U.S.—Great pay, a monthly shopping spree, good prospects, and industry visibility—these are the perks of being a model, stylist and influencer for big brands. Not to mention the globetrotting, luxury hospitality, and red-carpet gigs. Rarely does such a job find a young man who started small in Lagos Nigeria, dropped out of school in New York, and painted people’s homes to survive in America. The magic was an Instagram post and years of fashion drive which, one day, prompted a global brand to stop and look.
Sporting a multicolored vintage shirt and neon-green hair, Emeka Soouizz Okeke stays stylish even at home on weekends. Mostly known for his work as a male plus-size model and ASOS Insider, he has worked with many top clothing brands from around the world, he tells Nigeria Abroad. His Instagram account is a fashion magazine, and he denies putting too much effort into curating his style.
“I kinda knew that fashion was my thing since high school in Nigeria. It came naturally to me. It didn’t even matter what I wore, you just couldn’t tell me nothing about my style.”
It might have helped that he’s from New York City, one of the fashion capitals of the world. In a place rich in color, attitude and style, some visitors to New York would say that everyone here is a sight to be seen. He describes his style as spontaneous. “I don’t do much planning. I wake up and put an outfit together that reflects my mood.
ASOS is a prestigious UK fashion and cosmetic brand, and as an avid shopper myself, I wonder what it is like to be an insider—where you get paid to wear clothes you love. For Soouizz, it’s the relationship that matters the most.
“You really feel like you have a family, a team behind you always. You get to work with models, artists and brands you only heard of as a kid. They make you want to work hard. And as a bigger man just figuring this stuff out, it feels good to be recognized for how hard you work and to be cared for by your team.”
I ask about his other work such as modelling for Gucci late last year, styling and becoming recognized in the industry. He flashes a shy grin. “Sometimes I look around the room and for a split-second I think, I don’t even know if I’m cool enough to hang with these guys.”
Men’s plus-size fashion is now catching up with modern style and Soouizz, who cuts a striking figure at 6’4” 137kg, fits right into the category. “Plus is not a bad thing. Plus means more,” he says, when asked if the category is restrictive.
“Although there is a tendency to be confined to one box, say the lumberjack style,” he continues, “things are better now. Some stylists might pay less attention to detail when you’re a big guy than they normally would, but I pay attention. I’m a stylist so details are my thing.”
But modelling was not a predetermined path for him. In fact, growing up in Nigeria, he thought he would become a computer scientist, having been influenced by his family’s cyber café business in Lagos.
“I became a computer science major when I came to the US. I quickly discovered that I liked the computer science courses less than I did non-related electives. I started to focus more on the jobs I worked to survive than on school work, and my grades suffered.”
On what jobs he did, Soouizz laughs:
“I’ve done it all. Worked at McDonalds for a few years; painted homes; was even a bouncer for about 4 years. I just needed to stay busy and work hard to provide for myself. Being an international student meant that my parents had to pay international rates for my tuition here so I knew I needed to be resourceful. Eventually, I left school without completing my degree. My parents struggled to afford my tuition from their income in Nigeria so it was also a financial decision.”
“All through these different changes, I remained consistent in pursuing my interest”, he adds. “I would put outfits together and take photos. My friends and I, some who were budding photographers, would go out to different parts of NYC just for the photos.”
Then he moved to woo ASOS. “I started to put outfits together and tag ASOS on Instagram. I didn’t know if anything would ever come of it, but I loved what I did so it was a labor of love and I kept at it. The day they reposted my photo and gave me a shoutout, I went crazy.”
In our conversation, Soouizz continues to stress that consistency wins. “I tell people: Know what you want and show up. It’s all about effort, showing up and some say pray. You must know who you are because if you’re not built for your own dream, it could get tiring, or people’s pedestrian opinions might get in the way. For me, I heard stuff like ‘you like fashion too much for a straight guy’.”
Recalling how he got his first invite to a photoshoot, Soouizz tells Nigeria Abroad he “was invited to a fashion event by a friend. I showed up dressed in an ASOS outfit and a large vintage block cellular phone as an accessory. I had so much fun and enjoyed talking with the people there. I had no idea I had been talking to a designer for quite some time until he asked who I was working with and invited me over for a photoshoot. No pay involved. Just a shoot, and we were absolutely ecstatic.”
Artists often stress the importance of guarding their art but, for many, it appears the opportunity to practice said art is a good start. “I was simply happy to do what I loved and I was determined to show up and be seen. Later on, the opportunity came for me to work with the brand and I couldn’t believe I could actually do this for real. I was at the right place at the right time. Again, always show up.”
A true Nigerian, Soouizz never forgets to stress the importance of his roots. For many immigrants, different social interactions call for a split-second examination of one’s identity. “Some people try to separate being Nigerian from being black. I don’t see the need. As an African, you learn to navigate these different identities and still present a strong confidence in who you are. In the US, you’re Nigerian and black. When you travel to London for work, you’re Nigerian, African, American, and black.”
“A lot of my confidence comes from being Nigerian,” he enthuses. “It influences what I do and why. Nigerians are so unique and full of life. Everyone recognizes our zazz all over the world. I don’t know if I would get here without the Nigerian spirit.” Running his hand over his neon-green hair, he chortles loudly. “My hair is green right now sef. As in Taribo West.”
Soouizz says he has future “plans to expand my reach to Nigeria. I want to add to the fashion industry. Nigerians are cool and I can’t wait to work with us.”
His story is no doubt, unusual. Nigerians are familiar with the common joke about becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer or a disgrace to the family. His parents, who later came to the US in 2016, were largely confused about his chosen profession but supported him financially while he got on his feet.
“They saw my growth. They speak more about how proud they are of me now. We have all learned about all the different packages success could come in. I can experiment more with my looks, tattoos, hair color and style, even though I’m from a Nigerian home.”
In that vein, he urges other Nigerian parents to be supportive of children’s individuality. “I think kids should grow up to know that the world can unfold with many different possibilities for a successful future. You’re no less valuable because you want to succeed in a field that you chose for your own future,” he concludes.