Amanda Annan – Making a Model difference
British model Amanda Annan is as breathtaking as she is ambitious. Her background certainly explains her exotic looks. Her father is Ghanian and her mother from Martinique. She was raised in London and it was there at the age of 17 that she was discovered. While holding down a part-time gig at a clothing store, a make-up artist approached Amanada at the gym and after inquiring about her background, exclaimed that she was working on the wrong side of her profession – she needed to be in front of the camera. She promptly hooked her up with an agent at the then top agency, Unique Model Management. That pretty much jumpstarted her remarkable career taking her literally all over the world. Her striking features and enviable rapport with the camera has made her the favorite for fashion shoots in the world’s most glamorous cities, London, Paris, Milan and New York. When asked about the challenges of being a fashion model of African descent, Amanda is realistic and speaks with candor, “ There is still a tendency to use fewer black models and more Caucasians’. So skin color is still an issue”. She also cites the fact that Naomi Campbell has managed to break all the barriers in the modeling world by maintaining her place as the only true black supermodel. Somalian born Iman also made her list of African models she has grown to admire and respect. She is currently based in Los Angeles but shuttles back and forth to London where she has a TV hosting gig with Brit Celeb TV, It’s the perfect format for Annan who gushes about how she “loves people” and enjoys interviewing actors and celebrities alike. She also has managed to parlay her unique communication skills into the world of documentary. She teamed up with Virgin Impessario Sir Richard Branson to document their charity trip to Kenya where they spent extensive time with the Masai Mara tribe, an indigenous people of that region and the mission was to help re-build a school that was in otherwise intolerable condition. In the process they were able to equip the students with much needed necessities. Amanda got quite passionate when discussing this life altering trip; “There were 10 of us staying at the Game Reserve and were able to get dormitories built and beds were provided, we basically revamped the school”. The documentary is currently in post-production and the hope is that it will be showcased at one of the yearly film festivals or featured on the cable network HBO. The end result of this incredible undertaking was the money that was eventually raised for the sole purpose of providing education to African children. Not a bad way to use your looks to get what you want!
Now that we are in mid-summer its time to take advantage of the amazing travel deals before they run out. Tourism has never been in such demand. Airlines are desperate to fill up their seats and major cities both at home and abroad are going all out to encourage inquisitive travelers to visit their shores. Here is a highlight of some of the HOT destinations that will no doubt provide you with all the necessities of a well-balanced, enlightened and affordable trip. Washington D.C. has become the IT place ever since Obama mania hit this politically charged town. But there is so much more to this city than their famous White House residents. The Smithsonian museums, National Monuments and even the National Zoo are available for your viewing free of charge. And the weekends seem to be the best time to score great hotel deals due to the out-flux of business travelers. The newest addition to D.C. is the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. For those of you seeking a little adventure, taking a a trek across the world to the site of ancient times maybe the ideal getaway for you. Saqqara, Egypt is home to a famous massive step pyramid that was specially built for King Djoser by the historic designer Imhotep. It is surrounded by lush greenery and is situated at the edge of the desert. It is picturesque and almost frozen in time. It is also more visitor-friendly compared to the high-tempo metropolis Cairo, because it is virtually a hidden treasure and less hyped which helps to minimize the traffic flow of tourists making it an ideal destination to comfortably explore. Cartagena, Columbia is another HOT spot that will blow all your stereotypes out of the water. Over the years Columbia as been known for some not so cool things: Drug Trafficking and Drug Wars. But times are a-changing, and now this eclectic and culturally colorful city is coming into its own, attracting a flight load of visitors along the way. Its actually quite accessible since its only a 2.5 hour flight from Miami, FL. With its scenic beaches, highly delectable restaurants, and pulsating nightlife, Cartagena will definitely be a pleasant and rewarding experience. So hopefully these HOT spots have given you the incentive to start chatting up your travel agent. Happy Travels!
