1. Becoming a model

AT the age of 15, I was plunged into the fast-moving world of fashion, working for designers like Mulberry, Alexander Wang, JJ Noko, Christopher Kane, Henry Holland and Harris Tweed and attending international fashion weeks.

It was the first time in my life that I realised I was a human being, since at that age as a woman of colour I was a rare sight in my community.

This made growing up extremely difficult and painful, both mentally and physically.

I had always wanted to be a broadcaster and presenter, but this was just not possible for a woman with my appearance 15 years ago.

Fashion accepted me. For the first time I realised I wasn’t an animal, alien or ugly, I was a beautiful young woman. It built my confidence and was my catalyst and vehicle to travel the world, appearing in titles like Harper’s Bazaar, Tatler, Hunger, WAD Paris, ID Magazine, Dazed & Confused, Oyster, Paper Cut NY, New York Magazine, Pride, Vogue.com, Vogue.it, Bahrain Confidential and many more.

At the same time I campaigned as part of Climate Revolution alongside Vivienne Westwood and Emma Thompson.

In later life I started my own label, Unique Wear, which was featured in Italian Vogue. Since then I have had various film roles including in Star Wars, Ab Fab, After Louise and One Sweet Oblivious Antidote starring Lenny Henry.

Today I am referred to as Scotland’s first black supermodel.

2. Gaining a BA and a Masters degree

GROWING up on a council estate in Scotland, I was the first of my peers and indeed my immediate family to attend university. For me I believe it was the start of my life. I attended Glasgow Caledonian University and it meant that I was able to move out of my own locality and experience somewhere new.

It was the first opportunity where I felt that I had really become independent as a young girl and had to truly take responsibility for myself, whether that was cooking, cleaning or having my very own flat in a new city.

University gave me a depth of understanding of the media as well as wider ideological state apparatus and how discourse and semiotics within the world affect our psychology and indeed how they relate to the wider world of capitalism and advertising. My experience during education completely shaped and influenced all the work I have done. I got a scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with my Masters at 21, which for me is still to date my most significant achievement.

3. Being in Star Wars

GETTING the chance to work on the sets of The Last Jedi and Rogue One blew my mind. It was one of those moments in your life where you are like “is this actually happening to me”? It was amazing just having the opportunity to be exposed to huge Hollywood blockbuster sets and understanding what you need to go through as an actor. While filming on Rogue One I had complained of a sore neck from the costume I was wearing. Some of the actors playing Storm Troopers helped me with stretching exercises as my scene revolved around explosive action.

On the Last Jedi, I met the legend that is John Boyega and he was so kind and nice – I was shocked by his integrity and humility. I was honoured to be invited to the official world premier that took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, also attended by Prince William and Prince Harry who knew my name! I then attended Kensington Palace for the after party where I met with John again as well as all the other actors and stars.

4. Becoming an author

ALTHOUGH the fashion industry is one of the biggest in the world there is no regulation or indeed legislation regarding models or concerning the production of textiles, particularly if it is in another country. My industry is extremely complex, ambiguous, exclusive and unforgiving – you will usually have one chance, so you need to get it right.

Because of the lack of clarity and the ambiguous advice given by many industry experts many people get lost and are essentially taken advantage of. Models suffer significant mental health issues and there is no such thing as minimum wage. Can you image that in any other job in the First World?

I have been leading work in this area alongside Equity, speaking across the EU, UK, USA and Africa on the impact of fast fashion and encouraging the advancement to the circle economy and sustainability. My book, How to Get into Fashion, was written specifically about these issues and includes contributions from Professor Caryn Franklin, journalist and bestselling author Lucy Seigel, supermodel Richard Biedl, Rankin’s Hunger Magazine fashion director Kim Howells and many more.

The book is out now and I am currently on tour with an upcoming date at Glasgow Caledonian University on December 5. It is being stocked by the Victoria Albert Museum, The Tate and The National Museum of Scotland even though it is only just published, which is incredible.

