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Eunice Olumide Wears Many Hats
Interview Shemaiah Gold
At just 33 years old, Eunice Olumide is already an international supermodel, activist, presenter, actress and art gallery curator. With her passion for social justice and equality, she continues to inspire and ensure her voice is heard across a variety of creative industries, excelling in all of them. After her many successes in the arts, including her appearance in BBC's 'Noughts & Crosses', walking for Alexander McQueen amongst many other renowned designers and launching The Olumide Gallery collection at The Groucho Club Soho in London exhibiting art of blue-chip artists, WOTC were excited to have this conversation.
Photographer: Xavi Montojo"Technology is crazy'' she exclaims, as we find our way on to Zoom after struggling with the phone connection. I begin an in-depth conversation with the first question:
Shemaiah: You're in various different industries, can you talk me through how you began in each of them and explain your journey in those spaces?
Eunice: That's a really big question. I grew up in Edinburgh on a typical British council estate and I had no idea that fashion modelling was an occupation, so I got scouted a few times before I actually tried it. I was such a tomboy walking out in my Air Force 1's, baggy jeans, bomber jacket and afro. I was really into athletics and I didn't know you could be a model if you looked like me. I fell into the fashion world accidentally; one minute I'm on my estate and the next minute I'm on catwalks in Paris [and] Milan, doing showroom work for Prada. It was beyond my dreams and literally blew my mind because it was such a glamorous, fast paced world and at that stage I was still so shy. I didn't tell anyone for years that I had been modelling. It was almost as if I couldn't believe what I was doing. Early on in my fashion career, I had a bad situation where I was asked to relax my hair and I ended up getting dropped, which taught me that being a model is not like other jobs. When you're a designer or a makeup artist or a photographer, you can get better at what you do, whereas a model has to wait to be chosen because it's about your look. You don't have any control over your destiny.
"I was such a tomboy walking out in my Air Force 1's, baggy jeans, bomber jacket and afro. I was really into athletics and I didn't know you could be a model if you looked like me."
10 years later, I'm proud of my industry, because you have the likes of Edward Enninful and Naomi Campbell as well as others who have worked hard to make the industry so much more inclusive for all shapes, sizes, genders and women of colour, like me. It celebrates everybody. At that time, earlier on in my career, opportunities were stereotypical, so I had all my agents whilst modelling, but I decided to leave my London agent.
"If I could speak to my younger self, I would say ‘you may not be able to save the world, but that's okay, you're doing enough. But help people and show them that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.’"
I actually started university at 16 and graduated with my masters at 21. I studied topics that related to socially economic environmental issues and this, in combination with growing up in my kind of estate without a doubt made me how I am. I've always wanted to use my platform to empower others. My priority has always been to help people and if I could speak to my younger self, I would say "you may not be able to save the world, but that's okay, you're doing enough. But help people and show them that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.” When I left university, I was really into theatre. From the age of 6, I was acting in school plays and similar to fashion, I fell into presenting accidentally as I got older.
I don't know if I should admit this, but I really thought I could play for Man United - not on the girls’ team, on the boys’ team. I've also always wanted to be a teacher and write books, which is the only one that actually came true. I started presenting because people would see me and recommend me to different shows, I would go to various events such as Cannes as a model and meet people who would make various presenting suggestions. "You would be really good for…" My response would always be that I don't have a showreel or any experience. When I was in Star Wars, I had met Oscar Isaac, who I originally met through fashion, so I guess people would always remember me and put me forward for opportunities.
Photographer: Xavi MontojoMy most recent film, Roc Nation's 'Noughts and Crosses' was incredible. The team was so courageous, kind, and loving and all the actors actually genuinely loved acting and the script. I got that job because I had been on BBC's Question Time, and the director said that he had seen me and my ability to (in his own words) "not only transform and communicate emotion, but ability to transcribe and understand a question or moment that's been put to you and react to it". Acting came naturally to me and funnily enough, in Noughts and Crosses, I was the presenter; something I'd love to do more of once I’m in my 40's, had kids and done all the grown up stuff.
