Since its launch, ISIS Models has become a leading force in Nigeria and Africa’s modeling industry. Joan Okorodudu, the brain behind the rising agency has a portfolio that reads like no other. She is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, ex-beauty queen, cosmetologist, former athlete and psychiatrist. This September Okorodudu, along with other top Nigerian designers, will showcase her latest designs at Couture Fashion Week while her models will strut the runway at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
Her dedication, passion and drive to put the budding Nigerian fashion industry on the global fashion map earns her Ladybrille®Nigeria Personality of the Month for September, 2009. In this interview, she talks passionately about her fashion businesses, models and her determination to succeed!
LadybrilleNigeria: You are well known in Africa’s fashion industry, particularly in Nigeria and South Africa (SA) but could you briefly tell our readers more about yourself. Who is Joan Okorodudu?
Joan Okorodudu: I was born on October 28, 1958, making me 51 this October. I am the first daughter of Chief Morgan Elumelu of Onicha Olona. I graduated from the prestigious Boston University in Massachusetts with a degree in political science. As you already know, I am the owner of ISIS Models Johannesburg (ISISmodels.org), which has become the leading modeling agency for young black girls in Africa as evidenced by the number of jobs that we do, especially at any Fashion Week in Africa. I created Nigeria’s Next Super Model (nigeriasnextsupermodel.com). I have been married for 27 years and I have a son.
LadybrilleNigeria: How did you get started in the fashion industry?
Joan Okorodudu: I have been in the fashion industry since 1991 when I opened my first shop “Euro Afrique” in Wilmington, Delaware. I eventually came back to Nigeria and started other businesses. In April 2007, I launched my first collection in Nigeria and named it the House of j’OLA. The name is a combination of my name and my husband’s name. Jo comes from my name and ola from “Tsola,” my husband’s name.
LadybrilleNigeria: How was the ISIS Models concept conceived?
Joan Okorodudu: Believe it or not ISIS was conceived out of desperation. I wanted an agency my models could be signed to after Nigeria’s Next Super Model just like it is done in other model competitions around the world. I was interested in having my models signed to a particular agency that has a lot of black models. We went back and forth on email, I went to South Africa and had meetings, and made so many calls and it was like I was begging them to take a good product.
I approached a second agency and the same thing happened. So I flew my girls to Johannesburg on a fact finding trip during South Africa Fashion Week. It was there we met the owner of an agency and he asked “who are these girls?” I explained that these were the girls that we were supposed to send to them and he was like “wow I need you to go to my office, we need to talk.” I knew then that we had good sets of models and they deserved to be seen. On our way to the agency I looked at my girls and my manager and said, “let us go and set up our own agency.”
After debating over a few names, we decided to name it ISIS Models. ISIS is from my name, Isioma. That was the beginning of this great journey. So far I have booked models for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Couture Fashion Week, Island of the World Bahamas, Berlin Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. My model, Olubunmi Ademokoya won best model of the world and best national costume 2007, and has already walked the runway in New York, Paris, Cape Town, Durban, Sanlam, Arise Cape Town, and Arise Joburg. She has modeled for reputable designers like Dany Atrache, David Tlale, Andre Aquino, and Elie Saab.
LadybrilleNigeria: What has made ISIS Models so successful within the short period of time it has been around?
Joan Okorodudu: It has been tough determination and God. We have been discriminated against in so many ways but that’s for another interview.
LadybrilleNigeria: What is the next big move for the agency? By that I mean, what other world-class fashion events would you like to participate in?
Joan Okorodudu: We have done Paris and everywhere. I would like to do Brazil Fashion Week and of course start ISIS model search world wide
LadybrilleNigeria: In every business, obstacles are ever-present, what is the toughest challenge you have faced so far?
Joan Okorodudu: The toughest challenge is that of discrimination against Nigerian models. For instance, considering that Nigerian models are top in South Africa, during the Arise show Nigerians were given less opportunities. It was painful because Arise is practically Nigerian. We also have seen how other models are flown from all over to do Arise shows and when you see the models they bring they are not as good as the Nigerians.Bunmi Ademokoya was booked for Arise New York Fashion Week, she went for casting with my other models and she was picked. She went and fitted for Tiffany Amber and it was a shock when she and Agbani Darego were dropped from the show. No other group of people will allow their own people to be treated that way. I don’t see why Nigeria’s “Miss World” and the winner of “Best Model of the World” can be dropped for other models especially for shows that are (produced) by a Nigerian. It is our biggest obstacle. (Nigerian) models are demoralized and it is affecting them.
LadybrilleNigeria: When you scout for a model, what specific qualities do you look for? What is the thought process in selecting a new model? Do you envision a particular designer or a particular product?
Joan Okorodudu: I look for girls with very distinct features like good high cheek bones and a very lean look, especially if they have to do shows worldwide. You have to be a size 6 maximum.
LadybrilleNigeria: What makes African models distinctive from models from other parts of the world?
Joan Okorodudu: The models from Africa are very stunning. Their skin is their best assets. The dark ones and the light ones all have their unique assets.
LadybrilleNigeria: Who are your top female models at the moment?
Joan Okorodudu: Olubunmi Ademokoya, Amaka Chira, Isi Atagamen, Cynthia Omorodion, Tinuade Adejokun, Eno Akpan, Tayo Ishola , Faith Amadi, Omoye Eromosele, and Uzodinma. I have some Russians who will be joining ISIS soon. We are looking at making ISIS an international brand.
LadybrilleNigeria: What is the driving force behind your passion for the modeling industry?
