Zimpapers Logo

Ricky Mandizvidza Entertainment Reporter—
One of Zimbabwe’s finest male exports and perhaps the most successful black model from the country, Jonathan Denga, has bemoaned lack of remuneration, which characterises the local modelling industry.
Denga, who had a successful international career, said he is no longer actively involved in modelling as he recently ventured into a mining project.

“The project is still on preliminary stages and it is one of the projects I am working on since I returned,” he said.

Denga revealed to The Herald Entertainment that the modelling industry in Zimbabwe has a long way to go for models to actually reap rewards and earn a decent living out of it.

His observations were that the current situation in Zimbabwe is characterised by only exposure of an individual without the corresponding financial rewards because of lack of sponsorship.

“It’s all gloom for the local models as there is not much in terms of remuneration. Interested individuals can only afford to do modelling probably as a hobby rather than a career as they may not be able to put a meal on the table using proceeds from modelling.

“Most African nations, maybe with the exception of the likes of Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa amongst a few others, have very little resources that are channelled towards modelling.

“This scenario heavily affects the industry and most aspiring models in such countries either have to seek greener pastures elsewhere or are forced to completely abandon their dreams to take alternative paths”, said Denga.

Denga viewed himself as one of the fortunate few who managed to break the ranks and venture on the international scene where modelling is better-rewarding.

Denga managed to pen lucrative contracts with some of South Africa’s biggest names in modelling such as G3 Modelling Agency as well as Base Model Agency where his career further blossomed.

He later on had stints in other agencies in London and Milan before heading back to South Africa where he continued with what he knew best although he says he now is ‘retired’.

Although he has retired from actively participating, Denga says he still is in modelling through international placing by which he helps talented aspirants to reach their full potential by recommending them to international agencies.