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Male modeling: Between tough competition and social stigma
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Instagram discovery: Nigerian-Indonesian model Ekene Dilichukwu Edeh, who goes by Ken Chukwu, was the face of Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2022, a year after he was discovered from a photograph of himself posing in front of the JFW 2021 campaign banner featuring Rizal Rama. (Jakarta Fashion Week/Zaky Akbar) (Jakarta Fashion Week/Courtesy of Zaky Akbar)
W
hile the men's fashion segment is growing and the international scene has yet to "discover" the uniqueness of Indonesian looks , male models still have slim pickings and struggle with stigma.
Jason Bustam, a 26-year-old Jakartan, now works as a doctor at a private hospital in Jakarta. Not so long ago, however, he was a common sight at many fashion shows and events such as Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW), the Plaza Indonesia Men's Fashion Week (PIMFW) and Indonesia Fashion Week. Jason also appeared as a model in the fashion campaigns of many well-known designers like Patrick Owen, Rani Hatta and Danjyo Hiyoji.
"My family was very supportive when I started modeling. They hoped that I could [develop] my self-confidence, as well as other soft skills that we can't get anywhere else," said Jason. "Many of my friends and teachers, on the other hand, believed that the profession was [an unusual choice] and deviated from what they thought [I] 'should' be doing.”
But that’s not all. Jason revealed that he also encountered negative stereotyping such as leading a "wild lifestyle” and doubts over career progression.
"When I graduated and started to work as a doctor, I hope I can give everyone who is just starting out as a model the idea that we can have a career in this industry without sacrificing everything else we want to do," he said.
Jason also advised new models not to be afraid to start until in the end, they “finally lose the opportunity”.
