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One on one with Refilwe Modiselle

Africa's first albino model, this is a title Refilwe Modiselle wears with pride.

The Rockville, Soweto born model and TV personality has defied the odds and broken boundaries in order to realise her dreams.

Since stepping into the industry by chance at the tender age of 13, Modiselle has achieved a lot and become the unofficial representative of the underdog and a role model to many.

“I don’t go out of my way to be a role model because it puts pressure on you as a person to live up to a specific standard. I just choose to be authentic then people decide whether to see me as a role model or not,” she says.

Her modeling career took off in 1999 after she was approached by Y-magazine to do a five-page shoot aimed at showcasing how the African fashion landscape would change with the turn of the millennium.

“I come from an academic family. My plan was to stick my nose in the books and head in that direction. I had never seen myself as a model. I never even imagined the aspect of being identified as beautiful,” says the 29-year old beauty.

“Society always paints beauty in a specific manner. They always paint the traditional aspect of what a model is. So if you can’t see yourself in that way then you never actually think about being a model,” she adds.

The reality of the impact Modiselle had on the industry and the albino community did not hit her till 2012 when clothing store Legit approached her for an ambassadorship for their summer range.

“ They were saying to me you are South Africa’s first albino model and we are acknowledging all the work that you’ve done through the years,” she says.

Modiselle’s star has kept rising ever since and she has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

Some of her memorable achievements include being featured in David Tlale’s show in 2005 as well taking part in the SA fashion week in 2010 and Mercedes Benz fashion week in 2012.

However one can’t blame her for beaming with joy as she mentions being on Oprah Winfrey’s 2013 power list (as one of 15 most powerful women in the world) and her recent 24 minute documentary which was filmed by CNN and screened all over the world as some of her highlights.

Viewers can look forward to seeing her in her first movie role for Akin Omotoso’s upcoming romantic comedy, Tell me sweet something.

Modiselle hopes that her success will be a shining example for others and that people to embrace and look at albinism differently.

“People need to know that black is not just black in a brown skin but it also black in a pale skin,” she says.

Refilwe Modiselle and Nonala Tose will be hosting this year’s Mzansi’s sexiest big reveal event on the 28th of November 2014.

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