20-Year-Old Oluwabukunolami Opens Up on Height Discrimination in Modelling

Twenty-year-old Nigerian model, Adebayo Oluwabukunolami has revealed that height discrimination in the modeling world is real.

In an exclusive chat with The Nation, Adebayo revealed that she is a victim of height discrimination in the modeling industry after kicking off as a model as a youngster. “There’s height discrimination. The standard height to walk on a runway is 5’9 and I’m a 5’7 NigeriaNews Subscription

model and I’ve gone for few castings and they don’t allow me to showcase after measuring my height. The height discrimination made me start the campaign of putting myself out there as a 5’7 model and also take the runway into the streets of Lagos. If they don’t make a room for me, I’d make it for myself,” she said.
On how she discovered her modeling talent, Adebayo said she was drawn to the industry as a youngster with the height and flair for the art.

She said, “I was quite young, I remember watching spice tv where model runways are showcased, at first I wasn’t concerned about the way they walk, I was concerned about the way they embody the dresses and showcasing it in different angles. I should have started modeling at age 16 cause a lot of people advised me and also said I have the stature for modeling but my family wanted me to be an adult first.

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I love fashion growing up and that influenced my modeling career. My love for fashion spurred me into modeling.”

fashion design outfit, TEFA fashion academy, where she majored in fashion illustration and hair artistry; doing Afrocentric hairs. She further said her knowledge of Art and fashion helped her to thrive in her fashion illustration. Adebayo also said she’s in the industry because she finds it fun and not necessarily from the money but because it has become her hobby and she gets to make money from it makes it a win-win situation for her.

Adebayo also identified Anok Yai and Kate Moss as her influences in the world of modeling saying she is trying to shape her career towards the career of her major influences.
On why she has decided to take the runway to the streets with a challenge on social media, she said, “There’s height discrimination. The standard height to walk on a runway is 5’9 and I’m a 5’7 model and I’ve gone for few castings and they don’t allow me to showcase after measuring my height. The height discrimination made me start the campaign of putting myself out there as a 5’7 model and also bring the runway into the streets of Lagos. If they don’t make a room for me, I’d make it for myself
“It has yielded positive effects. I got a lot of engagements and views. I’ve pitched to brands and

collaborated with them. I started with my brand; IGI-EWA. It is a custom made brand; it’s

basically everything fashion starting from the hair, to the fitting, shoe and bag and also face art.”