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How did you start modelling? It all started in the college in 2003, when I finished second in the Elite Model Search in Malaysia. As a matter of fact, modelling chose me. It never occurred to me that I could be one.


What is it like modelling internationally?

It’s been very interesting. I have come to love it.

Looking back, would you say it was a good thing that you relocated?

I am very grateful to God for where I am in modelling right now. I would rather give all the credit to God, because when I was picked to be a model, I didn’t look like a model. I had a pot belly and I looked very funny. For me to have been picked, I believe that the agencies and fashion designers saw a diamond in the rock; that after a while, I would become very great in the industry. I’m very grateful to God and thankful to the people I had around me, who encouraged me to do what I do.

How has it been since then?

It has been from grace to grace. But at the beginning, things were very rough, because people didn’t know me and I was in a country where I was a stranger. In the industry, the way things work is very different. You find yourself in the midst of these people and they are like, ‘Waoh, who is this one who is not a European but actually an African, a black skinned person.’ That put a lot of pressure on me as someone from Nigeria, because Nigerians don’t really enjoy a good reputation out there. So, even though I am from this part of the world and people think that Africans cannot do this, I have it at the back of mind that I’m representing my people and my race, even though I am alone. If I made it out there, I would be someone that my people would be proud of. So when I was walking my way through, I had lots of challenges with racism. Racism is even more pronounced when you go for an audition and you are the only black man. You have to audition for a job very many Europeans are coming for. One thing that amazes me is that in the midst of these Europeans, I would always land the job. That is something very extraordinary and I believe it is the grace of God. Some of them, when they look at me, the look on their faces tells me that this people don’t want me here. But I would always tell myself that I don’t care; I’m just going to do my job.

What motivates you to push through racism and discrimination?

I am someone who is pushed by challenges. Challenges give me more energy. I have been to places where even European models ask me, ‘Boy, how did you get here?’ And I’m like ‘I got here the same way you did.’ They are very surprised to see me on the same runway. Sometimes they ask some weird questions that don’t make any sense, and I would tell them that I’m a black model. I believe that whatever anyone in a very comfortable environment with all the facilities can achieve, even though I’m from a place that does not have all this, I can achieve it as well. I can go as far as I want to go; nobody can stop me. It doesn’t matter how much they look at me. They say, ‘Oh, look at this black man! Oh, that guy is black!’ I don’t allow that that to push me down. Instead, I keep my head above the water’s and try to encourage a lot of black people. I have seen a lot of black people coming to me and saying, ‘Can you show us how you did it?’ And I show them the way. I take them to agencies and tell them, ‘Where I’m taking you to, it is not going to be easy. In fact, I have walked into agencies where they kicked me out and asked me to leave because they didn’t want a black man. Some of them told me, ‘You know what, there’s no place here for a black man. Can you go to another country? They may have something for you.’ But in all this, I stood my ground and kept going. In fact, there are agencies I have gone twice. I would go the first time and they would kick me out. The second time, they take me in. That has been the journey. It is a journey of persistence. No matter what happens you, just keep knocking. So that has been the push. And when I sit there and think about where I come from, my very rough childhood, not having enough to eat and my family, and I think I can come back here and better the lives of people, it really encourages me to do what I do.

What does the public think about black models in Malaysia?

I think one of the things that make me happy is that when I go to a place, I don’t go as a person. I go in there as a Nigerian, and I’m very proud of our country. Since I started my modelling in Asia, I have never said oh, I wish I came from there. I’m very proud to be a black man and a Nigerian. I can always tell anybody that. Being a male model from Nigeria is very strange to some people, and because of that they treat you differently. Some are very negative towards you while others are very positive. That has been able to proof that there are some good Nigerians that are trying to put Nigeria on the world map. I believe that I have done my beat.

Are you the only black model in Malaysia?

This is not to say that I’m boastful, but in most cases, I’m the only black model around. For instance, I was the only black model that came second in the Elite Model Search Malaysia; the only black model to also appear on CNN in Malaysia. And in most of the categories, I’m always the only black model there. What a lot of Nigerians out there lack is encouragement, because when this segregation thing gets to them, they can’t go any further. So, it has not been easy at all. But so far, it has been a ride that has placed me alongside different people in different places—black, white and whatever colour or race.

As a professional model, do you consider yourself successful?

Not yet. But I believe that one can be successful in different ways. For instance, if you ask me whether I’m successful in financially, I have done so much job and been paid so much money. To some people, that is success of sorts. As for me, I believe that being able to grab this kind of portfolio from the part of the world I’m coming from, I think it is some level of success, because not a lot of us go there and come back with this kind of success. In terms of money, I believe the money will come when it will come.

What has been your highest pay so far as a professional model?

You know as an African model, a Nigeria model specifically, when you go to a place where you are called for a job, they look at you as a black man and they would like to capitalise on the fact that you are a person of a different colour. They bring your value down. That happens a lot. Sometimes I find out that I’m paid less than I’m supposed to be paid. When they see you coming in as a black model, they treat you differently in terms of pay. So it affects a whole lot of things. I thank God, whatever it is that I have been paid, be it a thousand dollars or more, I’m grateful to God that I have been able to do that. But I want to say this for the records: people out there should appreciate people with talent. When you see someone with talent, you should give him a chance. I’m also in the fight to stop racism wherever it is, be it Nigeria or elsewhere. Wherever somebody is coming from, whatever colour, if that person has what it takes to be whatever he wants to be in a certain field, that person should be given a chance.

