Professional boxer and fitness trainer Kishawn Simon is fast approaching the third anniversary of him strutting his stuff on stage as a model but tongues continue to wag about the way he owns the stage and his physique which was on display at the recently concluded Guyana Fashion Week.
In a sit down with The Scene Kishawn shared how he actually came around to modelling, an idea he had very much shunned most of his life.
“Being aware of the stigma [about] male models being gay I wanted nothing to do with modelling. Because of my other profession as a boxer I’d have to keep fit and persons seeing my [physique] would often tell me to sign up for modelling but I always said that wasn’t for me,” said Kishawn.
“Eventually after hearing a good number of persons telling me to get into modeling, I told myself one day, the next person that tells me to join modeling, I’ll just go ahead and give it a try. I figured since I work out so much and like to flex and post selfies I might as well give it a try and get paid instead for just doing something I like,” he continued.
The next person to suggest modeling turned out to be the manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of La Face Model Management, Ryan Seecharran.
Kishawn recalled that he was walking down Regent Street one day and ran into Ryan, a longtime friend.
Ryan recommended modelling to him and even though he was still unsure about what he was getting into Kishawn found himself at the rehearsals, just looking on at first but he soon ended up strutting with the other models. That was December 2013, and by February the next year he took to the Exotica Fashion Show runway at the Pegasus Hotel with pride showing off his first designer piece.
Though most persons making their debut for anything would be begging their nerves to keep still, Kishawn had already gotten accustomed to an audience years before being in the boxing ring. However, walking on to the stage as a model was a moment that stood out for him. He had lost a cousin, Barrington Arokium, a former model, in 2009; stepping onto the catwalk was a moment Kishawn used to pay homage to his late cousin.
Since his debut Kishawn has done six other big shows; Reflections (2014 & 2015), the Sixxor’s Show for the Jubilee, Style Mission, one at Giftland Mall and Guyana Fashion Week and between these a few other smaller shows and commercials.
In time Kishawn did come around and got the hang of it. Doing a personality check, Kishawn thought for a bit then said, “Modelling has helped me to become more open-minded. I have learnt to accept people for who they are, gay or straight and not for who I wish them to be. I have become more of a humble person.
“What I like about the fashion industry is being around different people and learning new things, new cultures [and this] helps me gain better knowledge. The exposure is the best part about modelling and wearing designer brands is exciting!”
But though Kishawn has gained a love for his new-found passion he believes that not enough is being done for the local models and more so, anything local. “The entertainment, fashion, arts and sports industries pay little. I think we have a lot of business people with enough resources to help boost the development of the industries here but many are still too foreign-minded and prefer to promote foreigners or overseas-based Guyanese rather than our locals right here.”
Turning to his boxing career, Kishawn reminisced about meeting the famous Howard Eastman, having watched his fights. “I always wanted to fight. I remember seeing Howard in 2002 and I looked at him and said it has to be him, the guy with the gold beard. I went up to him and told him I wanted to learn to fight like him one day. He talked with me a bit and gave me my first set of gloves. I was still a teenager then. A few years later he’d train me. I’m currently a Junior Welterweight140 lbs and Welterweight 147lbs.”
When he is not boxing, modelling or fitness training, Kishawn practices two different Martial Arts (Jui Jitsu and Capoeira), reads (non-fiction), watches movies, listens to music, hangs with friends and travels.
“I hope in a few years from now I can be on top of my respective arts being a real model [role model] to kids around Guyana and to have my own family,” he said.
For more info, find him on Facebook at Kishawn Simon.