Joan Okorodudu: My passion is driven by the fact that I was once a model and I will continue to do this forever.
LadybrilleNigeria: There’s an on-going trend of talented Nigerian models migrating to South Africa (SA) and other parts of the world to pursue their career. According to critics, this trend is hampering the development of the Nigeria’s fashion industry. What is your view on this trend?
Joan Okorodudu: Blame the big corporations in Nigeria that have killed the modeling industry. I want to see reverse migration. I want our industry to do our jobs here so as to allow our models to live in Nigeria. If other corporations can use models like the “Glow Ambassadors” do, we will not have our models leaving Nigeria and getting discriminated against.
Our models from Nigeria are keeping the South African fashion industry going. From Arise Africa Fashion Week to all the adverts, from MTN to Zain, the models are Nigerians. It is very sad.
LadybrilleNigeria: As a Nigerian whose modeling agency is based in SA, in what ways do you think you have impacted Nigeria’s fashion industry?
Joan Okorodudu: I have done well. I have taken girls from this country and now they are globetrotting. I have invested my hard earned money in this venture and I get emails from young girls blessing me. Out of 13 Nigerians that modeled at Arise Africa, 8 were my models. It has been great.
In December, we are starting International Fashion Week in Tinapa, Calabar, to enable young girls and boys to have their own. With that, even when they are in South Africa they can say we have our Fashion Week too. I can tell you that I will rather have our models in Africa than in model houses in America or Europe where they are extorted and not every black model gets booked. What I want to see is models living a better life in Africa than they can ever live in any other part of the world. My models live in the exclusive part of Johannesburg and in a house with swimming pool and gated area.
I have tried and I beg God to help me to do more. Right now we want to focus more on sending winners to Fashion Weeks worldwide instead of just competitions, and so winners of this year’s Nigeria’s Next Super Model will grace New York Fashion Week and South Africa Fashion Week.
LadybrilleNigeria: Apart from ISIS Models, we know about your clothing line: House of j’OLA. Could you familiarize our readers with other enterprises you are involved with?
Joan Okorodudu: I am also the MD/CEO of International Business Consortium Nigerian Limited. I won the econet dealer of the year 2001. I founded Lagos Ageless Clinique (lagosagelessclinique.com). I produce my own cream and soap, Nature’s Enzyme Soap, which has become very popular. I am the creative director of House of j’OLA ( www.houseofjola.com). It is good to note that I was the 3rd leg of the African record holder of the Nigerian team in the 4X400 metres (meter) relay in Stuttgart, Germany 1980. I won the Lady Gator relays three years in a row 1979, 1980, 1981. I was runner up in the prestigious Penn relays in 1980 and an Olympian. I was also Miss Nigeria Kaduna 1981 and first runner up Miss Nigeria 1981.
LadybrilleNigeria: What fun activities do you do to relieve the stress that comes with running multiple businesses?
Joan Okorodudu: I relax by going to Ghana, the Upper Volta region and sometimes just by watching TV.
LadybrilleNigeria: Thank you for your time and congrats on being our Personality of the Month!
Joan Okorodudu: Thank you so much for making me your personality of the month. You are doing a great job. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
~Interview by Elfonnie Inokon
~Photocredits: Isis Models, Simon Deiner/SDR, Joan Okorodudu
A running feature for 12 years on Ladybrille.com, The ‘Ladybrille Woman of the Month’ celebrates women in business and leadership, who empower themselves and others through their contributions and actions in their local and international communities. In 2014, the feature expanded to include a podcast show. If you would like to nominate a woman to be celebrated, please email [email protected].
Ma,am happy to hear about online but pls ma i love to be among your girls as a model.i wish to get your personal e-mail id or phone number. hope to hear from you soon ma. thanks ma.
Wow i just saw this and i was not in Nigeria when this happened and going through this marcia girl’s writing i figured she did not do this alone.This is a well planned out event of a disgruntled girl and i am ashamed to even think that those in the modeling world in nigeria did not speak up at the time it happened.
1 i have been in the fashion industry and just trying the waters of nigeria and what i found out is a lot of back biting and subversive games going around.
Lets face it in the modeling world even in new york we have models living in 10 in a room on bunk bed and oluchi did not tell them this?
i have gone to model houses that looked like a high school dorms.
This girl marcia can not be from a good home to even write some of these things and the lenght of this text shows a very disturb individual.
I have also found that the only shows outside this country that she has ever done was under this woman.
Also for the first 2 years of a model career they owe the agency and if they are good they then climb from then on.
It takes a minimum of 250,000 naira to fly to America during the low season and 300,00 high season and these other girls a going round the world.
I was at a casting for a friend of mine and i saw three cars driven by three models and i was told the girls were from next super model.This is so crazy they are all over the world and driving their cars here and you guys are still talking down on this woman.This i know is pure beef.
Now i sat down watched BET RIP the runway show and her girls were all over the place.That is a show .Africa fashion week sa ,Arise and so on .This girl must be high on cheap crack believe me.
On a better note kudos to mrs okorodudu on your great show 2011 and i see the girls are going places already.When i heard those tapes on youtube i busted out laughing cos just shows the background of that girl.
