C★NT. BOLD. SMART. DOSHA DENG BALANCES ALL HER PLAN, FUTURE, & WINNINGS HARMONIOUSLY.

TALENT Dosha Deng ★ WORDS BY Kika Naranjo

Photo by Sarah Pardini

Dosha Deng, captivating the limelight for the last 4 years, took some time on her younger brother’s birthday no less, to sit and talk with me on a hot LA day. The young model, who at this point you’ve probably seen on GIA’s latest campaign, or maybe Barbie’s European campaign? The list is only accumulating on where you’ve seen her face and she happily let me know it’s only the beginning for her and other darker-skinned models as we spoke further on the topic of whose faces she’s seeing in castings. She also let me in on some tea in the world of modeling agencies and how to know who to trust. Most of all she gives us all advice on how to boldly stand on your worth. Insight from a young South Sudanese and Texan isn’t common so I was pleasantly surprised to hear more about her story along with her plans that may lie in a different industry. What is for sure is that Dosha Deng knows what she wants and plans on getting it. 

KIKA: I’m here with Dosha today. Dosha, how are you feeling?

DOSHA: I’m feeling good, super hot, but good.

Yeah, where are you at right now?

I’m based in California, it’s so hot right now. It’s like 98 degrees, maybe 100. 

Wow, and you’re outside right now, just soaking it all in. 

[laughs] Yeah I’m on my patio right now. 

Okay, okay, great. So, I know you fly around a lot for different brands and gigs, have you flown recently? Any jet lag?

Yeah, I had jet lag for a few days, when I got back. I got back Thursday, well, Friday at like one in the morning, and then I had work the next day. I just got back from New York, I was shooting for Jordan.

Oh, okay, cool. I first started recognizing you when I saw the Gia campaigns. I thought they were great, so funny, so emasculating. I loved them, how did you feel about them?

I loved them. When I first started with I AM GIA I was about 18 or 19 years old, they were one of the first brands I loved. They have been sending me clothes since about 2017. When I moved to LA they reached out wanting to have me model and do campaigns for them.

That’s dope, you started working with them when you were about 18. How old are you now?

I’m 23. I just turned 23 in April. I’m a Taurus, my birthday is at the end of the month.

Oh awesome, that’s great. Aries scare me. Funnily enough, I just interviewed your friend, Jean.

I love her so much. I just did a shoot with her, Pussywagon. It was so cool.

That’s dope. She got so excited when I said I was interviewing you. She said you were one of her best experiences in LA. So you mentioned you just moved to LA, where are you from originally?

I’m from Texas, near the Dallas area, but people don’t know where. I would say Arlington if you know that area. I’ve been in LA for about 4 years now. I lived in New York and Jersey too but realized quickly that it’s not for me. I like to be secluded, I prefer the suburbs. I like being in my little bubble.

Yeah no I get that. Well, I’m glad you made it this far. So, you started modeling at a pretty young age, how old were you when you started modeling?

Photo by Luke Abby

I was about 17 years old, I would say. Maybe 18 when I started signing a contract. I was with a small boutique agency in Dallas but it didn’t work out. I worked with a few smaller creatives when I was there which I loved and worked out for me. My first big job was with a magazine in Texas, I can’t remember the name of it. They paid me about $1000, which at the time was a lot. My mom let me leave school early to go do the photoshoot, laughs. I wasn’t really in it for the money, it was just fun, being able to leave the house and play dress up. It eventually turned into a career that I wasn’t expecting. It’s so fun and freeing.

Yeah, I love that, it's a fun way to go back and forth. Great, so, do you feel like the industry and agencies still work with models at that age?

They do. I have been shooting with younger kids too, like 7-10 years old. Sometimes they’re more outgoing, sometimes they’re more shy. I feel like if you have a more unique look it works out for you. Some of the kids I’ve worked with look more like my age.

Wow, yeah. How tall are you?

I’m about 5’8, it’s pretty average. 

Okay so, do you regard yourself as a brand? How would you describe that?

I don’t know if I would say a brand, but the way I market myself on social media is as a brand. But as a person, I feel like I am changing all of the time, unlike as much as a brand might. I’m just here for a good time, not a long time. I don’t want to do anything that compromises my integrity.

Yeah for sure, what are some big no-nos for you? Something that would compromise your integrity?

I think things that would be controversial, I’m not really into politics for a certain reason. I don’t want to be attacked for things that I could change my mind on in the future. Things that have to do with harming people, or glorifying abuse I am definitely against. I don’t like to show too much of myself on camera either, maybe a little explicit but not too much.

Ok, I got it. I know you mentioned you immigrated, can you tell me more about where you’re from?

Yeah, I’m from South Sudan. At the time, South Sudan wasn’t a country, right now it’s still the youngest country in the world. I came to the US when I was 3 years old. I don’t remember much from being back home, but I remember coming to America. Everything was so different. I didn’t feel like I was treated well or welcomed much. It was hard growing up but after some time I felt like people started accepting me. I even feel like this in the industry sometimes, but now people are more appreciative of darker skin.

