Interview with Actress and Model Abiba Bakayoko

We had a pleasant interview with actress and model Abiba Bakayoko.

Hi, Abiba! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

-Hola! :) My Name is Abiba, I‘m 28 years old, and I live in Berlin. My Dad is Ivorian and my Mom is German. I‘m a model and actress. I started modeling when I was 18 years old.

Why did you choose this profession? What job would you do if you weren't a model?

-I was approached on the street by a Russian designer while I was with my mom. She asked if I wanted to model for her clothing brand and that’s how my modeling career started. But of course, I finished school before that, and while I was modeling I started studying tourism and event management because of my parents. They always told me to do something serious in life too. I think if I wasn’t a model I would do something about wild animals such as lions or elephants. I've always wanted to work as a volunteer in South Africa.

Do you feel under pressure to be beautiful or thin?

-In the model business, it’s all about how you look. So when I started modeling I was under pressure to be thin and lose more weight. My first agency would only sign me if I lost some weight. So I did it. But I‘m not under pressure anymore. To be honest, I want to gain some weight now. I feel too skinny. It's more beautiful when a woman has curves. It looks so healthy and beautiful.

The tattoo on your left arm is very striking, can you share its meaning?

-My tattoo on my left arm is a dreamcatcher. It protects me from bad dreams.

Is there any brand or fashion designer you want to work with during your modeling period?

-Is there any designer I've always dreamed of working with? Well to be honest, not really. There are so many designers in the world. I've never thought about it. I think it’s because I‘m not a passionate model. Yes, it’s fun and interesting but it was never a dream for me. I was always more into acting but I could never focus on it that much. That’s why I‘m starting to focus on my acting career now and if you ask me if there is any director I would want to work with... Then it would definitely be Quentin Tarantino. :)

Do you have any beauty tips?

-My beauty tips are... First of all, being happy on the inside, having a positive mindset. You can be as beautiful as you want. But if you are not happy in general, and if you are always being negative, it affects the outside. Try to be as happy as you can. So now I'll be talking about the cosmetic part. Always take care of your body, skin, and hair. I‘m using some masks for my face about two times a week. I use them for the glow and against the pores.

Try to eat healthily. I‘m not the best at eating healthy and I know it's not easy but your body will thank you later. So don’t eat too much sugar. It makes you addicted. The more you eat, the more you want and it doesn’t keep you full for long.

What do you do in your spare time?

-In my spare time, I stay at home and watch some movies while eating in bed or I go out with my friends. I have a nice dinner or travel with them.

What are your next goals?

-My next goal is trying to reach anything I want in life. That’s what I‘m working for every day. I‘m a career woman but I want to get married one day. I also want to have my own little family if the right man comes.

Everyone has a turning point, what's yours?

-Can you explain what you mean by "turning point"?

When I say "turning point", it's an event that makes you who you are now. So there may be an event that teaches you an important lesson.

-My biggest life lesson is to put yourself first. Love yourself at least as much as you would love anybody else. I used to love someone more than life, even more than myself and now I know that’s wrong because I neglected myself. I focused too much on someone else’s well-being that I completely forgot my own happiness just because I loved that person. Love is not enough. Respect is more important. So there was this one person I loved more than myself, that I put over everything and anyone that I completely forgot about my goals and what makes me happy. This has put me in a deep depression. I never want to experience it again. My self-esteem was very low. But as painful as this experience was, I am happy that this happened.

Every bad thing has a lesson to teach. So my lesson is: you got to love yourself the most. You got to treat yourself like someone you love. Because you are worth every good thing in this world. You are precious and you deserve the world. This is what I‘m telling myself every day.

Through this experience, I am what and who I am now and I think I‘m a great person with so much love and I am worth every good thing in life.

What advice would you give to your fans or those who want to do the same job as you?

-My advice to those who want to do the same job is: always keep going. It is hard and the competition is huge. But nobody can be you and that is your power. You don’t have to be like others, just be yourself. This business is so superficial. So if you ever experience any setbacks, don’t take it personally and don’t lose yourself. Always take care of yourself and always be on time!