Many might want to know more about who Babalola Otitoju Joseph really is? The Nigerian-born high-flying American model better known as Joseph Water doesn’t need much introduction as his work records speak volumes for him.
In this interview, Joseph Water shed more light on his career path, coping as a Nigerian based in America, social media issues and lots more.
Excerpt;
Let’s start with your age; how old is Babalola Otitoju Joseph?
I am 28 years old.
Your social media name recently changed from Joseph Walters to IamJosephWater. What’s the reason?
The reason I changed my social media name from Joseph Walters to IamJosephWater was because I discovered that someone else has that name with a huge following. And changing it would exponentially increase my chances of being verified as my new name on there doesn’t have any other user.
Since you are now ‘American’ are you likely to change your name legally and forego you Nigerian name? If so why? And If not, why?
Yes, I will change my name legally. I find it hard for people to pronounce and spell Babalola Otitoju Joseph correctly, and that informed my decision to change my name. It has represented my brand for six years now.
How do people react, especially Americans, when they first got to know you are Nigerian?
When Americans get to know that I am Nigerian, they profile me as a fraudster.
The preconceived notion comes mainly from the many Nigerian email and romance scams that are sadly prevalent. This has led some people to generalize that Nigerians as a people are dishonest and self-serving at the expense of others, which is an unfair hasty generalization. I think that everyone, regardless of stereotypes, should be given the benefit of doubt until proven otherwise.
What advantage do you have in your profession by virtue of being a Nigerian?
The merit of being a Nigerian in my profession is how much we cherish family values, and when I encounter a fellow Nigerian or an African, there is a kindred spirit that exudes and it helps the workflow and creativity. As a Nigerian, other Nigerians tend to respect you more when they find out that you’re older and you’ve built a life away from Nigeria in the US — they tend to have a huge sense of regard for you. It could be irrational and sentimental, but I never take advantage of it.
You are getting deeper into the modelling career, are you likely to do any other thing in future, or are you likely branch off into another profession sooner or later?
I will most likely pursue other interests like earning a degree in IT and starting world-class fashion brands that will appeal to the needs of the global market and sustain quintessential standards.
The last few years have shown that racism is still an issue in America. What have been your big lesson about this social issue, so far?
My big lesson about racism in America borders around how some white people act oblivious to the existence of racism, and how they are passive regarding conversations that are particular to racial inequality. I find it utterly disturbing as they refuse to acknowledge their white privilege and how it has been institutionalized. I understand that privilege is not usually what everyone asks for, many are born into it, but what you do with the privilege matters, and I think it’s important that we collectively address class inequality, and racial inequity and we would build a better American society.
What do you miss so much about the Nigerian way of life?
The Nigerian culture, inter-tribal relations, and food.
What are the adjustment, socially or otherwise, that you have to make to fit into the American society?
I had to make myself indulge in friendly small talk. I realized that small talk with strangers in America were a perfectly normal thing to do, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to strike up random conversations with someone on the train or downtown has been a great social practice, that has adjusted me to the American culture. I’ve also had to be explorative: American people love to find new things and explore — maybe checking out what locals in my area do and go do them myself. The idea of the American football seemed strange to me at first, but over time I’ve seen the beauty of the game.
What are the big lessons you learned about modelling in America?
I’ve learned to deal with rejection. Rejection feels awful but it is a basic part of human relationships, and we must adapt to receiving rejection in a healthy way that doesn’t militate our esteem. Sometimes, stylists look for people with certain features and physical idiosyncrasies like hair colour, skin colour, height, and all that, and when I didn’t fit into those specs, I had to understand that it wasn’t about me. Just because someone prefers mangoes doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who prefer oranges. I’ve had to build my confidence such that when I’m rejected for a gig based on physical features, I know it just wasn’t meant for me.
I can’t miss out on the importance of believing in oneself. The modelling industry has taught me that you need to believe in yourself before anyone else will. Self-worth and confidence are infectious — once you fiercely believe in yourself, a lot of things will align. It doesn’t matter who likes your style, others will just love you because people love where worth is exuded.
As a model, what kind of gigs make your day?
The kind of gigs that leave me with a wide grin and make my day are the ones booked by top brands, with great pay, and also give me time to be a freelance model, own my time, money, and comfort.