

satisfashionug@gmail.com