Future looks good for model Junaid
Junaid Ahmed (17) who has been signed up by modelling and acting agency Fab New Faces.
TEENAGE model Junaid Ahmed from Peterborough is living his dream after his dazzling good looks wowed a fashion scout who spotted him in the street.
London-based modelling and acting agency Fab New Faces recently became the third company to be charmed by the looks of the bubbly 17-year-old from Craig Street, signing him up on a one-year contract.
It marked another step on the road towards what six feet tall Junaid hopes will be a successful career in modelling and television presenting.
He accepts that his glamorous career choice might be frowned upon by some members of the the Asian community, but wants to prove that it is something which should be accessible to all – especially after being spotted twice by scouts.
Junaid said: “When I was younger I thought about modelling, but my mum said I was probably still a bit young and I was fine with that.
“Shortly after that I was shopping in Oxford Street in London. There was a modelling agency stand there and the people came over to me and said: ‘you have an amazing face’. I was still only 14!
“I did a bit of modelling and then stopped, but two years later at 16 I attended the Clothes Show in London, and I got scouted by a different agency.This time I wanted to pursue it.
“I have been told that when I walk into a room I brighten it up and am quite outgoing, and it’s that that got me noticed.
“I don’t think of myself like that, but people say I have got a unique look – I’m not really sure!”
Junaid has not modelled for any of the big clothes brands yet.
Most of his shoots and catwalk modelling have been for small independent stores in London and photography websites, so he would like to break into the catalogues market for department stores.
But the Thomas Deacon Academy student has also acted in television commercials.
These included an advert for Dell Computers where he played a ‘happy schoolboy’, a promotion for Tesco Mobile phones, and an advert for a type of Asian flour.
Mum Sugar and dad Ishtiaq and proud brothers Shoaib (20), Raees (11) and Hassan (5) have supported his career choice, which has seen him travel to major modelling centres such as London, Birmingham and Brighton and closer venues including Huntingdon and Stamford.
He is currently fitting jobs for FabNewFaces, Fresh Agents and Models Connect around his A-level studies.
The sixth-form student said: “I am studying sociology, drama and media.
“My plan is to go to university to study drama, preferably in London. Then I want to go into presenting or acting.
“There are some Asian backgrounds where I would not have had this opportunity, but I want to break that stereotype.
“Some people don’t accept it and I have encountered some jealousy, but I’m doing something with my life and I will carry on until I am successful.
“My family are very proud of what I have achieved, and without them I don’t think I would have the character I have today.”
n You can follow Junaid on Twitter on www.twitter.com/jaaydx, or go to www.fabnewfaces.co.uk
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Weather for Peterborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
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