Hella, Rama Barry, and welcome to Flashmag's fashion page!
Rama Barry: Hello Mylèna! Hello to all the team ! I am delighted to talk to you today.
So, fashion, what brought you there? Growing up did you have any idea that you would become a model? How did you find out about fashion?
Rama Barry: Since my teens, I always wanted to work in this environment. Basically, I wanted to become a stylist, but I quickly changed my mind because I really wanted to live at the heart of different artistic projects and be in the spotlight. It was truly from my victory in the Miss Tropics election, that it all started. I have had a great experience for almost 10 years now.
You are a model whose photo campaigns are among the most sought n Paris. How being a model affected your personal life?
Rama Barry: I can easily differentiate fashion from the rest of my life. In this case, I don’t speak much about it, because my website and my social networks are mainly out there to communicate on this part of my life.
In regards to my schedule, I have been working for a few months now at home. So, I'm almost always available to participate in castings and shootings. It is clear that my pace of life adapts perfectly to this unpredictable side, that sometimes characterizes fashion.
You studied the history of art at the Sorbonne university in Paris, before getting a diploma in management and administration, how did this academic journey, helped to build the person and the model that you are today?
Rama Barry: With a bit of hindsight, I think that the greatest quality I could discover of my personality is perseverance. II am rather in the belief that the latter is an essential factor of success, when one has the approach to undertake, whether at the level of studies or work.
I am a person who rarely gives up, despite the difficulties and failures. If I’m here today, I think it’s mainly because of this side of my personality.
On the heart side, it’s soon Valentine’s Day, requests from potential boy friends may have gotten higher somewhere (laughs). How do you handle that?
Rama Barry: Yes, absolutely (laughs)! To tell the truth, I try to remain benevolent during my answers because seduction is a very delicate “exercise” which can possibly affect the self-confidence of the pretenders. I think it takes a lot of courage to admit your feelings. I’m very careful not to humiliate anybody in return.
But I cannot hide the fact that, it takes me time and that I can “freak out” in front of a person who does not understand a “No”.
We usually say that models must follow a strict diet, is it the case for you?
Rama Barry: It doesn't really concern me because professionals often contact me for beauty campaigns. Thus, I pay specific attention to my face and it is moreover a lot of time and a significant budget. And to such an extent that I am even able to predict the exact date and place where my next pimple will grow. (laughs)!
For the body, I have had in particular, for the last three years variations in weight of 10kg and fortunately no one has blamed me for anything; on the contrary ...
It is true that you are often told that you are beautiful; but if you have to define beauty, what do you think it is?
Rama Barry: I grew up with stereotypical models of beauty and curiously, I now appreciate more the "atypical" aspect of certain people and the fact that fashion is increasingly promoting these types of profiles.
Although it is a questionable term, and that a distance is imperative vis-a-vis of the fact that, fashion surfs on trends, I consider with regard to my personal tastes, that it is beneficial as well, to make a spotlight to value all these forms of beauties.
You are of Guinean origin, (Guinea Conakry). In your opinion, how does your origin influence your career? Is there anything special that photographers like when they choose you for campaigns?
Rama Barry: It’s very interesting because I was born into a family whose members are mostly fair skinned, with smooth features. When I was very young, I felt different because I was dark skinned. But it was a big advantage in fashion, because it allowed me to differentiate myself without falling into the trap of promoting colorism, which is actually a real scourge today.
Technically speaking, having these facial features allows for example make-up artists to be particularly free, in their creativity; and my skin color allows me to refract the light better.
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Flashmag February 2020 www.flashmag.net