ELIAS MAGINYA
Gweru-based modelling agency, Image Modelling Consultancy, will go digital after the Covid-19 pandemic affected its activities, founder Mavis Koslek has said.
The past 15 months has been tough for models, especially high-fashion models, who rely on runway gigs and campaign photo-shoots in exotic locations for much of their income. Fashion events have been curtailed, plus brands have scaled back on their photo-shoots. Some organisations have experimented with replacing professional models with influencers and their own employees.
Koslek said the agency has no choice but to go digital.
“Covid-19 is radically accelerating the digital future, hence IMC is ready to move into the digital realm and for the first time ever go fully virtual. We are still mapping a way forward to find out how exactly this new virtual format will play out, the opportunities of targeting a wider audience and how creative can we try and combat the negative effects of the Covid-19 crisis,” Koslek said.
The “Queen of Queens” as she is affectionately known for grooming models to international stages encouraged models and fans to invest in technology with an eye towards the future. She challenged stakeholders to take steps and ensure robustness of information and technology systems to enable remote work and operational resilience.
The agency was founded to empower the girl child through identifying, nurturing and promoting urban and rural modelling talent. It is a license holder for Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Midlands pageant, Miss Rural Zimbabwe Midlands and founder of Miss Gweru pageant.
Covid-19 has forced the agency to shelve most of its events including the annual Miss Gweru, Miss Tourism (Midlands).
“The coronavirus pandemic is having a devastating impact on every aspect of the agency projects. Due to the virus and mitigation requirements, our many activities including contests, workshops, trainings and travel had to be cancelled, postponed or changed,” Koslek said.
“…our coffers ran dry due to the prolonged lockdown conditions put in place by the government. What made us suffer most is that our partners and chief fundraising initiatives were and still heavily incapacitated due to Covid-19.”
