Eight years after he migrated to America in search of greener pasture for his choice of profession, Babalola Otitoju Joseph, known famously as Joseph Water is finally living his dream, gradually climbing the ladder of success in the glamour industry. The experience, however, is a mixture of good and bad, he averred in a recent interview.
“My best experiences are getting model casting calls, getting my headshots, and just creating my portfolio. I revel in these and it gives me a relief that I interpret as self-care,” the 28-year-old affirmed.
Of his worst experience, Joseph Water also recounted: “My worst experiences so far were issues of sexual harassment and assault. Sadly, they happen often. I remember an instance when I was shooting and a stylist touched my crotch. It was an ugly incident but I waved it off because it was a quick shoot. I’ve also had to undress in undesirable and uncomfortable public places, but over time I’ve gotten used to it.
Joseph Water, who has walked the New York runway and represented brands such as Walkfashionshow, John Casablanca, Bndhouse, Afrimma, Krave and Slay magazines among others, also mused about the kind of gigs that make his day.
“The kind of gigs that leave me with a wide grin and make my day are the ones booked by top brands, with great pay, and also give me time to be a freelance model, own my time, money, and comfort,” he said.
While he has risen to become a force to reckon with, Joseph Water, however, claimed that there are still challenges to contend with as a model.
“The life of a model is not effortless. You need to work hard during the day and sometimes at night in uncomfortable conditions. You’ll face a plethora of rejections from modelling scouts and harsh critics that may affect how you see yourself,” he said.
Speaking further, he said: “You’ll also need a strict diet and exercise to stay in shape. Lastly, the income of many models is not stable — getting a job is often a challenge because of the high competition in the field. It’s usually per contract or work, depending on the terms.”