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Joseph Water: From ‘dreaming’ it to featuring in New York Fashion Week

By Guardian Nigeria
01 August 2022   |   12:24 pm
Amar Ochani posited that "Dreams are not reality; dreams have the power to create the reality we are dreaming about; all we need is the courage to believe in the power of dreams." It has been said oftentimes that dreams come true, but many do not trust the process or lack the strength to sustain…

Babalola Otitoju Joseph, better known as Joseph Water, is a top model

Amar Ochani posited that “Dreams are not reality; dreams have the power to create the reality we are dreaming about; all we need is the courage to believe in the power of dreams.”

It has been said oftentimes that dreams come true, but many do not trust the process or lack the strength to sustain their dream until the day it is done. The journey to fulfillment would not be devoid of obstacles and having to climb smooth mountains.

However, Babalola Otitoju Joseph, popularly referred to as Joseph Water, a Nigerian-born US-based model, defied all the odds to achieve his dream.

Joseph Water left Nigeria eight years ago at the age of 20 to pursue ‘the dream’ like every other individual. And he literally saw it come to pass in the glare of the world when he was featured on the runway of the New York Fashion Week, and later graced the covers of glamour magazines, such as Krave and Slay.

“I can’t miss out on the importance of believing in oneself. The modelling industry has taught me that you need to believe in yourself before anyone else will. Self-worth and confidence are infectious — once you fiercely believe in yourself, a lot of things will align. It doesn’t matter who likes your style, others will just love you because people love where worth is exuded,” Water said about how far he has come.

One common social problem in the world until today is the stereotype formed over the centuries against people of colour. Racism still reigns supreme in the fabric of the civilised world. But the fashionista explained how he handles rejection in the industry.

“I’ve learned to deal with rejection. Rejection feels awful but it is a basic part of human relationships, and we must adapt to receiving rejection in a healthy way that doesn’t militate our esteem.

“Sometimes, stylists look for people with certain features and physical idiosyncrasies like hair colour, skin colour, height, and all that, and when I didn’t fit into those specs, I had to understand that it wasn’t about me,” added Water.

Speaking further, Joseph Water said: “Just because someone prefers mangoes doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who prefer oranges. I’ve had to build my confidence such that when I’m rejected for a gig, based on physical features, I know it just wasn’t meant for me.”

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