It is no more in doubt that the Nigerian lifestyle and entertainment industry has grown tremendously.

The lifestyle and entertainment industry is now recognized as an income generating  branch in the economy and no longer stereotyped as an industry for the vain and unserious.

But one industry that still faces so many challenges in Nigeria’s entertainment circles is the modelling industry. There is a major consensus among the modelling industry stakeholders that Nigeria is yet to get it right in this field.

Models in Nigeria are under paid, defrauded and yet to establish themselves in the fashion industry. Little wonder many of the more established models in Nigeria move to South-Africa immediately they make a name for themselves here. This is because of the way models are generally mistreated in Nigeria.

Recently the St. Eve West African Fashion Show held an event its organizers portrayed as a glamorous platform for Fashion lovers to showcase their designs. However the models used for the show were over used and were never paid? A group of models who worked with the St. Eve West African Fashion Show reached out to media houses, complaining that they have not been paid ever since they participated in the event early this year.

Some of the models who spoke to the media houses gave vivid pictures of what they passed through in the hands of the organizers of the event.

‘’Models were auditioned for over three months after which the selected ones started rehearsals every Friday in a very far location, with the belief that they will be paid after all. After all the stress and inhuman treatment we were subjected to, some of us were dropped two days to the main event without any reason or consolation’’, he said.

A female model said;

‘’We were asked to come for fittings only to be used to film a short advert to promote the show, no money was paid, instead we were blackmailed to visit sponsors of the show (Italian Embassy and Mercedes Benz ) or be dropped for the show.

Another female model alleged that;

‘’We were asked to come for a spa to prepare them for the show only to be driven to different media houses to promote the show, and to make matters worse, we were given handbills promoting the show to go round the streets to share them, else we will dropped from the job.”

Another female model said;

‘’We were asked to sell the tickets for the show and get commission on tickets sold, and on the day of the event, we were forced to arrange the hall for the show as the organizers didn’t engage the services of an event planner, adding that after the event, pay was delayed and after some weeks, we were called to come for our pay, only to get to their office and we were given five thousand Naira (N5,000), while some others didn’t get any money at all. Those who sold tickets were not given the agreed commission promised.’’

Models of St Eve West African Fashion show say they will go any length to collect their money from the organizers.

Confronted with the weighty allegations against St EVE West Africa, by the models, they have denied that the company was involved in any wrongdoing; instead they have accused the models of stealing some foreign currencies belonging to the organizers of the event at the hotel where they were lodged.

They also said the models were treated right throughout their working relationship with the company, adding that compared to other organizers of such events, St Eve West Africa did well.

‘’We did our best. We took them to a spa, treated them right and gave them our best. If there are models complaining, then there are few of them because majority of them were well taken care of… some of them even stole our money when they were lodged in a hotel. And it was dollars, yet we still treated them well.’’ they said.

When asked how much the models were paid, our contact hesitated, but didn’t give any figure, she then rounded up the call by promising to get back to the reporter but she never did.

Meanwhile, the models have threatened to use any legal available means to get their money back. ‘’We are ready to take this matter anywhere.’’

What do you think, and how would you advice the models to get the money due them, please don’t hesitate to drop your opinions.