Esther Grace Williams

BMW: Welcome Esther... Thank you for being on BlackMenWomen.com.
Esther: It's a pleasure :)

BMW: How long have you been modeling and how did you end up with Mahogany?
Esther: Well, I've been testing with photographers since 2006 while I was in my last year of school. In May 2007, that's when I started getting some great jobs. Then, in May 2008, after becoming the female winner of the Supligen Brand Nu Model competition, Mahogany was interested. So I joined their books a few months ago.

BMW: 2008 Supligen Brand Nu Model winner... tell us something about that. What is the competition about, how did you end up in it?
Esther: The competition was created to find an unsigned black female model and an unsigned black male model. So I applied using the online form, then the panel of industry experts selected the 20 semi-finalists, 10 girls and 10 guys. I was so shocked when they told me I was selected. But the next stage was voting. So the Voice, a national newspaper, published all the semi-finalists' photos and the public voted. Those with enough votes became the finalists, 5 girls and 5 guys. We participated in three rounds at Alexander Palace - Wild Style, Summer wear/ Beachwear and the Crowning round. In Wild Style, we could wear what we wanted and had to encourage crowd support. In the second round, we were interviewed while in our beachwear/ summer wear. Then the crowning round were told where we placed.

The whole experience was great and a lot of fun. When they told me I was the female winner I was shell-shocked for two days lol but it made me very happy.

BMW: In the competition you said modeling is part of your destiny... How so?
Esther: I feel like I was born to this. All my life, people have told me I should become a model but on New Year's Day 2006 that's when I really felt that's what I'm going to do for this season in my life and I hope I'm pleasing God with what I'm doing.

BMW: What drawbacks have you met in the field of modeling and how would you advise a new model coming into the industry??
Esther: The work is unpredictable, so sometimes it could feel like nothing's happening and other times there's loads of work is on offer but a good model knows how to handle that. So I think the new model always needs to remember it's a business - so look after yourself and stay professional.