Art was just as accidental as fashion. I was working in London. I had just done this climate revolution job with Vivienne Westwood and there I met amazing artist, Richard Wilson at the show through a friend who was also at the show and he recognised me and said "I just love the way that you care about democratising arts and bringing it to everyone, not just the elitist." He then invited me to work on a project he was doing. Little did I know, it was Heathrow Terminal 2 for the queen! It was through him that I met a lot of blue-chip established artists, who said they'd love for me to start a gallery, but my first thoughts were “I don't know anything about art”. They were all represented by all these top galleries yet nominated me. I realised at that time that many artists are creating art, not just to sell it but to give it to the people and they felt like I was in touch with people across all races, levels and classes. I was nominated by some of the most incredible artists in the world to start a gallery and I said, "you guys are going to have to help me with everything, because I don't know anything,” and they did.
“Most art galleries start with 100's of thousands of pounds being invested and here I was starting with nothing. It was really hard work.”
Starting out with Dan Baldwin, Lauren Baker, Richard Wilson, Tim Noble, SCHOONY and The Connor Brothers, I really was thrown into the deep end, and I must say, of all the things I've done it was the hardest journey. I'm not coming from a background where I have wealthy parents or any support and sometimes, the arts in general are difficult to navigate. Not necessarily discriminative, but more so, if you wanted to be a successful fashion designer, you would then have to go to the best school, which would cost you but if you can't afford to go, you would have to intern which means you won't be making money and some would not be able to survive. Whereas if you have a different, more privileged background it's a lot easier.
Most art galleries start with 100's of thousands of pounds being invested and here I was starting with nothing. It was really hard work. I remember having lunch at The Groucho Club in Soho and we had all this amazing art, but I remember having to build an entire room inside a room, a day before the exhibition took place. It was painful but it was something I am proud of and I was blown away by the response from the public and the artists themselves. Over the years I've done a variety of exhibitions and collaborations for companies and organisations, like the Centre for Social Justice and The Body Shop. I had an amazing exhibition where we had 150 different pieces of art, coordinated with other galleries and we raised a huge amount for pancreatic cancer. Because of my nature, I keep doing all these exhibitions for charity and I should really start doing some for business rather than the 'saving the world type stuff.' (chuckles)
That's how it all happened. [..] I think that certain types of innovation, like the way that I was and the way my career has gone, is because of my own personal experience and journey coming from no support or family. I think human beings innovate from necessity. So, if you're in a comfortable situation, you don't need to do as much to stand out and be noticed, whereas if you're not, sometimes you do need to do a lot more. If you are going to do more than one thing, it is important that you reach a professional level with everything that you're going to do. You're going to have to learn the specific skill sets that are necessary to get to a high level within that field. For example, if you're an art gallerist or curator, you have to have an art gallery and represent top talent. The way that the world perceives it is, if you aren't going to do amazing exhibitions and represent the top talent, you won't be taken seriously.
With modelling, I felt from a mental health perspective that I wanted to do other things so I didn't feel like I was completely dependent on it, because you can't exactly choose what shows you do or covers you appear on. Then again, I probably could've just stuck to my master’s degree at 21! (laughs) Does that kind of answer?
Shemaiah: Definitely, I think you've answered more questions within that answer, which is great.
Eunice: Awesome, yay! (laughs)
Shemaiah: What inspires me about what you've just said, is your whole career up until this point has been inspired by people. It's always had a community-focused motive behind it. Some of the most powerful and influential people always have a story of coming from a place where they didn't have it all. They didn't have the best of the best but somehow, they find a way to push through. And how, in your situation; growing up in Edinburgh, with your difference of being Nigerian, a woman of colour, a creative mind and having many things to express on the inside of you, did you find your feet? How did you stick to who you were? What was the 'thing' that kept you pushing through despite it all? And what are some of the major difficulties you faced growing in that kind of community following through into your career?
Eunice: Hmm, another epic question! To be honest, I don't talk a lot about my background. I've only really started talking about it publicly very recently, which doesn't take away from the fact that I've been campaigning, but the only reason I mentioned that is because I did suffer a lot of traumatic experiences which I've never talked about publicly. The colour of my skin and growing up in a really rough environment, I did experience huge amounts of alienation to the point where you're in a city where no one looks like you. It's different from going to a school and you’re the only black girl in your class. It was extremely painful, in the area I grew up in, there was a lot of destitution and drug addiction as well, so for me there was no option, you either sink or swim. You either do what everyone else was doing or you work really hard and get yourself out. I didn't have any other option; it was either be brilliant, or you might not make it. I may not have even been here today. So my experiences were extreme, but having the best mum in the world who worked 3 jobs and being Nigerian, you know what Nigerians are like, as soon as I had my masters it was "ah ah, this is not a real job oo, go and do your studies" (We both laughed at this point. With my many Nigerian friends, this is something I could definitely understand).
