VIDEO: Model on the quest to hit international stage

Mary Peter Claverys, 23, is a renowned Tanzanian model and beauty queen. She’s the current Miss Mwanza and 1st runner-up Miss Tanzania 2018. Mary has been modeling for the past three years. She talks to The Beat about her career as a model.

How did you get into modeling?

I started when I was in high school. I loved modeling so I would do fashion shows and other school events. When I got more freedom after I started university education, I did a few photoshoots and was looking forward to getting signed by a modeling agency. I eventually got signed and that’s when I officially became a model and started doing shoots and commercial modeling. But this all traces back to my high school days, I knew back then that I wanted to become a model.

What gave you that drive to get into modeling?

One of my biggest interests is beauty. So I wanted to pursue a career in modeling as I grew older. It is this interest that drove me into this industry.

What is your greatest strength as a model?

Being able to take constructive criticism; as a model, there are certain things that you are required to do that people might not necessarily like. Things like doing swimwear shoots, my parents are at times questioned by people on why they allow their daughter to do such shoots. As a model I take the negative comments but I’m not fazed by them because I know what I’m doing in the industry. People haven’t really gone out of their way to understand the industry so they criticise without taking time to investigate.

Modeling has its challenges, how do you deal with uncomfortable situations?

I try to see if there’s a positive outcome that can come out of a difficult situation, if not then I just ignore it. I don’t want to think that I can’t do something because of a difficult or uncomfortable situation.

Tell us one thing we wouldn’t know about you by simply looking at your portfolio\work.

Someone cannot easily tell by just looking at my work at I’m very focused on what I want. When someone looks at my photos they simply say; ‘oh she’s just a model, she likes fame and taking pictures’. They ought to know that I’m very focused on what I’m doing, I don’t do modeling because I have nothing else to do, but I see something in this industry.

Who is your role model in the industry?

One of my biggest role models is Flaviana Matata. She’s taken our modeling industry abroad; it has reached far because of her. Also, she employs other local models under her brand, whenever she does shoots for her beauty products she uses local models instead of opting for international ones. By this, she’s encouraging women employment and also encouraging the young generation to work harder.

What would you consider to be your biggest achievement in your line of work?

My biggest achievement is being where I am today. I’m not where I was yesterday or a year ago.

How are you able to juggle between modeling and studying, being a 3rd year student at the university?

I’ve given school first priority and only do modeling during my free time. In case I have a very important modeling gig I inform my university about it and make my schedule a bit more flexible. I’ve made it this far by prioritizing my studies above everything else.

Have you had any basic training in modeling?

Yes, I’m under an agency so we usually go for some training on modeling. We go to camps that last a couple of days where we are trained on different modeling techniques, we also do training on how to pose during a fashion shoot and are also taught other important aspects of the industry.

Tell us about your worst moment in the modeling and beauty industry

My worst moment in the beauty industry was at my first Miss Tanzania competition. On the final beauty pageant contest the designer didn’t make the dress that I wanted. But because the contest was in my home town my brother got me another dress which I had already done a photo shoot with and even wore it at a previous pageant. I was really disappointed because it’s a competition that everyone prepares for and everyone looked good in their dress. Still I wore my confidence and prevailed through the situation.

What are some of your future prospects within the industry?

Make some applications to foreign agencies, I want to hit the international scene, but you can’t do that if you’re stuck in one place. So right now I’ve been getting both positive and negative feedback from my applications and I’m still going to try to get signed by a foreign agency so that I can get global exposure.