A Logan model has overcome hardship and discrimination with dreams to become a face for Australian diversity.
To help make his a dream a reality, the Pakistani-Australian took a walk down the national runway.
On Sunday, 20-year-old Akbar Foladi competed in the Australian Top Model Competition.
Although he didn’t win, Mr Foladi said he had an incredible time.
“I made new friends, and was able to have a one to one conversation with every judge to discuss my performance and received some incredible feedback,” he said.
“Going forward I really hope this competition allowed me to showcase my talent and hoping it open many incredible opportunities.”
Born in Quetta, Mr Foladi moved to Launceston, Tasmania at age 10.
“Moving to Australia was very exciting,” he said.
“It was very different because I had to learn the language, adapt to the new culture, be able to make new friends and fit into my social circle at school.
“I found it a bit challenging.”
He said he only began modelling three years ago after his dad let him attend a 12-week modelling course in Tasmania.
He moved to Logan in December 2021 to study nursing at Griffith University, but said his passion for modelling remained.
“Growing up in an Asian household, having the dream or desire of being a model is very, very different,” he said.
“Because it’s not something that was seen as appropriate, so it was a challenge for me to pursue something that I always wanted to do.”
But his Asian heritage is what gives him an edge over other Australian models, Mr Foladi said.
“[Modelling] allows me to put my two cultures – my [Pakistani] culture and me being Australian – together,” he said.
“It allows me to be very creative.”
Prior to the competition, Mr Foladi said he hoped to compete at London Fashion Week – an opportunity given to the winner of the Australian Top Model Competition.
He said the international stage would give him the ability to represent his culture and be the “person for future generations to… look up and [say] ‘he’s where I’m from'”.
“Growing up, looking at TV shows and magazines, I never saw someone that looked exactly like me,” he said.
“[I was never able] to look up to someone… who resembled my skin colour or my look or somewhere that I come from.”