LEAVE ME WITH MY ROTTEN TOTO
IF I DEY FOLLOW MARRIED MAN NKO
WHERE I WON KOLOBIAM FOR FACEBOOK? WOW NAIJA NA WA OOO
PLEASE IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD THIS TAPES GO TO http://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM AND KEY WORD MARCIA OKHAI
God help us to even think i was involved is abusing this woman on facebook. I heard the tapes and clearly heard a woman voice saying i should have left you people in Nigeria.God forgive me.
wow i sat down and read marcia’s story and i can tell you they are so many inconsistencies with her story.When the story broke, like many other nigerians i took it in hook line and sinker until i went to a hair dressing salon and a beautiful wife of one of nigerian top pastors told me that she knew joan very well and had been in joan’s house and saw how she treated those girls.These girls first of all can never ever afford to even buy a ticket for themselves. Now she said she was paid by chicken liken ,found that chicken liken never even used her and was never paid.
I visited johannesburg and someone showed me were this woman housed them in a beautiful complex called ilovo mews next to nigerian embassy and i went in to speak to the woman incharge. The first thing she said to me was oh marcia? The police came here every night because of her.I see her talk to herself some times in the lobby and i knew she was trouble and needed help.One day we heard she stripped at the gas station in rosebank she is very disturbed.The two girls almost killed themselves she said.
Now why i write this is because i just came back from calabar and did not see her at the carnival as usual and i asked questions. Marcia was asked never to come back.She was sleeping with this former commissiner that she calls her adopted father this man has no daighters and whenever, this marcia of a girl comes into town she stayed in the man’s guest huse until she leaves nd if you say the ma has adopted you ,you should be able to stay with his wife at home.The man got worried when he found out that marcia is like two people ,she talks to herself and will converse with another person whom she assumes authomatically and Mr Agibe got so scared and sent her packing.Marcia threatning Mr Aigibe with black mail that was where he new he had to get rid off her.Marcia years ago accused an innocent man of rape in qwagwalada and the man ended up paying rent for her mother and herself for two years before he left for abroad.This girl was pregnant for three months and had to remove the pregnancy.Now someone called me and said have you seen marcia’s home video and i said who is marcia and she said tha girl that accused that lady and i said that wacho is now in hollywood and she said no and now directed me to http://www.youtube.com and type marcia and i said only a sick girl will do such thing and knowing you have tape of her and will want to fight war.My friend also told me to google leave me with my rotten tooto and that it will pop out and i did boy oh boy i heard marcia in her own word answering another girl and she said if i dey follow married me nko and leave me with my rotten toto. For God sake this girl is from the gutter and she is going back straight to the gutter.And it is a pity that those the helped her are not there to deal with her mental situation.Read she has ben in and out of hospital becuase the first thing she should do is to go and beg God for forgiveness .She is trouble everywhere she goes sad because she had a promising future. Now this same woman was accused of not giving cars and i have seen four cars with the previous winners.Did anyone cared to find out if the winner in contention had broken any rules?Well i think that everyone should go to http://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM AND TYPE MARCIA OKHAI OR GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE LEAVE ME WITH MY ROTTEN TOTO AND TAKE TIME AND LITSEN IT IS BAD AND THIS GIRL SHOULD NOT BE SEEN OR HEARD IN ANY CIRCLE WHERE OTHER YOUNG GIRLS ARE. SHE IS A BAD APPLE,BAD EGG AND WILL SPOIL THE REST GOD HELP HER.
JESUS CHRIST I WAS SHOCKED TO LITSEN TO THE TAPES AND CANNOT BELIEVE HOW NIGERIANS ALMOST ALLOWED THESE MISCREANTS IN OUR COUNTRY TO ATTACK THIS WOMAN.
I HEARD MARCIA ONE DAY DURING THE ARISE SCREAMING AND RANTING I TOLD SOMEONE THAT THIS GIRL IS VERY SICK.
2. HER SO CALL LOVER FATHER WHO — USE TO INVITE HER TO CALABAR HAS GOTTEN RID OFF HER AND TELL EVERYBODY THAT CARES TO KNOW THAT THE GIRL HAS MENTAL PROBLEM.
3.I LITSENED TO THESE TAPES AND I AM TRNASCRIBING IT NOW AND WILL MAKE IT AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET SOON FOR ALL TO BUY.
4.ALABA BOYS WILL BE GLAD TO SELL THESE TAPES.
THE FIRST TAPE HEARD A WOMAN’S VOICE SAYING WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM IN THIS PLACE UNTIL YOU PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
5.IF ONLY I LITSENED TO THOSE WHO SAID I SHOULD NEVER BRING THE TWO OF YOU TO SOUTH AFRCA.
6. WHO WAS ARRESTED ANOTHER VOICE SAID MARCIA AND SHE BRIBED HER WAY OUT.
7.MARCIA NOW WAS ASKED WHAT HAPPENED SHE NOW WENT ON TO SAY CYNTHIA ACC– USED HER OF TAKING HER BOYFRIEND FROM FACEBOOK.
8.SHE NOW SAID HOW I WANT KOLOBI AM FROM FACEBOOK?
9. CYNTHIA SAID SHE FOLLOWS MARRIED MAN AND MARCIA BUSTED OUT IF I DEY FOLLOW MARRIED MAN NKO?
10 MARCIA EXPLAINED THAT CYNTHIA SAID SHE HAD HAD ROTTEN TOTO(CUNT) AND IN THE TAPE MARCIA SAID LEAVE ME WITH MY ROTTEN TOTO(CUNT)
11.DID TIFINNY AMBER EVER CHECKED TO FIND OUT THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT THIS GIRL BEFORE USING HER AS HER FACE OF TIFFANY OR IS JUST A WAY OF FUTHER ATTACKING THE WOMN IN QUESTION?
