All things Chelsi
Meet one of the most charismatic girls in the modelling business as she chills, with tjil.
With a great melanin-popping body and face that defies the laws of nature and that is almost supernaturally photogenic, it's no surprise that Chelsi Shikongo is one of the most influential models in Namibia, working internationally.
With phenomenal work ethics, humble personality and the ability to speak out, new-age model Chelsi is surely killing it. She grew up in Walvis Bay and has been based in Cape Town, South Africa. She recalls modelling being a childhood passion and today she has been in the industry since 2010. Chelsi is signed with Boss Models Cape Town and has so far worked with Spree and Truworths. Here, the full-time model answers 14 questions with tjil.
Tjil (T): What brings you by?
Chelsi (C): I'm back because I got homesick and also my agency only sends me to direct bookings. I've been here since end of February. It's really great to be home.
T: What are you keeping yourself busy with during your stay?
C: Visiting my family and friends as much as I can. I also took part in the Temptations fashion show which was nerve-wracking but I loved every bit of it. My latest gig is with Deangelo for his collection that is coming up.
T: Is modelling an easy job or more demanding than people realise?
C: It is very demanding. One thing you must be able to do as a model is to sell a product. If you can't, you lose out on clients and opportunities.
T: What's one of the most interesting shoots that you've done?
C: My most recent and interesting shoot is an editorial I did for Lucy Magazine. We shot in Cape Town… it was a great team and I had an amazing time.
T: Do you ever get shy in front of the camera?
C: I do not really get shy, mostly nervous, and it takes me some time to get into character. After that we are good to go.
T: What is your beauty routine; do you have a skincare routine and do you change it between seasons?
C: I've been using Neutrogena since 2014 and they have the best products so far for my face. My genes play a big role when it comes to my skin though. I'm currently scouting for new skincare products for my body but Vaseline works great for me.
T: How do you stay in shape?
C: My genes are the one! Hahaha. They really play a big role because I basically eat anything because of my high metabolism.
I still check my figure; I don't do strict diets, I do workout mostly cardio, crunches and leg lunges to keep my lower body in shape, and also just to be fit.
T: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
C: Being able to see myself grow and elevate, and especially to inspire people with something that I really love to do.
The amount of pride I have when I see myself on TV is out of this world.
T: Has your perception of the modelling industry changed over time?
C: Definitely! The fact is everything is totally different than it seems on TV… they put way more effort and time for those few seconds to sell that product. You always need to give your all in this industry; you are in the service business and it's never about you, it's always about the client. So you need to learn to take criticism from professionals. Also, if you're not working it doesn't mean you don't have potential or there's something wrong with your look - it's just that you don't have what the clients want for that time product or season. Patience is the key though I still struggle to practice it.
T: Which three Instagram accounts should we be following?
C: Chelsi_Shikongo of course hahaha! Chumchum_bikinis, it's a business with a friend and we sell bikinis. Our next collection will be out by end of August. Lastly, The Fairy Godfather. It's a great one for food of thought.
T: What are your three favourite places in Namibia?
C: Langstrand, Oshikango in the villages and the N/a'an ku sê sanctuary.
T: How would you describe your personal style, where do you pull your inspiration from?
C: My style is a 'sexy, confident, hippie and street style' kind of vibe. I draw my inspiration from a lot of stylists on the Gram and Pinterest. I really like Karen Wazen and Sherlina Nym.
T: If you weren't modelling what would you see yourself doing?
C: Being a full-time film student.
T: Give us five facts about you people may not know.
C: I'm way taller in person, I may come off intimidating but I'm a people's person, I love to cook, I'm obsessed with dogs and I love to write; I'm working on a short film called Strong Women Don't Have It Easy.
June Shimuoshili
With phenomenal work ethics, humble personality and the ability to speak out, new-age model Chelsi is surely killing it. She grew up in Walvis Bay and has been based in Cape Town, South Africa. She recalls modelling being a childhood passion and today she has been in the industry since 2010. Chelsi is signed with Boss Models Cape Town and has so far worked with Spree and Truworths. Here, the full-time model answers 14 questions with tjil.
Tjil (T): What brings you by?
Chelsi (C): I'm back because I got homesick and also my agency only sends me to direct bookings. I've been here since end of February. It's really great to be home.
T: What are you keeping yourself busy with during your stay?
C: Visiting my family and friends as much as I can. I also took part in the Temptations fashion show which was nerve-wracking but I loved every bit of it. My latest gig is with Deangelo for his collection that is coming up.
T: Is modelling an easy job or more demanding than people realise?
C: It is very demanding. One thing you must be able to do as a model is to sell a product. If you can't, you lose out on clients and opportunities.
T: What's one of the most interesting shoots that you've done?
C: My most recent and interesting shoot is an editorial I did for Lucy Magazine. We shot in Cape Town… it was a great team and I had an amazing time.
T: Do you ever get shy in front of the camera?
C: I do not really get shy, mostly nervous, and it takes me some time to get into character. After that we are good to go.
T: What is your beauty routine; do you have a skincare routine and do you change it between seasons?
C: I've been using Neutrogena since 2014 and they have the best products so far for my face. My genes play a big role when it comes to my skin though. I'm currently scouting for new skincare products for my body but Vaseline works great for me.
T: How do you stay in shape?
C: My genes are the one! Hahaha. They really play a big role because I basically eat anything because of my high metabolism.
I still check my figure; I don't do strict diets, I do workout mostly cardio, crunches and leg lunges to keep my lower body in shape, and also just to be fit.
T: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
C: Being able to see myself grow and elevate, and especially to inspire people with something that I really love to do.
The amount of pride I have when I see myself on TV is out of this world.
T: Has your perception of the modelling industry changed over time?
C: Definitely! The fact is everything is totally different than it seems on TV… they put way more effort and time for those few seconds to sell that product. You always need to give your all in this industry; you are in the service business and it's never about you, it's always about the client. So you need to learn to take criticism from professionals. Also, if you're not working it doesn't mean you don't have potential or there's something wrong with your look - it's just that you don't have what the clients want for that time product or season. Patience is the key though I still struggle to practice it.
T: Which three Instagram accounts should we be following?
C: Chelsi_Shikongo of course hahaha! Chumchum_bikinis, it's a business with a friend and we sell bikinis. Our next collection will be out by end of August. Lastly, The Fairy Godfather. It's a great one for food of thought.
T: What are your three favourite places in Namibia?
C: Langstrand, Oshikango in the villages and the N/a'an ku sê sanctuary.
T: How would you describe your personal style, where do you pull your inspiration from?
C: My style is a 'sexy, confident, hippie and street style' kind of vibe. I draw my inspiration from a lot of stylists on the Gram and Pinterest. I really like Karen Wazen and Sherlina Nym.
T: If you weren't modelling what would you see yourself doing?
C: Being a full-time film student.
T: Give us five facts about you people may not know.
C: I'm way taller in person, I may come off intimidating but I'm a people's person, I love to cook, I'm obsessed with dogs and I love to write; I'm working on a short film called Strong Women Don't Have It Easy.
June Shimuoshili
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