Martins Igbinedion

BMW: Is it Martin or Martins? Is there a difference?
Martins: Martins is the name that my mum gave me but people like being lazy and call me Martin i find it rude if they know already.

BMW: Where does the name Igbinedion come from... Where are you originally from?
Martins: I have been modeling for about two years now and I love it man... My story is I feel like I have always had a hold on fashion but I couldn't put my finger on it. Like your every guy I loved football, playing the N604s, the Play Station and so on... and I played rugby. But when I would go out to places with the swagger a.k.a style... people would always ask me if I was a model and where did I get my stuff from. I have always had it in mind that its not always clothes that you are wearing... Its the person in the clothes. One more reason... I started model is my aunts would always buy suits and tell me stuff like you look like a real super model in a Nija voice... lol... And tell me I had the build and the face for modeling which gave me the final push. And that's how I became Martins the model.

BMW: How long have you been modeling in London and what is your story?
Martins: I have made a lot of money... joking. But I have shot a few national campaigns. I was selected as the sexiest bachelor in Detroit in 2007, I've walked in a lot of shows for some really good designers, I've meet a lot of cool people, and memories to last a life time.

BMW: How hard is it to get gigs as an African male model in London?
Martins: It's hard... Trust me because in England they have their ideal model. If black, they look for a stereotype which one may not want to be seen as or printed to the world like. But I still fight on and get gigs and yes... the industry has been good to me in some ways.

BMW: List some of your accomplishments as a model.

• Taking part of London fashion week.
• Modeling for Timberland.
• Being able to be a role model to younger people coming up the ranks.
• Really taking the high fashion and cat walk by storm.

BMW: What are you known for in the industry?
Martins: My greatest asset that I have been told a few times is my strong look and my power house walk on the cat walk and for the fact that I always come serious to casting... that means never being late, dress all in black head to toe nails and hair smartly cut ready for anything which is the most important thing.

BMW: What have you enjoyed most from the modeling industry and what has surprised you most?
That's hard to answer... na just joking. I have enjoyed meeting people and learning things on the go and last of all giving back in any way I can.