12.TO CROWN IT ALL I HEARD FROM THE GRAPEVINE THAT THIS GIRL IS NOW IN AND OUT OF MENTAL HOSPITAL.
13. IF YOU WERE AT ARISE YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN HER IN ACTION THROWING TANTRUM. I THINK SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BETHE STAR OF THE SHOW AND WHEN SHE REALISED THAT THE YOUNGER MODELS WERE THE STAR SHE BEGAN TO THROW TANTRUM.
14. MARCIA IS NOT A SMALL GIRL SHE IS 26 GOING TO 27. QUOTE ME SHE LIVE IN A VILLAGE IN ABUJA PAST QWAGWALADA WITH HER MOTHER WHO IS VERY POOR AND SHE IS THE BREAD WINNER.
15.SHE WORKED FOR 2 YEARS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN GWAGWALADA AND LOOKING AT HER FACE WHO CANNOT TELL IF SHE IS A DRAG QUEEN OR A GIRL.
16.MARCIA WILL FIGHT FOR ANYTHING AND WHERE EVER SHE GOES TROUBLE GOES WITH HER.
17. DURING MBGN 2008 ASK THEM WHAT HAPPEND SHE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE CAMP AND IT TOOK INTERVENTION OF SO MANY PEOPLE FOR HER TO REMAIN SHE DID NOT EVEN WIN BEST MODEL THAT YEAR. MBGN SMELLED TROUBLE FROM THAT GIRL.
18 IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MARCIA I WILL SEND SOMETHINGS THAT WILL SHOCK YOU THIS GIRL IS TROUBLED AND NEED HELP AND THE HELP IS FOR HER TO SEE A MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD FOR COMPLETE EXORCISM OR GO TO ARO, — USELU OR YABA. PLEASE FOR TJOSE WHO DOUBT THIS GO TO
http://www.youtube.com and type marcia okhai and litsen to the tapes and tell me what you think.
this girl is EVIL WUTH A CAPITAL E.
THIS IS TOTAL BULSHIT GO TO http://www.youtube.com type marcia okhai. litsen to the tapes in marcia okhai’s own words .
JIDE OLAWAYO,
I NEED YOU TO VISIT YOUTUBE.COM AND TYPE MARCIA OKHAI AND LITSENED TO THE VIDEOS OF MARCIA OKHAI AND HOW SHE WAS SENT BACK FROM SOUTH AFRICA. LITSEN TO LEAVE ME WITH MY ROTTEN TOTO AND HOW SHE WAS PICKED UP BY POLICE IN SOUTH AFRICA. THESAME GIRL DURING ARISE WAS DISGRACED BY AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGNER WHO REF– USED HER TAKING A FINAL WALK WITH OTHER MODELS. GO GET THE TRUE STORY AND MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU LIKE HE HAS FORGIVEN ME. I WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED THE STORY BUT AFTER LITSENING TO THE VIDEOS I WAS SHOCKED.
Wow!um,dont know what to say.
Please,I want to work for mrs Joan,I also need her phone numbers.I am a model and modeler in kaduna state.I need a sponsor.I will go where you want me to go,do what you want me.my phone numbers:08086269499 or 08162997253.thanks.I need to be in contact,till I come to be with you.
It is with great disappointment i type this, to you Engr. Mrs Ify Agudosi i say that you are either blind or being stupid for going ahead and trying to put your young daughter in the agency that was described with gross misconduct and scam. Why would you want to waste the time of your young daughter? Us Nigerians are the reason for our problem, instead of you to act accordingly you want to still go ahead and celebrate this individual that has been described as highly mischievous. As for the young lady OKHAI MARCIA .A. may God grant you better opportunities and guide you so as not to fall in the same pit twice. I believe that there are elements of truth in your story, if not it wouldn’t be so detailed. And as for Joan Okorodudu i ask that you change your ways if all that was said about you is true although i personally do not doubt that all what was said about you is true. We speak of change in our Great Country Nigeria but it is people like you who ruin our reputation the more. Everyman will be accountable for their evil deed.
Hello Joan, i just came across your profile and i became interested.
I just want to know your opinion about girls who’s interested in modelling as a fulltime here in Lagos. How do we get started? Do you scout for or recrute young girls?
Hello Joan, i just came across your profile and i became interested.
I just want to know your opinion about my teenage daughter who’s interested in modelling as a part time here in Lagos. How do we get started? Do you scout for or recrute young girls?
Hello Joan, i just came across your profile and i became interested.
I just want to know your opinion about my teenage daughter who’s interested in modelling as a part time here in Lagos. How do we get started? Do you scout for or recrute young girls?
I, Okhai Marcia Awhuose congratulates the unfortunate new winner of Nigeria’s next super model 2009. I wonder how you wont see the presence of the previous winners at the competition and you were so happy to wear a crown that is well known to bring misery, tears, disappointment and everything evil to whoever wears it. Your previous winners did not crown you and you did not wonder why? “ What a pity”
I was the first runner up of the Nigeria’s next super model competition 2008 and if as a 1st runner up I experienced whatever you are going to read now, why would I want to be a winner. I call you unfortunate because that is what you are, don’t get me wrong I don’t know who the winner is, her name or age etc. I don’t even know the contestants but I just can’t be silent anymore.