Yeah, definitely. I think I’ve read somewhere before that you had begun your career with UNIF, right?

Yeah, I think that’s from a British Vogue article I did. I had seen a lot of people getting PR packages from them and was noticing that there wasn’t much representation, especially of darker-skinned girls. I had reached out to UNIF, among many other brands, explaining how I felt, and saying that I’d love to be sent packages to post on social media. Eventually, they flew me out to shoot for their cool brand. I got lots of free products then. You just gotta reach out for these opportunities and see what happens.

Yeah, wow. That’s interesting. And you were about 16 at this point, I can’t wrap my head around being at that point mentally, knowing your worth at that age already. 

Yeah, I often hung around a lot of older Black women, so they taught me I should get into modeling more and know my worth. I just wanted free clothes and to have fun.

Photo by Luke Abby

Yeah okay, so it was more about the clothes for you than modeling overall?

Yeah I mean, for example, I AM GIA. I love their clothes, when I go to their shoots I know it’s gonna be great. I know I’ll love my hair, makeup, everything. Getting paid is more of a bonus. There are other brands that I work for where I feel like I’m just here for the check. Sometimes I’m here to have fun, sometimes I’m just here to get paid.

Okay interesting, so it’s been about 4 years now that you’ve been modeling. I know 4 years isn’t the longest time, especially in the industry. Do you feel like you’ve seen any positive change, especially as it relates to darker-skinned women?

Oh yeah for sure. I feel like we are starting to get booked more often, which feels good. It wasn’t happening for a while but I feel like we deserve it now. I am starting to feel like we are more represented in the industry. I feel like there are more people I can relate to when I’m at shoots now. It’s cool to meet more people who are similar to me in the industry.

Yeah, that’s cool, I like that energy. Yeah so, speaking of castings, which booking do you feel changed your directory for the best?

Yeah so when I did the GCDS campaign, it was a holiday campaign for a calendar. That’s where I met Nadia Lee Cohen, and I shot for a women’s campaign for her. I wasn’t supposed to model for this, they had another model they had booked, but she had another booking she needed to do so I was asked last minute to do this campaign. The job paid a lot, I was flown out and it was so much fun. It was the first time I was topless, and I was like “My mom’s gonna see this one day”, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t really scared, I was pretty comfortable.

[laughs] What was your mom’s reaction?

She didn’t say anything. It was a calendar, so of course my sister wanted one. When my mom first saw it she just looked at it and didn’t say anything.

Wow, your mom sounds cool. What’s your relationship with her like?

Yeah, we’re cool now. She only has 2 daughters. I'm her youngest daughter. I feel like she is protective. Especially as I’m the only one who doesn’t live in Texas and I’m in the modeling industry, I feel like she is a bit more worried about me but I feel like I’m the most responsible.

Yeah, I’m glad to hear that. So going back a little bit, have you been able to go back and visit South Sudan?

No, I haven’t. It’s not the safest place to go right now. My father lives there, and my parents both got remarried. But a few years ago my mom convinced me to buy some rental property back home, so I did. My mom did that too, she’s working on some property now. She said once it’s safer we can go back and visit. My property is in Sudan, not South Sudan, closer to where my dad is. I want to finish it soon so I can go back and visit and not have to worry about staying with relatives or anything. 

Yeah definitely, I hope it gets better soon so you can go back and visit. Ok, so, what was the creative scene like growing up for you over in Texas?

Photo by Petra Collins

There wasn’t much going on. Lots of people were wearing Thrasher and Vans, but people weren’t changing up their style much. I tried too but my school dress code was stupid, and my mom often disapproved of my outfits. That’s why I enjoyed doing photoshoots because it was something out of the ordinary and I got to wear it to take pictures, so I felt like it was another way for me to express myself. Growing up, I just felt like there was only so much I could wear where I was. I couldn’t wear leggings because it would show too much, in 8th grade, it was stupid.

Yeah definitely, I had that at my school too. So you’re signed in New York and LA, right?

I’m no longer signed in New York, I am in LA. I had my mother-agency and I didn’t feel like they were supporting me with jobs or campaigns the way they should’ve been. I had people reach out to me via DMs and I had to go to my agency about it. My agency thought they were the ones who got those jobs for me when they didn’t. It wasn’t a great experience towards the end of the contract, so I just decided to move to LA. I didn’t feel appreciated by them. When I got to LA, I started working a lot and of course, my agency wanted me to move back to New York. I told them to book me jobs then, but eventually, I let them go. Hopefully, they can take care of the other Black models they have. I still work in New York, based on the client, but my agency in LA will book it and I’ll get flown out for jobs. I did a campaign for Barbie in Europe, it was so cool. It was my first time in Europe. I do love my agency now though, they treat me how they’re supposed to.

Yeah, wow that’s sick. So you’ve been at it for a while now, what advice do you have for other women starting their journey?