What was amazing was even though my mum didn't understand what I was doing, she supported everything I did. She came to everything! She worked so hard and showed me how you can make your life better by believing in yourself, even when the whole world is against you. I genuinely couldn't have done it without her support, it's even bringing tears to my eyes.
"One of the best things about being marginalised and not fitting in is you can do whatever you want."
Photographer: Xavi MontojoAs I said before, I really believe that human beings innovate out of necessity. I wrote this chapter in a book the 'Loud Black Girls' anthology called 'Transferred Representations and Interchangeable States' and in the conclusion of it, I realised one of the best things about being marginalised and not fitting in is you can do whatever you want. You can do things back to front, upside down and be as crazy as you want because people don't know where to place you anyway! You might as well just live your life to the max. I just love life. The world is so beautiful. Humans have so many issues that we don't often negotiate. We have a lot of dislocation from our past, and heritage which leads to conflict because if we don't learn from our past, we will keep making the same mistakes.
Shemaiah: Wow. It’s interesting to hear your different experiences and you're still so young, and already your life has been very action packed.
Eunice: Yes, very!
Shemaiah: One of the things you mentioned that I am personally holding on to is that 'human beings innovate out of necessity,’…such a powerful statement.
Eunice: Hashtag EUNICE, no plagiarising!
(She says as we both laugh, and I assure her that I’m going to repost on my Instagram and tag her. Social media can be very fun sometimes!)
"My plan for the next 5 years looks like vegan Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food with extra chocolate sprinkles!"
Shemaiah: So now that we've gone back in time, I want to move forward and ask you what your plans are for the next 5 years? And to be honest, I don't necessarily like the word 'plan'. Your world to me, looks very colourful. Also, if you could change the art world, what would that look like for the future?
Eunice: Yes! my world is very colourful, I like colour. My plan for the next 5 years looks like vegan Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food with extra chocolate sprinkles, as well as some completely organic vegan gummy bears sprinkled on top! That's what it's going to look like over here. (laughs)
I've been planning a few things over lockdown such as re-opening the art gallery and opening a second branch in Scotland. I’d like to do some community work through that, as well as more shows like 'The Wind Rush Generation.’ which was on schedule during London Fashion Week in Brixton at the Lambeth Town Hall. I have a new book about the art world and my second book on fashion coming out soon. I've just done my first Ted Talk which will be out soon. I'm also going to be acting in a new series and I've booked another feature film which I can't yet reveal.
Photographer: Xavi MontojoOver the next 5 years, I’m going to continue with the gallery and modelling. Now that I'm modelling as an adult, I model for brands I believe in because it's not just about making money. It’s about making art - art that's inspirational and empowering, working with brands that are about the environment, sustainability and human beings. Some of the other things would be to hopefully star in some blockbuster movies. I'm going to have to have some kids because my Nigerian mum is not happy right now, and just have some fun. I have been working hard my whole life so now I just want to have some fun. 5 years is quite a while for me though, I could be doing anything.
People are trying to get me to be a councillor and MP and I'm like “listen, I look too cute for that right now! That's not even going to work.” In 5 years, by then I’d have written the books, achieved all that I’d want to achieve in fashion. The galleries would be running themselves. I'd like to launch my own clothing brand and I would also like to do my PHD. In 10 years, maybe become a teacher because that was the original plan.
Shemaiah: It's interesting that you're mentioning being a teacher. Usually people think about being a teacher for monetary purposes or to 'start' a career. It may work for some, but generally I think there are a lack of teachers who actually inspire young people in schools, which is why they prefer to look up to people they're seeing in the media or the drug dealers they grow up with in their estates. I love that fact that you would decide to go into teaching after you've been out in the world and received the accolades, because I think that's what would inspire and provoke young people to actually listen and learn from you.
Eunice: Yes! I like this girl! I see why you have this job now. I’ve loved this interview and I’d like to end it by saying life is not just serious, life has to be balanced. We have to have happiness, jokes and fun and we should only be serious when we have to be.