After fighting my silent battles with the organizer and owner Joan Okorodudu and left her to God to pour his anger on. It seems my prayers are still on the pending list because this woman just crowned another innocent girl and wants to put her through worst things that I and other models before me went through. You see she has a tempting, beautifully made sugar-coated tongue that whenever you listen to her speak you will get dizzy with hopes for the future. In her speech nothing is impossible, she can give hope to the hopeless, raised the dead, replace President Obama and make you the president of United state of America, according to what she once told me “ you see this face? With this face I’ll push you into LOREAL” lol. To this woman Newyork Fashion week is hers she has the connection to put you into FORD AGENCY, I wonder why Bunmi was rejected. To cut the long story short after reading this go and hear her side of the story and see if you wont call me “UNGRATEFUL” she is that good!
ALRIGHT BACK TO MY STORY.
The painful thing is that everybody knows the truth about her (all press, embassies etc) but they are spell bound and dance to her music. I wonder who can help you when your country’s press who is supposed to fight for you tells you “ I have heard about her but what can we do?” what can you do??? WRITE!!! That is what you can do!!! My personal experience is too long but I’ll sum it up.
I became 1st runner-up 08 and my prize was to represent Nigeria in Best Model of the World turkey, participate in Newyork Fashion week in February 09 and go to South Africa. Exciting and sweet Right? Let me explain further from bottom to top.
SOUTH AFRICA: hmmm I went and all expenses was paid by my ex- manager NOT THE NNSM. Why? Because I had a personal Manager who was also my sponsor and the unfortunate thing is Mrs. Joan Okorodudu knows him, according to her she claims that they are best of friends so she drained this man off financially and collected all my up-keep money. She became friends with him and told all manner of falsified lies against me. A good example was a strong quarrel I had between Cynthia (NNSM WINNER 08) and I, this woman used a ‘sledge hammer to kill a fly’ and exaggerated the quarrel added spice to make it interesting to the ears of anyone who was ready to listen and delicious for that person to transfer afterwards. I was still naïve and chicken livered then who was I to tell her she is lying? ‘I wan die???’ lol. She turned my Manager against me and in turn the innocent man hated me with a passion and to my utmost surprised when I came back to Nigeria for 08 Christmas holiday, my sponsor and sweet manager was a stranger to me!! Finally he quits.
BEST MODEL OF THE WORLD TURKEY: this was my competition prize I was supposed to represent my country NIGERIA this babe (abi no be babe) this woman didn’t want to spend a dime on the prize she promised. My sponsor had already told her that he was not going to sponsor me again so she knew if I am to go for the competition all expenses will be on her, so she didn’t make any plan for my visa so that can be her excuse. 3 days to when every contestant from all over the world are expected to arrive in turkey for the world contest, I OKHAI MARCIA AWHUOSE had no visa and my organizer had an ‘ I don’t care attitude’ Bunmi Ademokoya the winner of Best Model of the world 2007 and I were supposed to be in turkey. Bunmi to hand over her crown to the new winner and I to contest because Joan Okorodudu knows that there is no way she can take Bunmi and leave me in Nigeria without Nigerians cutting her throat. She made the poor girl (Bunmi) to stay behind. Till date Bunmi still have her crown on her head BMW without handing it over. My people how do you expect Best Model of the World Organizers to Crown another Nigerian girl or boy again??? Do you see how people spoil our country’s name abroad? Even if the contestant is the most promising model ever contesting they wont crown her BMW because Nigerians never return our crown or do our pet project after being crowned, we runaway to our country with their crown ‘Abeg make una help me ask Joan why??’
NEWYORK FASHION WEEK: remember when i said to her this was her show? Lol I remember the day my manager quitted before he said he quits he came to visit Joan in her house in NO 5A Adeyemi Lawson Ikoyi Lagos and after taking with me and I and as usual she sugar-coated some stories to him (she feels nobody can do anything to her and she is above the law) and then called him outside leaving me in the sitting room to have a private discussion with him. In that minute I noticed some documents with models names kept care-freely on a stool so I wanted to gather them together, just to find out that they were mails of invitations for Newyork in which she sent to the organizers listing her models, in it I found every model but me. Cynthia, bunmi, Bryan and Isi but I couldn’t find a letter addressed to me. I searched but it wasn’t there then my manager came back to break what he thinks will be sad saying 1. both of them thinks I should remain in Nigeria for a year and 2. He quits. Hmmmm at that point with me responding to reflex I was heart broken but after a few minutes I wasn’t bothered. I felt like a heavy burden was lifted off my back I guess it because I didn’t see my names in those letters. NOT KNOWING SHE CLAIMS ITS NEWYORK FASHION WEEK BUT ‘WHO BORN MONKEY’ ALL IT WAS, WAS A PRIVATE SHOW FOR AN UPCOMING DESGNER IN NEWYORK!! GOD SAVED MY SOUL!!. 2 days later Joan Okorodudu saw that I wasn’t bothered, I was cold as ice and nothing penetrated me. She became angry after she called me and asked of my plans and I told her I just wanted to go home to my mother in Abuja, she started screaming that she expected me to bring my 65 years old mother (God forbid) and the whole of Nigeria to beg her and my manager. Can you imagine? Anyway after she saw that I wasn’t moved she started begging my manager on my behalf but his mind was made up and according to him his one naira, dollar, penny etc will not touch me again. I too didn’t want his money and I told her so, I also told her I wasn’t going back to South Africa when she said ok I should prepare to go. I refused bluntly and said I wasn’t interested she came up with different stories on how they are looking for me in south Africa they sent her a mail saying ‘where is Marcia? Why is she not here? And Cape Town and Durban fashion week had booked me for the shows hmmm STORY STORY O! LOL I refused and said I wasn’t going back when she saw that wasn’t working; she called my mother and told her to speak to me. I need to say this, the first day I and other models arrived in South Africa on my first ever trip Joan Okorodudu collected my and the other girls international passports from us immediately we landed claiming that we will loss it but after our visa was left with a few days to expire she gave us back our passports knowing we were stuck and any move we make in south Africa the result is deportation then she could go and sleep in Nigeria. Nigeria became her favourite place of residence because she knew we couldn’t leave South Africa or tell anyone. Remembering how She seized my passport during my first visit to South Africa even till this point the passport was still with her in her SAFE! My old mother called my cell and I told her my decisions and how she has my passport in her SAFE! My mother asked her why and her reply was “ Madam you don’t know your daughter if I don’t put it in the safe Marcia will find her way back to south Africa” can you imagine?? Don’t know what else she promised my mum but you all know mothers. Anyway I accepted on one condition that I would pay myself without my manager’s help. So I gave Joan my hard earned ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS made from my Christmas jobs in both Abuja and Calabar. For my flight ticket little did I know that after receiving my money she was still asking for money from my manager, when she saw that my manager was as hard as stone and my SOUTH AFRICAN VISA will be expiring in the next four (4) days, she reluctantly released my one thousand dollars ($1,000) and sent for my ticket to be purchased. I left Nigeria for South Africa on the 11th January 2009 with my visa to expire on the 15th of January 09 lol!! OH my God my suffering is beyond explanations. She later told Cynthia and me that my manager gave her a bounced check! Ha ha ha SERVES HER RIGHT!
