Abbas Jafri: more than what meets the eye

LAHORE: 

It is very apparent now that there are striking differences between the male and female modeling industry. In Pakistan, male models exude a sense of personal style and aesthetic; that is not generic and can be classified as character specific.

Abbas caught the attention of designers when he transformed his look into the rugged one he has today. This change in style gave his career a much needed boost with designers and editors alike seeking his services. Many considered this change to be temporary but over the last few years, he has made it his own.

Adding to that is his nomination for the Best Male Model at the Lux Style Awards this year. Jafri sits down with The Express Tribune for an up close and personal chat about his career tragectory.

“Modelling is not my bread and butter, and frankly speaking, it shouldn’t be anyone’s either,” says Jafri, “I say this because on one hand you spend your whole life trying to reach the top and once you do, you don’t earn enough to sustain a household of five adults in an upper class society.”

He feels people in Pakistan are reluctant to change, as they see how foreigners respond to change before they embrace it themselves. “I was rejected as a model because of my look and it wasn’t until an Australian delegation appreciated my style that our industry took notice of my talents,” adds Jafri.

On the contrary, he continues to handle his father’s telecommunications business and is in the process of launching his own venture. “It’s a new concept I ventured into, keeping in mind the needs of our society,” he added.

The project revolves around student rights and he intends to form a student union to encourage communication between them.

“Nowadays, students have gotten so involved into politics that they seem to have forgotten their individuality. I want to unite them on a singular platform and excel from there on,” stated the model.

Commenting on how male models transition into acting he said, “Acting is by far the most popular profession that models turn to later in their careers. This is something natural as it’s a part of the same industry and striking a pose comes naturally to models. Acting is embedded within our genes; we just need to find an avenue to showcase our talent and right now, I’m waiting for the right moment before I plunge into this field.”

Jafri didn’t shy away from talking about the inherent disparity between the treatment of male and female models. Acoording to Jafri, this is because of the lack of high end fashion designers dedicated to menswear.

“You see, nature has certain laws, and according to it, women are inclined towards fashion and beauty,” continues Jafri, “Men, however, have found a way into this world and have carved a niche for themselves. We cannot defy the laws of nature and expect men to be more inclined towards this industry. It’s a man’s world out there, but in here, women are atop the pecking order.”

The model feels that society hasn’t warmed up to the idea of men as eye candy. “Traditionally, men are the breadwinners and the women are supposed to smile, look pretty and make their partners feel like a million bucks. So, the prettier she looks the more society deems her worth. Hence, the bidding for her worth and her looks begins.”

Jafri recently met with some government officials to discuss the future of the male modeling industry and they have been very supportive. “They are planning to start a programme that nurtures and promotes fresh talent in our industry. If all goes well, they might introduce subsidies to attract new talent.”