I feel like you’ve gotta be confident in yourself no matter what and make sure that people have their best interests for you. You can’t let people walk all over you. Also, I think being confident in saying no and not doing things that you aren’t comfortable in. You have to know how to stand your ground. Also, think about things as a team in the long run. You don’t have to like someone but you have to know how to work with them, especially as a team. We both don’t get paid if we’re not able to work together. 

Photo by Petra Collins

Yeah, that sounds like great advice. Would you say you're pretty booked and busy at this point?

Oh, definitely. I don’t have much time to lollygag. My brother was coming to town for his birthday and I was surprised to even have time to see him.

Aw, I’m so glad you had time to see him. I appreciate you even taking the time for this, especially being away from family.

Oh, yeah for sure. I’m happy to do it. My brother is here staying with me just watching a movie [laughs].

That’s great. So, since you are pretty busy now, would you say you’re satisfied with everything going on?

I would say I am satisfied. However, I feel like I always want more, but I don’t know what that is. I set goals but I also feel like I’ve only just begun. I also am interested in breaking into acting, I was a theater kid in school. I don’t feel like I have much time for acting right now though, I have to make time.

Oh, wow, that’s cool. Would you be in dramas? Would you be in action movies? What’s ideal?

I’d want to be in everything, but there are a few roles I wouldn’t wanna do. I want to do more serious roles, I don’t want to get stuck in any kind of roles though. I want to be able to do it all. I can do it all. I don’t want people to try to limit me, even in the modeling world.

I see. Are there supermodels that you look up to? 

Yeah, right now, I’m trying to think of some newer ones. Everyone always says the originals like Naomi Campbell, so I guess maybe her. She followed me on Instagram at one point in 2018-2019, but I think she unfollowed me.

[laughs] Wow. Okay, so, I know you hold lots of responsibility and pride in the work you do. What is your support system like, how have they held you up in this period of your life?

Photo by Micheal Bailey Gates

Yeah, I feel like I have a really good support system. Everyone sees how much time and energy I am putting into my work now, and I think starting I had more support from my friends than my parents. I always felt like my sister was supportive and had been there for me though. Also, my cousins, they always supported me. I think now my mom is supportive of me and sees the money coming in, knowing that I am working hard living on my own, and owning property too.

I get that. You feel like you’ve finally proved yourself. I’m glad you have all of this fruitfulness coming in from your art, that’s really lovely. 

[laughs] Yeah, thank you. I try. I try.

Yeah, so with that being said, what does your community look like now compared to when you started?

I feel like it’s grown but also I feel like it’s gotten tighter, more strong, and more stable. I feel like I’ve had a few relationships that only wanted to support me for their gain. But I feel like now a lot of my friends are genuinely supportive, which is great. We all help each other out and build each other up. My friends are good at supporting me in times when I’m stressed or don’t feel like I am doing enough. I’ve had to get rid of some people though because I didn’t feel like they wanted what was best for me.

Yeah, definitely. I feel like you’re very mature for your age. Most 23-year-olds don’t feel that way.

Yeah, exactly. I had to grow up at a young age.

So you mentioned you still do independent projects, is it still as fun as it was before, compared to working with bigger brands?

Yeah, I still do them a lot. I feel like working with independent brands is more fun, so I chose to do those. It’s not an obligation or because I needed the money. I love being collaborative and oftentimes they’re with my friends. Those shoots are often more easygoing and relaxed too. They’re usually the most fun.

Yeah for sure. Okay, so I’m gonna ask you a few rapid-fire questions. Runway or shoots?

Shoots.

Favorite runway show in history?

Any Chanel show ever. The vintage ones.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I think I’m in the middle.

[laughs] Last great party you went to?

My birthday. 

Okay, okay. Something you love doing alone?

I binge-watch and eat in my bed. [laughs]

[laughs] Okay, okay. Are tacos better in LA or New York?

LA. The [Mexican] taco truck people, they got it.

That’s what I feel like most people say. Okay, what’s your style when no one is watching? Your go-to outfit?

Slutty. 

Nice. What’s your favorite brand or go-to designer that you would love to work with?

Oooh, that’s a good one. Pass. I don’t know because I can’t think of one right now. There’s so many going through my head. Thinking of the MET Gala, maybe Versace.

[laughs] Where would you settle one day or do you want to keep traveling endlessly?

Keep traveling, but I want to have a house or vacation home somewhere for sure.

Okay. What would a conversation look or sound like with you and your younger self?

Keep doing you. They love you, but they can’t have you.

Love it. Okay, so last question. What do we have to look forward to for you? What’s the next big thing?

It’s a secret. The next big thing to know is that you’ll see me on the TV screen soon. Keep an eye out!

We’ll keep an eye out for sure. I want to thank you for your time. I know you’re booked and busy as you should be. Congratulations on all of your accolades, I wish you nothing but the best from here on out. 

Yeah, thank you so much. This was such a great conversation to have. I really enjoyed it!

Photo by Quil Lemons