What is your routine like?

My regular routine is exercise. Sometimes you have to discipline yourself to maintain your routine exercise, check your diet and eat some very good food. Living on eba will cause wahala. You have to take a lot of fruits and vegetables in between. And exercise is very important.

What is your normal day like?

If I don’t have places to go, I wake up in the morning and say my prayers. I do exercise. I‘m very creative when it comes to exercise. On a normal day, I go out for casting after exercise. I come back and relax. Relaxation is very important even when you don’t really have time for yourself and you are always on the road trying to find food to put on your table.

If not modelling, what would you have gone into?

I would have gone into music.

Why music?

Music is a talent that God gave me. I started in the church choir then and it’s been there. In fact, music is a part of me.

Does that mean you are a musician too?

Yes.

How many albums have you released?

I have not actually come up with an album yet. But I have recorded some songs. I have been doing some songs with a group called Moneygram in Malaysia. It is a group of three Nigerians. We have been able to record some songs. A track called Save Me, we recorded that in Malaysia. There is also a track called Sweet Tongue, it is a love song. One called Street is about our lifestyle here in Nigeria and the suffering we experience in Nigeria everyday.

Can you model nude for a million dollars?

Oh, that’s a very tempting question actually. A million dollars is a lot of money. For some of us that are still climbing the ladder of success, it can be very tempting to break our moral principles: what we were taught by the church or our parents. It is very tempting. Maybe, maybe not.

In what circumstance then would you pose nude?

There are different levels of nudity. If I am given some degree of coverage and protection, I would. There is nudity that has to do with art. I did a series for Limcock University in Malaysia and it was exhibited in the national art gallery of Malaysia. I was actually nude, because it was for the right reason. It was art and nothing else. It was not used for pornographic reasons. People who have moral value are the ones that appreciated it as art and nothing else. For the purpose of art, for the fulfilment of art, I will do it. As an artist, I did it and feel comfortable with it and be happy that what I have done is not for any wrong reason but for reasons of art, because it is God that gave us the talent and skills. So, for that reason, the ability to be able to work out and have a nice body is not from us. I believe that because of where I come from, I was very skinny with my stomach coming out. After a while, I saw a very spectacular turn from a very skinny kid with a pot belly to an international model. I think it is something and I thank God for that. So, for the right reasons I will do it.

What are some of the jobs you have done so far?

There are categories of job s that I have done. I have worked for NEC Computers and the advert came out in Time magazine in eleven countries, including Europe and America. I have done stuffs for Guinness Malaysia, Panasonic, Mini Cooper, the advert was on the Internet in seven countries. I have also modelled for the Central Bank of Malaysia. I have a fashion spread, an editorial fashion spread in Peak magazine, one of the most prestigious magazines in Malaysia. I have done stuff for Malaysia International Financial Centre, and I have modelled for a telecom company in Malaysia called Cell Com. I have done a telecommunication commercial for Exim Bank in Singapore, Dubai Towers, CNN Runway Fashion Show in 2006. The list goes on and on.

What is the meaning of Keyon’dre, because it is not the name that your parents gave you?

Yeah, it is not a Nigerian name. It means man of wisdom.

How did you come about that?

It is a name I researched. When I saw the meaning, I was very inspired by it. I thought it could be part of my name. It is different and cool.

What is your real name then?

The real name my parents gave me is Eneh Okon Peter Bassey.

How was growing up like?

Oh, this is very interesting. I grew up in different parts of Akwa Ibom State. My dad was a pastor. We had to move from one place to another within three years. It was fun being a child, because as you are growing up, you really don’t know what it is to face hardship. All you do is sit down, wake up and expect food. But when you begin to grow up, you realise that you are not supposed to be going to your parents to beg for five Naira or ten Naira to buy this or that. You start going out on your own to make your own money. Then I started to know that knowing that life is not easy, and actually, It was not easy at all for me as a person. Things were very rough and I had to go and play drums during vigils and burials to make some money for myself so that I could buy clothes and take care of myself in the Polytechnic in Calabar. I did not enjoy much luxury because my dad was not on that level of being able to give us all the luxury that we needed. But he was a man of integrity, which is the part of him that I miss most.

What prompted your travelling out?

As a child, I had this dream to be outside the country. But while in school, my friend came to me with an opportunity to study in Malaysia. I embraced it, thinking I could work while studying. When we got there, we realised one couldnot work in Malaysia as a student. That was the first bad news. Secondly, some of them were just seeing a black man for the first time, so it was difficult to be in that kind of environment.

Why are you In Nigeria?

I am on vacation. Moreover, I have not been in the country in the last five years. A lot of changes have taken place here. You know home is home, no matter what. Since I came in, a lot of people have been suggesting one project or the other, and I am very comfortable with that. I love what I have seen so far in Nigeria. The entertainment industry here is booming. I will be performing with other artistes. Also, I am looking for an opportunity to tell the youths that getting into vices is the wrong way to go.