This then made a black woman from Nigeria the prettiest girl in Austria. Right now, she resides in London, studying Advertising and Marketing Communication at the University of Greenich England. Lydia visited her home country recently. Speaking with CHRISTY ANYANWU, she reveals her mission in Nigeria, her career and life as a queen
When did you move to London?
I moved to London two years ago. I have been part of the London Fashion Week and Africa Fashion Week and I study as well. I need to watch out what I do so that it will not be too time consuming to affect my studies. I’m trying to get my degree. I also go to school of acting, its time consuming as well. I’m already acting back in Austria but like a typical Nigerian parents, my parents told me I need to have a degree. The movies I acted are in German language. That is the official language in Austria.
Why is your English so fluent since you communicate in German as the official language in Austria?
While I was growing up, I watched a lot of American movies. I guessed that helped. At first when I moved to London I just think my English was really bad, but as time goes on, meeting a lot of people on daily basis, studying and having presentation just help you improve your confidence. I guess my English is now better compared to what it was a year ago.
Did you experience any racial discrimination while growing up in Austria?
Yes. you just grow up with it; Its part of your daily life. In my secondary school, I was the only black person. In my primary school we were three black girls and one of them is still my best friend till today. She’s from Kenya. She taught me Swahili. You can’t really generalise that the white people are all bad or they are all good. I still have the white people as my friends.
Were you bullied in school when you were small because you are black ?
If at all I am bullied in school when I was small, it’s because I was very skinny. I remember I used to tell my mum to give me more pounded yam. I just want to eat every thing. It just didn’t work. As time goes on and I started modeling I saw actually that my size is just a good thing. I can eat what I want and I am not gaining weight.
Tell us your journey into modeling?
I started at 15. A friend of mine wanted to go to Elite Model casting and asked me to come with her. My friend is extremely beautiful with blue eyes. I followed her and that was how I was picked as a model. I just had to go to my sister’s friend to get some high heels. I made it to the finals, it was just like a coincidence; it was not planned at all. After modeling for two years, at 17, I felt I had to move to the next phase of my life. Then I went for the Austria Next Top Model.
Any special prize as Austria Next Top Model?
Over there unfortunately, you didn’t get to win a car. It just allows you to have strong connection and that is very helpful for me. I meet many people and that helps build up my port folio which, is very helpful.
Have you done any strong modeling job?
The biggest one, something that touched me the most is in London for Phillip Tracy. He is really known as a renowned hat designer. His designs are really crazy. Lady Gaga opened the show and then Alec Wek. When I saw her that day I was amazed to see Alec Wek. I met a lot of Internation models; It was all black model. I was very happy. That was my first week of getting to London.
How did you feel when you won the Austria Next Model?
I went to school the next morning and it was so crazy. My class was full of students from different schools coming to see me. It got to a point where my friends had to lock the door and told the visitors to please go. For them , Lydia is not just a model now but she is the one that won the Austria Next Top Model.
What were you experiences since you took this path of life?
I have been blessed with meeting lots of people in the industry and continually working on improving my career. London, Istanbul, Africa, London fashion week to name a few were great experiences so far. Meanwhile, I study to get my degree in Advertising and Marketing Communicsations in London and simultaneously attend Method Acting classes too. Education is very important to me , so I try my best to keep a balance in all areas.
Why are you in Nigeria?
This is not my first visit to Nigeria. Normally, when I come to Nigeria it is with my family. I feel I should come down here alone to express myself. While here, I intend to do a state tour visiting schools to speak to young girls on building self confidence and emergency response readiness. I hope to collaborate with the key players in the telecoms and security sector to ensure that my project hits the ground running and becomes part and parcel of the Nigerian and in fact African system. I really love Nigeria. Its really looking good than the time I came here last. I love the weather too.
You have a project here with students, tell us about it.
The project is called Back To School. It provides kids with necessary utensils to go back to school in September. The bag will be filled with school materials to ease the preparation stage prior to starting school. As I find it incomprehensive that the confidence in education is being taken away from children at such an early age. Access to Education should not be a privilege but a right.
What are your expectations concerning this project?
My expectations or moreover my vision is to provide as many kids as possible with necessary things to go to school with. Now as this is quite a big achievement that I am aiming at, I would need some help as one person can only do.
What is the secret of your good look? How do you manage to remain slim and gorgeous?
