{"id":124505,"date":"2021-03-22T14:59:13","date_gmt":"2021-03-22T13:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=124505"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:30","slug":"model-sabienne-i-want-to-inspire-your-girls-who-are-going-through-the-same-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/03\/22\/model-sabienne-i-want-to-inspire-your-girls-who-are-going-through-the-same-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Model Sabienne: \u2018I want to inspire young girls who are going through the same struggle\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Econometrics student Sabienne Asare was a medallist at Melanin Wonder, a modelling contest designed to \u2018provide people of colour with a stage\u2019. Sabienne was the runner-up in the \u2018commercial\u2019 category. She is determined to continue her career in the fashion industry. \u201cI really like that the Melanin Wonder platform promotes cultural diversity and that it uses this contest to put a spotlight on dark-skinned women,\u201d says Sabienne.<\/p>\n

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Sabienne Assare<\/span><\/p>

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Sabienne calls herself a \u2018mix of cultures\u2019. After all, she grew up in The Hague, the product of an Antillean mother and a Ghanese father. Despite her multi-cultural background, she grew up in a white environment. \u201cThat wasn\u2019t a problem in itself, but I did always feel different from everyone else. When I looked around, there was no one who looked like me.\u201d<\/p>\n

But now the girl who was once very insecure about her looks is beaming during our Zoom call. \u201cNow I\u2019m actually happy with the colour of my skin,\u201d she says, full of self-confidence. \u201cI\u2019ve learned that as long as you remain true to yourself and work hard, you can do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Refusal to conform to stereotype <\/h2>

So why did Sabienne, a beginner model, choose to take part in a modelling contest specifically for people of colour, rather than a major nation-wide competition? \u201cI used to wonder if I should take part in a modelling contest like Holland\u2019s Next Top Model. But what I was seeing was that dark-skinned women often had their heads shaved. There\u2019s this idea out there that bald dark-skinned models are more likely to succeed in the modelling industry, because shaved heads properly show off the shape of our faces. But I don\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Actually, Sabienne is keen to overcome this stereotype. \u201cDark-skinned women can do various things with their hair, something that unfortunately isn\u2019t given much attention in the modelling industry. I\u2019d like to show off our original culture, precisely by emphasising our various hair styles as a model.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspiring young girls<\/h2>

Since she grew up in a white environment, Sabienne will be the first to tell you that representation matters. \u201cStarting from primary school, I was always the only dark-skinned pupil at my school or in my form. Even now I\u2019m the only dark-skinned student at my department,\u201d she says. \u201cBecause I didn\u2019t have a role model, my self-image was a little skewed. So now I hope to inspire dark-skinned girls who may be going through the same struggle I myself used to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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