Alumni Spotlight – Rose A. A Model Mentee
My name is Rose, I am a model, campaigner and care leaver. I discovered SAYes a couple of years ago and was deeply impressed with their mentoring offer, as it extends far beyond what is available for care leavers and young people more broadly. Like many who have grown up in a difficult home, I did not want my lack of support networks, family or negative self-perception to have the opportunity to control my future. I didn’t choose what family or circumstance I was born into and refused to let that stop me from having big aspirations. I do not believe that young people facing life challenges should have to fight as hard as they do to get access to fundamental support and opportunities due to external barriers. We should celebrate the effort and determination of our youth who succeed—but also understand that, for many who may not have reached their goals, it wasn’t due to a lack of their resilience, skill or strength. It was the desertion of possible opportunities, little to no community, barely any family support and systemic poverty. My inspiration to dedicate my time to supporting care-experienced people and raising awareness of our experiences grew out of this realisation before even reaching secondary school. We shouldn’t have to ‘beat the odds’ to avoid being left behind by our society. CHALLENGES When I first got into modelling at 18, I was not confident and had little knowledge of how to best network with the crowds I found myself in. When it comes to the creative industry, it often favours those with privileged resources such as, money, time and connections to thrive. Modelling is no different. It is based largely on luxury, exclusivity and aesthetics, things that were more than a world away from my childhood. However, it also values uniqueness, hard work and passion, all of which I had in abundance. I am a woman that wears many hats; I have tackled my fear of solo air travel, got myself to Paris Fashion Week, worked with different brands and designers and due to be travelling to the US for more opportunities. I have had significant impacts on policies that affect care-experienced young people, begun sharing my poetry and done many Parliamentary public speaking engagements. My mentors have helped me reframe my challenges, to understand and build on my strengths, but most importantly to take risks worth taking. Through all of this, I have learned to take a step back to understand just how resilient I am. INSPIRATIONS Nellie Bly stands at the top of my list; a trailblazing investigative journalist, she faked insanity in 1887 USA to expose the inhumane treatment of patients, as was common in those days, and no male journalist dared to explore it. Nellie did, and became the catalyst for change, she was a pioneer. Donyale Luna and Naomi Sims—black women who shook the western modelling industry when it came to representation in the 1960s. And, though controversial, America’s Next Top Model was pivotal as it was my first time seeing tall, slim black women on TV as a child in a home full of adults that did not look like me. I saw myself differently then. Closer to home are my chosen family, they know who they are. They exemplify resilience, drive and honesty, and I had the chance to witness an incredible wedding of a fellow care leaver. Their stories, just like mine, are not easy but represent something so powerful, in that sometimes what is missing shines the light guiding us onto our next path. HOPE AND IMPACT I am currently in the process of creating my podcast and platform, dedicated to creating a space for care-experienced people to share the knowledge, wisdom, reality, triumphs and struggles of people who have gone through the UK’s Foster Care system. It is going to be an incredible journey of its own! I also aim to encourage other care-experienced creatives to strive and not give up, and when you see others from your community try to find ways to support each other. It is a hard world out there, but it is better to work together than alone. MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I advocate for change by putting pressure on our decision-makers through disruptive conversations and creating a space that connects our community and words with the goals we desire. I’ve been doing this by learning which I began at age 13, whether by contributing to national reports, joining influential boards, taking on trustee roles, attending political conferences, building relationships and training the professionals that work with us, I have taken so much with me. I plan to expand on this knowledge by using my creative, analytical and public speaking skills to build a space for our many voices. Over the years I have become more comfortable with the idea of stepping out of the box, oftentimes our varied skills can converge and end up creating something extraordinary. So, I am starting the process of sharing my creative writing and poetry, artistic expression is an incredible and cathartic way to connect with others and build understanding, even when experiences are not shared. And, just like those who I look up to I have a story to tell, not just to myself but to and for others. NEXT GOALS. On my campaigning journey, keep your eyes peeled for my podcast launch. It is such a daunting task for me to be vulnerable publicly, but it brings so much liberation. Sharing our reality serves as a reminder that there is no shame from our past. Regarding modelling, I plan to be in the United States in November for modelling gigs and will be travelling to Paris early next year. ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE Our current society doesn’t allow us the room to reflect purposefully on who we are to ourselves; it often ties our identity to the expectations of others. My advice is, your life is yours and it is genuinely ok to be who you are, with quirks, failures and successes. Perfection doesn’t exist, and criticism is always around the corner, so it is ok not to spend your life building someone else’s dream. WHAT WOULD I TELL YOUNGER ME? I would tell her that her fight is not in vain. She had a difficult struggle but also overcame immense hurdles. She should be proud of who she is, because nothing she does or doesn’t do will alter her value no matter her age, accomplishments or stage of life. That is also a message to everyone reading, there is no number, price or measure. MOTIVATION ON TOUGH DAYS. My motivation comes from my many
