Senior High Cycle 4: Model Bootcamp - WINNER ANNOUNCED

Assignment 4 - Promotional Party


The night had come for the big party. At least one parent had to come with each teen as a chaperone. "I wonder who will be there?" Sabi's voice rose in pitch.
"I know you're excited Hun, so am I. Someone will recognise your natural beauty, Sabi wait and see."

"I'm so nervous What should I wear?"

"That gorgeous apricot gown that ayeeyo (grandma) made you."

When we arrived everyone seemed to be sparkling. Under the bright chandelier's people's jewellry glittered like a thousand stars. Several mixed cultures were there, which made me feel more comfortable. I recognised some big names in the fashion world but they drank champagne and seemed wrapped up in their own world.

I felt a nudge in my ribs. I turned and saw mum smiling at me.
"Well go, Sabi, you were told to mingle, go and speak to someone."

"But I--"

"Sabi, go!" She shuffled me off just as someone came up behind her. A handsome middle-aged African man tucked my mum's arm in his. I overheard him offer to get her a drink. She looked back at me and raised her eyebrows. After a while it hit me, it was Duro Olowu from N.igeria. Michelle Obama is one of his clients. Oh, great, Mum gets a hit from a famous fashion designer and I'm left here standing alone. I scanned the room to see if I recognised any other top fashion designers, but no more than I'd seen earlier stood out. I turned to go over to the non-alcoholic punch that was there for the teenagers and nearly knocked a glass out of a woman's hand.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my bad, I wasn't looking." A hot flush spread throughout my body and my face burnt.

"Dont worry about it, sweetheart, I was coming over to chat to you anyway."

"Oh, you were?" the woman was also from African descent but she talked in an American accent. She had long dark hair and her large brown eyes were warm and friendly.

"Let me introduce myself--" Before she could finish, another woman came up.

"What are you up to, dear sister? Recruiting without consulting me? shame on you." They both laughed. Then it hit me they were identical! Except for their hair style and clothing. They both wore bright patterned outfits, but one had a short dress and the other a two-piece suit with a crop top and a pencil skirt that stopped just above her knees.

"Don't be so rude, Idyl, this young lady is waiting for an introduction. My name is Ayaan and my rude sister over there is Idyl. We are the Mataano sisters. Our surname is actually Mohallim but we are known as the Mataano sisters."

"Really? That is the name of your label isn't it? I remember reading about you. Mataano means twins, which you two obviously are, and your fashion is multicultural. You're the twins Oprah Winfrey contacted via Skype to invite you onto her show titled "Young Millionaire Moguls."

"Well, I'm impressed, you have done your homework, and your name is..." Idyl asked.

"Oh I'm sorry, how rude of me my name is Sabi Chandra and I'm from Mali." Sabi went red again.

"That's fine, now we're even," she replied winking.

"Now, young Sabi," Aayan began. "We are looking for attractive, young African models to begin our multicultural line of clothing and..."

Idyl finished her sister's sentence. "...we think you would be a perfect fit for this line of young, in trend casual wear."

"Yes, we are beginning in Africa, so we'd like you to leave us a mobile number and email address where we can reach you." Aayan finished.

"Me, really? I...I mean thank you, I would be honoured. May I ask where are you based?" I got out my phone and gave them the information they required.

"We're based in WashingtonDC but our roots are in Somalia. Unfortunately we had to re-locate to escape the civil war several year ago," Idyl said.

"Before you go, we would like to have our photographer take a shot of us with you, is that okay?"

"Of course." I didn't even have time to get into a fashion pose and the camera flashed. Then they were gone. My head was still spinning and it had not yet hit home that they had asked me to model some of their latest fashion.

I researched them on the internet and found out that after their appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show the attention brought a huge national buzz to their brand and attracted enthusiastic attention from the press including, Vogue Italia, Arise Magazine, Essence Magazine, CNN International and numerous other magazines and blogs. (see spoiler)

I could not believe my luck. They were down to earth, friendly and funny. Every time they chatted they always finished off each other's sentences, but they were not at all like some of the stuffy upshots you often see in the fashion industry.


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