5. Getting an MBE

WHEN I first heard the news about the MBE I was overwhelmed. On the one hand I wanted to accept it but on the other I firmly and openly condemn colonialism alongside the transatlantic slave trade.

Britain didn’t start slavery, but it played a big part. I am extremely conscious of the continued exploitation and misrepresentation of African people, not only in terms of natural materials and cultural appropriation but also from a social justice perspective.

So it was a real struggle to finally give in. I decided to do so mainly because it was the best thing I could have done to promote and draw attention to my charities and, crucially, I thought about my mother and my father who had contributed so significantly to the UK.

I also decided to accept out of remembrance for all the people who came here and died, worked and slaved from past to present including the Windrush generation. It was incredible to see how proud my mother was attending Buckingham Palace.

6. My charity work

OVER the years I have worked with and supported a variety of charities including CHAS, LMHR, Columbus Hospice, Well Foundation, P2P, Best Beginnings, Adopt an Intern and have become an ambassador for Zero Waste Scotland, for whom I opened an “Empty Shop” in Glasgow with Outlander’s Sam Heughan.

I have also joined the ranks of Kate Moss, Edith Bowman, Twiggy, Alan Carr and Sharon and Kelly Osbourne in Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

Coming from a working-class background I have always been aware of the social, political and economic issues affecting society, so it is imperative for me to help address the significant inequality regarding the distribution of resources on the planet as well as issues of social justice.

Working as an activist and campaigner ensures that I can do my little bit to help the world. There are those who have been placed in the right position to really effect change, such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Sarah Parker Remond and Sushmita Sen. Such individuals who have redefined history as we know it are my constant inspiration that one person can change the world. But it is important to recognise that everything starts from within and we must try to start with things in our daily lives, things that are under our personal control even if we can’t save the world.

7. Starting an art gallery

IN 2015 I founded Olumide Gallery London (OGL) at London’s most prestigious arts club, Groucho. My bespoke collection of world-renowned talent all share the same core beliefs of using art to transform people’s lives and that it should not be accessed only by the upper echelons of society.

Artists at the gallery included Richard Wilson, Nick Walker, Schoony, Elmo Hood, Hayden Kays, Cody Choi, Ian Berry, Anne Samat, Max Patte and many more. I became the director of PR at The Royal College of Art last year and the gallery moved from Kingly Street in Soho to Vauxhall Nine Elms. It was an incredible opportunity to support new emerging talent as well as work with the team at Studio RCA. Most of the year all the exhibitions are non-profit except for established talent.

8. Curating a display at the National Museum of Scotland

WHEN I found out I was selected to curate a display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh I thought it was a dream. Museums can often be perceived by people of colour as collections of stolen objects – a topic that needs more thorough discussion, debate and action.

I certainly used it as a means of refuge from not fitting in and being alienated and marginalised as a woman of colour in my youth. It was a place I could go and contemplate life and be swept up in the magnificence and beauty. I believe it was because of these experiences that I founded OGL.

In 2018 I became V&A Design Champion Dundee, which completely changed my perspective as one of the first women of colour to have achieved what I have on the art scene.

9. Social media

SOCIAL media was instrumental to my career. As a woman of colour with marginal opportunities, I was able to create my own platform as well as to help others.

However, at one point I had more than 120,000 followers on Twitter and would get 50 messages a day from people who wanted to find out how to get into my industry. For years I replied to each and every one of them but then my family pointed out I was spending too much time online. I decided to write a blog which ended up trending worldwide on Twitter before I deactivated it, and this is what lead to me writing my book.

10. Being born in Scotland

I TRULY believe that the key to our future is focussing on what we have in common rather than our differences.

The beauty of my cultural dichotomy between Africa and Scotland has ensured I am open-minded, objective and often look at things from a variety of perspectives.

Attitudes in Scotland towards black and ethnic women still need to change.

Many people in the fashion industry in Scotland look for the easy option and are wary of taking an exotic route. Because it’s a smaller world you have people who stay in jobs for 10 to 20 years and they become complacent.