MULTI-TALENTED model Tawanda Marere (28) continues to shine after he was nominated for the forthcoming Zimbabwe Model Awards set for August 30 at the Harare International Conference Centre.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
NewsDay caught up with Marere — who is also an actor, bricklayer, musician and owner of a clothing label called Mudhuri (The Wall) — and he opened up about his career.
“Being a model has always been my dream. I’ve always wished to be on the bill-boards and my dream came true in 2013 when I was at the University of Zimbabwe studying community development,” Marere said.
“I met Judith William from Model and Management Agency who then introduced me to the world of modelling. From that time, I’ve taken part in several fashion events, among them Fashion Forward, Unilever Fashion Show and Zimbabwe Fashion Week last year where I was nominated for the best male model award.”
Marere said his first professional shoot was for Delta Beverages in December 2013 and from there he has featured in many adverts and shoots for corporates as well as designers.
“In 2014, I did several fashion shows of which the biggest was Zimbabwe Fashion Week. I had a great experience as a professional ramp model,” he said.
“My biggest shoot was for Econet where I’m on their current billboards and newspaper adverts.”
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He said he hoped to go international and walk on ramps in New York, Paris and even Milan Fashion Weeks as well as advertising for international brands like Paccoraban and Versace.
The Dzivaresekwa-bred Marere bemoaned lack of support for the modelling industry, especially for male models in Zimbabwe.
“The current environment is not the best for models, especially the upcoming ones,” Marere said.
“I cannot depend on modelling for my basic needs because the industry is struggling.
“But I will pursue it because I have the passion and faith that things will be well one day.
“The modelling jobs are fewer and when you get them the money is not that much, yet as a model you have to look presentable all the times and keep up with the trends, and that is tough for me at the moment.”
After his Advanced Level studies at Ellis Robins Boys High School, Marere went to stay in South Africa with his father and that is when he became involved in the construction industry, joining a family-owned company. He has featured in eight local productions, including films Introspect, Lungs and Breakdown.
“I ventured into acting last year with a production company called Invision Studios. I have featured in about eight of their short films and musical videos for Dice and Trev Da Bass,” Marere said.
He said he was pursuing music as a hobby while at the same time using it to express his feelings.
“I have recorded two songs — Ka Life and Let Us Unite — both produced by Hughclaid of Kalino music and I am a Zimbabwean produced by Kudzai Chimbodza of SKT Productions.
“I’m doing more songs with Kalino Music and I might drop an album this year,” Marere said.
“As a reggae artiste, my songs are mainly focused on the social issues affecting the world inspired by our day to day activities as human beings.”
Speaking on his label, Marere said he grew up showing signs of creativity that he would redesign his clothes and inscribe them Crazy Tee — a name his friends gave him.
“I’m glad to have achieved my childhood desire now there is Mudhuri, The Wall Clothing label. The label is on T- Shirts and hoodies and soon there will be suits and shirts by Mudhuri,” Marere said.
Born on November 25 1987, Marere grew up in Dzivarasekwa, Harare.
