In Africa, Gedeon Dapsia did not fathom that the click of the ‘like’ button for photos on social media would lead him to Paris months later, and his becoming a full-fledged model star.
Yet, that pivotal day four years ago, as Dapsia scrolled and liked a series of images on SAINT chief executive officer Deiwght Peters’s Instagram account, forever changed life as the Cameroonian native knew it.
“I came across an Instagram ad looking for new model faces and went to Mr Peter’s profile,” Dapsia recounted.
“I saw photos of superstar models like Tami Williams, Romaine Dixon and others, so I liked some photos, far from imagining what was to follow. A few seconds later I received messages from Mr Peters who told me he thought I had potential, and we could work together. I didn’t hesitate based on the models who were part of the agency. That’s how it all began,” the statuesque west central African shared on a Zoom interview from France.
In a super-fast turnaround, Dapsia was directly booked from Jamaica by Peters for luxury fashion house Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2020 runway show, and after securing a visa, was on a plane to Europe for his exclusive international modelling debut.
“My first time in Paris was naturally like the beginning of a dream come true. Walking for Balenciaga as a brand-new model was amazing,” he reminisced. “I was very excited to see what my first catwalk photo would look like for a major brand at Paris Fashion Week. My look for the show was a football kit. I was also very excited to meet and speak with African superstar models like Alek Wek and Grace Bol, all things I had never imagined before. I was a little stressed, which I understood was normal being that it was my first time,” he added.
Today, with that first blush of jitters long behind him, Dapsia is a certified go-to Balenciaga face, with multiple appearances on the runway and on electronic commerce portal for the high-end French house, which according to financial estimates is a major earner for the Kerig Group, of which it is a part, which recorded global sales of €20.35 billion in 2022 for its varied portfolio which comprise Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.
“Balenciaga’s team is great and they treat models very well, and it’s the same feelings other models share. We are stars with Balenciaga. It’s almost another family on this side,” the SAINT model raved about the fashion house helmed by creative director Demna Gvasalia since 2015 and beloved by celebrities Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber and Usher. “Demna for me is a genius. I absolutely love everything he does,” Dapsia said. “People might think that my opinion is subjective, but no one can deny that since his arrival at Balenciaga, he has breathed distinction in the house even if he’s very provocative in his art, his originality and creativity shine through.”
“Gedeon’s sense of discipline, work ethic, and of course, his chiselled features are all a winning combination,” praised Peters, who launched and has guided the model’s career thus far. “I vividly remember how excited he was when I told him Balenciaga was interested in him, and up to the present, he’s demonstrated an admirable dedication to his career, which is a major plus in this industry.” Dapsia is among SAINT’s wave of African fashion stars that includes Nigerians Adesina Tomiwa, Aworo Mayowa, and David Adebola.
Life in Paris, Dapsia explained, “is very different from that of Cameroon. The atmosphere of the city is unique. There’s a huge mix of nationalities and lots of tourists. What I like here is the cafes on the edges of the streets. I love going to museums. They relax and cultivate my mind on trends and inspirations.”
His favourite spot to frequent is the 19th century Roman Catholic church, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which sits on the highest point of the city. “I like going there, especially in the evenings to admire the City of Lights and see the glorious sunsets,” he explained.
Prior to finding success as a high fashion model, the African was a student at the University of Yaoundé studying international relations. The eldest of 10 children for his educator parents, Dapsia was born in the Yagoua in the the far-north region of Cameroon.
“I grew up there until I was 12 years old, before our family migrated to the capital city. My childhood life was very far from modernity, but it was rather cool with the realities of this area. Living part of my life there allowed me to know where I come from. I believe I would like to live out the later years of my life there because it is my real home,” he said. As to future planning, Dapsia is taking it one day at a time. “I’m very ambitious and always aim high,” he confidently declared, elaborating “I would like to become one of the greatest models in the fashion industry and give hope to the young people where I come from that it is possible to dream and live your dreams. Even if it’s very hard, it’s not impossible.”
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