Why Desperate Kenyan Models Stick To Their Agencies Despite Getting Sexually Abused Over And Over By Their Bosses

Recently, the CEO Of Shado Modelling Company in Mombasa was busted for soliciting sex from his employees. Leaked Whatsapp messages revealed that he was having sex with his models in exchange for tiny favors such as rent, food and fare. How the beasts rule this land. Kenya’s modeling industry is fueled by sexual favors

Many young girls in Kenya, especially college girls want to be top models. But they never actually make it. It’s just a merry go round of unsavory stories that include getting baited with fake promises, getting shagged by promoters and bosses and getting underpaid. But why do these models stay?

CEOs of modeling agencies use their statuses to lure models to their studios and sexually abuse them, while belittling, humiliating and disorientating them at the same time. The girls become like slaves clinging on to hopes of future superstardom.

The question is, Just what makes a model stay and endure such an ordeal at the hands of sexually aggressive bosses? What prevents them from fleeing at the first whiff of danger?

To understand this better, I think it’s first important to explore the psychology behind the relationship between a model and her agency.

While starting out as a model, you need to be able to harness your vulnerability. You need to approach agencies with desperation and place your insecurities and trust in

A typical modeling agency bigwig knows this and will promise you great this while boosting your confidence, reading your levels of discomfort and buoying your energy. Trust is a vital component of the working relationship between models and their agencies. To say no to the requests of a boss is to look unprofessional. No girls wants to be saddled with the tag ‘diva’ or ‘difficult-to work-with’, .

No model wants to be seen as difficult by her bosses and photographers. That makes it hard to speak up when they feel uncomfortable or sense potential abuse. The chances don’t come easy and sadly these models are gagged by the fear of losing work.

For a Kenyan model, turning down sexual requests from an agency boss would be dicing with one’s career. What is clear, is that the abuse of models is far more nuanced and complex than the entrenched narrative of a young, naive girl being preyed upon.

What happens in the modeling history is wrong. Someone needs to solve it before things get out of hand