Now I was officially on my own with no more sponsor and money. But after collecting a thousand dollars from me, she believed I have money to spend maybe from a money tree lol. On the 29th of January 2009 Bunmi Ademokoya came to my room in South Africa and gave me my Newyork letter. The missing letter produced itself from nowhere (after searching for it that day among other documents in her house). And I was expected to go for an interview the following week. My SA VISA had expired on the 15th of January, I have no work permit because those she directed to do it ate my two hundred dollars ($200) and were promising and promising so I was also waiting for an invincible work permit. I had no VISA OR LEGAL RESIDENCE PERMIT in a country I was in and she wants me to go for an INTERVIEW with ALMIGHTY AMERICAN EMBASSY and ask them to give me a visa to NEWYORK??? WHAT PLANET DOES THIS WOMAN THINKS I CAME FROM??? I looked at the date on the documents and saw that it was sent in early DECEMBER 08! In my anger I tore the documents into bits. ( I regret it because that would have been an evidence anyway you can get Cynthia’s copy lol).
Joan Okorodudu called my cell from Nigeria and asked if I have gottten the document I said yes then she was giving orders. “ go to the embassy! Pay 100 dollars do this do that! What about your permit?” lol all this should be done within one week. They gave me the document on the 29th and according to her Newyork Fashion week begins from the 5th of February and am expected to be there!! How?? Even if am the president’s daughter am expected to follow procedures and not leave things to the last minute. Then she also said that she is short of money and I should look for who will help her financially and sponsor the trip. Oh after collecting a thousand dollars I should have an ATM machine which provide money for me all I need to do is to type the pin number lol!.
She came to South Africa and she left with Bunmi, Bryan and Isi leaving Cynthia and me behind. So the Bunmi already had her visa and when she was going to the embassy for her interview and visa she didn’t tell me, after getting hers. She is coming to me with a letter one week to the date of departure! Ohh please who are you all fooling??! That was how Newyork left!!!
Apart from that all jobs I did Joan didn’t pay me my money not a dime was given to me. The total of it all is over six hundred and fifty thousand naira (#650,000) and here are the jobs every single job had a story behind it but they are all too long.
Noble Hair Fashion show Nigeria December 2008 worth fifty thousand naira. (She claims the Noble woman didn’t pay her how is that possible and you are not suing, after giving her over 15 models!!!
Terracotta Fashion show Nigeria December 2008 worth one thousand five hundred dollars $1,500 as an international model
Audi Johannesburg Fashion week South Africa January 2009 worth about four thousand five hundred rand ( South African Currency)
Chicken licken Television commercial advert February 2009 worth twelve thousand five hundred rand! Eno told me the amount and she was our booker so you can’t lie about this. Now she claims they cut me off the TVC so they are not paying me, all lies I appeared in it!! I’ll show it to you and even if its true where is my shooting money they will pay me for shooting at all and wasting my time!!!
Of all these monies only one thousand rand (south African currency) equivalent to fifteen thousand naira was given to me for transportation to attend CHICKEN LICKEN TELEVISION COMMERCIAL SHOOTING. Because I threatened not to attend it as I wont use my money for transportation and she wont have that so she gave me one thousand rand. I can’t fight for my money anymore I have left it all.
I tagged everybody here because am just tired of being silent and no one is doing anything, anyone who comes up and fight, Joan kills the persons name, Ask her about me and nothing good will come out of her tongue if it not that am a fighter, then it is that I am a STRIPPER! Hmmm STRIPPER?? I couldn’t swallow that and I came down from South Africa to meet her. All this Bad names and titles were given to me because I woke up from my sleep and walked out of her agency and joined another one. Not her one-penny was spent on me, if my sponsor didn’t pay my first trip to South Africa she wouldn’t have paid a kobo yet she tells the whole NIGERIA that she spends her money to take models abroad. In her words “ I paid 25 thousand rand for house rent a year and I took 15 models to china and South Africa” LIAR!!! LIAR!!! LIAR!!! Every single model pays her rent no one will speak but that is the truth. JOAN I WON’T LET YOU HURT ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL! AND TODAY BECA– USE YOU REF– USED TO STOP YOUR EVIL DEEDS I WILL EXPOSE YOU!!! YOU — USED BUNMI AS A BAIT TO DRAG OTHER INNOCENT GIRLS INTO YOUR TRAP, you have nothing to OFFER any body, you are a FRAUDSTER! WOMAN TRAFFICER AND THIEF!! Most of all A PATHETIC LIAR!
