Local model lands deal with international agency

Motswana model Julia Tsile, better known by her brand name, Juice, is flying the Botswana flag high in the modelling industry. The leggy lass returned from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday, where she was part of the Swahili Fashion week. Two weeks ago she strut her stuff at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in South Africa.

The icing on the cake was that Juice got signed to Nigeria based Isis model agency. The agency has offices in Milan, New York, Paris and Johannesburg. Juice told Vibe that the grand development humbled her. “I got signed in the middle of the Mercedes Fashion week.

I was lucky enough to be booked to open for David Tlale’s show. Tlale is a fashion icon across Africa and even the world, so that was a big deal.” The stunning model is also the face of Izaura Creations by Mothusi Lesolle, who she describes as one of the greatest fashion designers in Botswana.

Juice was previously signed to Contact model management in Cape Town and landed several bookings that saw her take on many ramps and appear on feature spreads like in the popular Drum magazine. However, in the midst of the success and happiness, tragedy struck.

“In between all that I got married to a Croatian man who passed on immediately after our wedding. That was a huge blow for me. I wasn’t coping well so I took a break to concentrate on raising our son and trying to regain my strength,” she said. Her appearance at the Mercedes Benz fashion week came after a two-year hiatus, which she dedicated to building her brand and growing her tourism business, as well as focusing on her family. With regard to the latter, she notes that before, she rarely had time to spend with her loved ones because of her gruelling work schedule.

“When you are an international model, you usually miss out on many family gatherings and holidays.” Juice is currently the director of Juice Promotions Agency, through which she manages talent in fashion and entertainment, and also supplies staff for hospitality services. She noted that she has enjoyed a bittersweet journey in her modelling career and although she is now at her peak, she anticipates many more opportunities.

She said that she felt indebted to her mother, who has always been her greatest supporter, as well as her close friends who believe in her and always push her to excel in all that she does.