Jason Harris
Akmal Omid is an experienced model and actor based in Sydney, Australia, with over eight years of experience in acting and modeling.
Akmal has worked on several fashion and lifestyle campaigns, including high-profile brands such as Nestle, HB perfume, AZIZI Bank, and Telstra. He has also worked as a runway model for Rocky Gathercole’s fashion show, Polo De’ Marco Magazine, and Love on the lawn Bridal runway.
StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Akmal to discuss his journey in the modelling industry, and here’s what went down:
How did you get into the modeling industry?
I was shopping for clothes one day when someone approached me and asked if I was interested in modelling. I did a perfume ad with him, which went really well. From there, I started doing other test shoots and building my portfolio more and more until I was able to grow and eventually work with many big brands.
What do you like the most about being a model?
I’m very interested in fashion, so being around it and included in magazines and photoshoots is really fun. I’m often the first to wear nice shoes, clothes, and accessories and be invited to fancy events. I also like the interesting people you meet, many of which are famous and internationally recognized.
Downside of being a model?
As with anything, sacrifices need to be made if you want to be successful. Constantly maintaining the look through diet, exercise, haircuts, and so on can be a pain sometimes. Also, the irregular working hours can make it hard, as well as knowing that eventually, my career will end and not last forever.
What has been the most memorable experience of being in modeling industry so far?
The best experience I’ve had so far was walking for Rocky Gathercole, the Avant Garde show in Sydney. That was the first time I had walked in a real high fashion show like that with supermodels. I felt like I belonged there. I have yet to walk for my favorite high fashion brands, but having the opportunity to walk among supermodels was still a massive accomplishment for me.
Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?
One of the advantages of being a model is meeting lots of interesting people, such as photographers, models, and fashion designers. If I name them all, there will be a whole page of names, but one of the most interesting and inspiring was Rocky Gathercole, the Avant Garde fashion designer.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?
The importance of self-belief and not doubting yourself. It is the most important underlying factor in everything that you do. If you doubt and don’t believe in yourself, it will ruin your chances of success.
Is your family supportive of you being a model?
They were unsure in the beginning, but once they saw my potential and that I was doing well, they started to believe in me more, and now they are very supportive and encourage me to do more of it.
If you could go back in time machine to the time when you were just getting started what would you do differently?
Everything happens for a reason, so I would do everything the same, and if I had done something differently, I wouldn’t be where I am now.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Someone I met through modelling gave me that advice. It’s a work strategy. It means that we have to be better than we were previously and learn from our mistakes, be in the moment and do what you can now, and always strive to be better in the future.
What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it?
Growing personally and living a happy and healthy life, as well as starting my own clothing brand, which will allow me to travel the world and be financially free.
Jason Harris
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