Tayo’s mother paid all Tayo’s flight, accommodation and feeding to south Africa and am sure she is the one sponsoring Tayo to Miss Model of the World. You will give foolish hopes to innocent parents and deceive them into giving you all their hard earned money and you don’t care if they can feed after that!
Tinuade paid her trip herself, Cynthia was sponsored by our manager. (I and her have the same manager), you collected money from MR ALEX NWUBA after he quit cy asked you to pay her return ticket to Nigeria and you told her that “ she was on her own” so she paid herself. This same Cynthia is your winner for 2008, did you give her PRIZE??? You refused to give Cynthia her car and TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS CASH PRIZE not to talk of taking her for her own international competition. I was told Amaka sponsored herself. Eunice who was your first victim was given money by her state governor, God knows how you made life miserable for this poor girl (NIGERIA’S NEXT SUPER MODEL 2007). WHAT ABOUT ME??? OKHAI MARCIA AWHUOSE, you know what you did to me?? You saw it from the onset that I have a strong spirit I cannot be trampled on for free. Forget the fact that I am from Edo state and you think Edo girls are strong, you cannot take my destiny! My Father’s spirit and Mother’s endless prayers will not allow you! That was why you did everything you did! But who is exposing you now!!! I gave you silence grace but instead of you to change you are still crowning another girl when you did not deliver before. Your contest is just 3 years old from 2007 till date and you are not ashamed to know that you don’t have a good reputation with your winners and 1st runner up instead you are still jumping up and down and deceiving people and putting a CURSED CROWN on little girls head, girls old enough to be your daughters!!! See eh! Not only TINAPA will remove its hands from your contest. The whole Nigeria will be after you! Not only will South African Embassy be suspecting you of WOMEN TRAFFICKING! You will be an example for other SCAMMERS!! In the world!. If TYRA BANKS DOES what you do will her contest survive 10 YEARS!!! You take advantage of helpless Nigerian girls who are looking for greener pastures and you turn them into LIABILITY!!! YOUR ALMIGHTY BUNMI DO YOU PAY HER? THE POOR GIRL IS LIVING IN ABJECT POVERTY STIL WEARING MR. PRICE CLOTHING FOR 15 RAND!! She is the one I feel so sorry for! All the money she has made for you she can’t boast of a car! You are not even ashamed and have the common sense to think of getting her one she still enters buses and taxi OH MY FEAKING GOD!!! AM SO ANGRY!!! Please babe you are only fooling yourself! See MY HEAD IS TOO STRONG FOR YOU!!!
NIGERIANS! PRESS! AND SPONSORS!! YOU WENT AHEAD TO CELEBRATE THIS DECEIVER YESTERDAY and waved goodbye to your youths, YOU ARE ALL SENDING THEM TO THEIR EARLY GRAVE!!! Not every young girl is a survivor like me, my destiny is different, not every girl would be put into the test I went through and would still have her head above the water! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! Joan you always insults other agency including OLUCHI’S AGENCY (Omodels) ELITE SEARCH LOOK (ELOHOR) ETC and say they are FRAUDSTERS AND DECEIVERS, my dear you are just PROJECTING!!! Whatever bad names you call them that is who you are, you were only HAMMERING on it so that people will think that you are different and the best but MY GOD you did a good job in deceiving the whole of NIGERIA. If a Nation as wise as NIGERIA can be fooled what other country is saved?
Since STV, BENTV, NTA, AIT, QUEST TV, PUNCH, THIS DAY, VANGUARD ETC all knows the truth but no one wants to speak out and they leave you to kill everybody I, OKHAI MARCIA AWHUOSE WILL!!! I was a victim and since I survived I will start the REVOLUTION TO KICK NIGERIA’S NEXT SUPER MODEL OUT BECA– USE IT IS A SCAM!!! You never delivered but you eat, you reap where you did not sow, using innocent girls and boys to establish yourself. Building and buying of houses everywhere from the money you get from sponsors instead of you to use it for what they gave you for. You are planning to buy A JET! MAY YOU CRASH WITH IT!! My money with you is over 650 thousand naira with less than 3 months jobs do you know what that amount can do for the life of a 21 years old? I have made more than that since I left you and I will continue to make more but I WONT KEEP QUIET AND ALLOW YOU YO SINK ANOTHER GIRL! For God’s sake this girls leaves their schools some in 200 levels some in 300 or final year for your competition and you end up to deal with them so? How can you be so heartless!!
Omoye, faith etc you took to NEWYORK, did they not pay you??? Lie again…. You see that girls are desperate to be SUPER MODELS and you take advantage of it and wreck them!! IN NIGERIA ONE CAN FIND THE REPLACEMENT OF ANY SUPER MODEL IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD BE IT GISELE, NAOMI, ALEX WEK, KATE MOSS AND HEIDI KLUM! But instead of you to leave them alone and wait for them to be discovered by genuine people and agencies. You get to work before anyone and end up wrecking them!!! What about ESE the deaf and dumb girl??? You collected millions from her brother in Dubai and didn’t give her a dime out of frustration with no money to feed the poor girl resulted to stealing in south African super markets. When she was caught for the second time and arrested, you wanted to put it on my head saying that I asked her to steal not knowing that she has been stealing before I came back to south Africa from Nigeria after the Christmas break. Quickly you sent her home so that she wouldn’t face court case and involve you in the whole trauma. The poor girl stayed in a country illegally with no visa for over seven months!!!.
