“I did a fashion show for London Fashion Week, and the hair stylist didn’t know how to do my hair. All the black models were waiting around, everyone else was getting their hair done and no one knew how to do ours. I saw that most of the hairstylists were white and looked away, pretending it wasn’t happening, so we [the black models] ended up doing each other’s hair backstage. I ended up writing an article for LAPP, Leomie Anderson’s blog; in my opinion, the best writing you can ever do is when you’re passionate about your subject, so that’s when that shift really happened for me.”

Do you want to focus on this area of your writing in the future? What kind of things can we expect from you in the next few months?

“Lots of exciting things! I see myself talking more about inclusivity and diversity as well as women’s rights - a subject I’m also really passionate about - but I want to open a discussion for everyone to be involved in. We’re all involved in society and these difficult situations but we don’t know how to express our emotions surrounding any of these big issues. My goal is to help other people find their voice.”

Now that we come to think of it, we can’t think of any other models who write; it’s often writers who just speak on behalf of models on the issues they face. Do you think you would have decided to write eve if you hadn’t loved it in the past?

“Writing is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal you can use, talking and acting about it is how we can instigate change. With writing it feels more personal, I can see it and it’s there [online] forever. When I do a performance, it’s over as soon as it’s done.”

You had so much exciting work last year - editorials, shoots, even a cover and some work with some really exciting up and coming photographers - what are you most looking forward to in the future?

“I’m looking forward to more opportunities with my writing but also more acting. I starred in my first short film this year and absolutely loved it; it was inspired by spiritual experience and religion’s role in culture and our wider society. It was such a great transformative role to play and made me see acting from a whole new perspective.”

Why do you think so many models become actors?

“There’s such a huge trend of celebrities taking the spots in magazine covers and not the models. This is frustrating because we work so hard to get to those parts, and go through a much more difficult time with diets, restrictions and gruelling shows. But it can definitely go the other way round too! When I act, I don’t have to lose weight in the same way, I don’t have those same restrictions that the modelling industry places on you but I can still be on camera, I can still express myself and be creative without making those sacrifices.”

When you’re playing a role, do you even feel like it can sometimes be taxing in different ways, say, emotionally?

“Someone once taught me this, when you’re acting you’re putting a part of yourself into a character; you need to do this to understand them better through your own personal experiences. Maybe you don’t lose yourself, but it is something I know can be powerful, it’s important to lose yourself a tiny bit.”

Can you lose yourself when you’re modelling?

“Yes, oh my goodness yes. Sometimes because the industry is quite small, when you’re on set  in the bubble, you feel like someone else. The shoot can be powerful, or it’s sexy or racy, sometimes you forget to leave that character on set. On one hand, you did a shoot you never thought you could do, but then you’re more self-conscious of how you are and can become someone you’re not. Even the models I’ve met who’ve been working for years, they’re lovely people but there’s a certain look in their eyes that shows what they’ve been through: that speaks beyond words. I’m starting to learn that the modelling ‘role’ is all about how you see it, it’s perspective. It’s not who I am, it’s what I do.

Stay up to date with Funmi’s next big role on her Instagram.