Thank you first of all. I believe that you have to treat your body as your temple. I drink lots of water and green tea. I love to exercise as I see it as a form of relaxation and therapy. The rest I would say is just being happy.
I moved to London two years ago. I have been part of the London Fashion Week and Africa Fashion Week and I study as well. I need to watch out what I do so that it will not be too time consuming to affect my studies. I’m trying to get my degree. I also go to school of acting, its time consuming as well. I’m already acting back in Austria but like a typical Nigerian parents, my parents told me I need to have a degree. The movies I acted are in German language. That is the official language in Austria.
Why is your English so fluent since you communicate in German as the official language in Austria?
While I was growing up, I watched a lot of American movies. I guessed that helped. At first when I moved to London I just think my English was really bad, but as time goes on, meeting a lot of people on daily basis, studying and having presentation just help you improve your confidence. I guess my English is now better compared to what it was a year ago.
Did you experience any racial discrimination while growing up in Austria?
Yes. you just grow up with it; Its part of your daily life. In my secondary school, I was the only black person. In my primary school we were three black girls and one of them is still my best friend till today. She’s from Kenya. She taught me Swahili. You can’t really generalise that the white people are all bad or they are all good. I still have the white people as my friends.
Were you bullied in school when you were small because you are black ?
If at all I am bullied in school when I was small, it’s because I was very skinny. I remember I used to tell my mum to give me more pounded yam. I just want to eat every thing. It just didn’t work. As time goes on and I started modeling I saw actually that my size is just a good thing. I can eat what I want and I am not gaining weight.
Tell us your journey into modeling?
I started at 15. A friend of mine wanted to go to Elite Model casting and asked me to come with her. My friend is extremely beautiful with blue eyes. I followed her and that was how I was picked as a model. I just had to go to my sister’s friend to get some high heels. I made it to the finals, it was just like a coincidence; it was not planned at all. After modeling for two years, at 17, I felt I had to move to the next phase of my life. Then I went for the Austria Next Top Model.
Any special prize as Austria Next Top Model?
Over there unfortunately, you didn’t get to win a car. It just allows you to have strong connection and that is very helpful for me. I meet many people and that helps build up my port folio which, is very helpful.
Have you done any strong modeling job?
The biggest one, something that touched me the most is in London for Phillip Tracy. He is really known as a renowned hat designer. His designs are really crazy. Lady Gaga opened the show and then Alec Wek. When I saw her that day I was amazed to see Alec Wek. I met a lot of Internation models; It was all black model. I was very happy. That was my first week of getting to London.
How did you feel when you won the Austria Next Model?
I went to school the next morning and it was so crazy. My class was full of students from different schools coming to see me. It got to a point where my friends had to lock the door and told the visitors to please go. For them , Lydia is not just a model now but she is the one that won the Austria Next Top Model.
What were you experiences since you took this path of life?
I have been blessed with meeting lots of people in the industry and continually working on improving my career. London, Istanbul, Africa, London fashion week to name a few were great experiences so far. Meanwhile, I study to get my degree in Advertising and Marketing Communicsations in London and simultaneously attend Method Acting classes too. Education is very important to me , so I try my best to keep a balance in all areas.
Why are you in Nigeria?
This is not my first visit to Nigeria. Normally, when I come to Nigeria it is with my family. I feel I should come down here alone to express myself. While here, I intend to do a state tour visiting schools to speak to young girls on building self confidence and emergency response readiness. I hope to collaborate with the key players in the telecoms and security sector to ensure that my project hits the ground running and becomes part and parcel of the Nigerian and in fact African system. I really love Nigeria. Its really looking good than the time I came here last. I love the weather too.
You have a project here with students, tell us about it.
The project is called Back To School. It provides kids with necessary utensils to go back to school in September. The bag will be filled with school materials to ease the preparation stage prior to starting school. As I find it incomprehensive that the confidence in education is being taken away from children at such an early age. Access to Education should not be a privilege but a right.
What are your expectations concerning this project?
My expectations or moreover my vision is to provide as many kids as possible with necessary things to go to school with. Now as this is quite a big achievement that I am aiming at, I would need some help as one person can only do.
What is the secret of your good look? How do you manage to remain slim and gorgeous?
Thank you first of all. I believe that you have to treat your body as your temple. I drink lots of water and green tea. I love to exercise as I see it as a form of relaxation and therapy. The rest I would say is just being happy.
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Meet Nigerian girl who won Austria Next Top Model –Lydia Obute |
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