My people am tired of writing this woman’s story is too long my back aches from typing, all I know is every girl and boy that came from this woman Joan Okorodudu have their own story and trust me they are pitiable stories. Examples make enquires if you want.
1. DABYNA (rap artist, he composed the NIGERIA’S NEXT SUPER MODEL THEME SONG FOR HER)
2. GEORGE. (a Cameroonian hair-stylist, she sold him for 22 thousand rand in South Africa to an Ibo man, and the Ibo man has George’s passport so that he wont be able to runaway. PLEASE IS THAT NOT SLAVE TRADE!!! I THOUGHT THEY ERADICATED IT LOL!)
3. EUNICE EYO (winner of Nigeria’s next super Model 2007) she didn’t give her cash prize!!
4. CYNTHIA OMORODION (winner of Nigeria’s Next Super Model 2008) she didn’t get her car, cash prize and other things.
5. WUMMI OGUMODEDE (this is the latest victim who is fighting with Joan, me am old news lol)
6. ALMIGHTY ME! (CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!) OKHAI MARCIA AWHUOSE my story is too long but at least you have a clue.
These are the once you had big fights with at least their eyes have cleared. The once who are still blinded by her and thinks she has something to over them or maybe they are pretending are:
1. FAITH AMADI( after spending/giving so much money to Joan this girl doesn’t just get it)
2. ISI ATAGAMEN
3. OMOYE EROMOSELE (this is Joan latest SUPER MODEL, OMO E GO BIG FOR YOU.)
4. TINUADE ADEJOKU
5. TAYO ISHOLA…hmmmmm NO COMMENT!!
‘ABEG I DON TIRE TO WRITE OO HAND DEY PAIN ME BUT I STILL DEY VEX!!!’
FINALLY!! Joan Okorodudu please prove me wrong and DELIVER THIS TIME AROUND ‘EH!!!’ Let everyone see me as a busy body and a liar by giving this new QUEEN her gifts I heard you promised her NEWYORK FASHION WEEK lol. Please let it not be my type of NEWYORK FASHION WEEK PLSSSSSSSSS!!! LET IT BE REAL! I don’t hate you but I know you hate me with a PASSION!! LOL it is allowed, am your worst NIGHT MARE! Look at it now, if your DAUGHTER, NIECE OR NEPHEW is being put through what you put girls and boys to, wont you fight??? STOP YOUR EVIL DEEDS AND REPENT. BUT ‘BABE’ I RESPECT YOU O!!! ONLY YOU ONE DECEIVE ‘(JARBO)’ THE WHOLE NIGERIA!!! ‘CHEI!! I fear who no fear you oo’ lol!!! Good job, nice job please DON’T keep it up!! Stop promising what you can’t do and when you see that the girl is ‘GROWING BRAINS’ AND BECOMING INTELLIGENT AND KNOWS THE TRUTH! AND YOUR TACTICS. You do every thing possible to kick her out thereby saying so many UNTRUE things about her and making everyone who listen to you hate this INVINCIBLE PERSON. ‘Hmmmm you try o!’
If only you do good as you always claim, you wouldn’t need to speak for yourself your models and contestants would have testified to your good deeds and even TYRA BANKS would be envious of you but GREED took the better part of you. ‘Stop abeg e never do? You don buy everything finish now except the JET! MUST YOU FLY JET??? You get house for MIAMI, NEWYORK, LONDON and SOUTH AFRICA all in 3 years of SCAM!!! WETIN COME REMAIN? ABEG FORGET THE JET LOL!’
You might be an AMERICAN CITIZEN AND A NIGERIAN DIPLOMAT! It’s all you have said; I wonder which one to believe considering the EXTENT OF YOUR LIES!! I know what you are thinking how you are going to deal with me? All I want you to do is to LOOK AT YOUR BACK AND COUNT ALL YOUR SOILDERS BEFORE COMING TO FACE YOUR ENEMY I assure you, with this NAKED TRUTH!! YOU HAVE NO ONE! AND NIGERIA AND THE WORLD WILL BE ASHAMED OF ANY WHO COMES TO FIGHT WITH YOU!! So give that girl and Cynthia their cars and cash prize and I will forgive you and stop here. GOOD BYE!! And little queen I wish you luck in the career we both have a strong PASSION for MODELLING!!!
YOUR PRINCESS
OKHAI MARCIA .A.
colud you please let me know Joan Okorodudus phone number or email adress or office adress. thank you
Dear joan,
Thank you and God bless you for you good works and being part of placing 9ja on the world fashion map, i also perused your profile i can recollect your atletic days i was rather young then,watching u on TV.
As Africans i believe we see beauty differently from the west, so size six models haba, more like anorexic, where is the booty,thighs and breasts, Look at your picture above, Now that is what i call a beautiful woman, and not the drug induced, anoerexic looking models.
I saw a resent picture of miss dorego she looks sick, bag of bones, or someone suffering from sickle cell disease.
Let us not follow the west blindly,the west is not always right in fact they are wrong most of the time but they have this uncanning ability to Sell water to a fish. African models for African believes and ideology, not the west or some idiot in paris, milan or newyork who percieves hungary,sick looking girls as beautiful.
Thank you
Alugagee