Recently, at the Milan fashion week renowned brands displayed their new eye-catching collections. Our compatriots are among the models who showed these long-awaited collections on the runway. Yertai Abdibekov presented Emporio Armani, Rakhat Koshkinbaev walked for Balenciaga, and Nursultan Ondas for JW Anderson. Yertai, who got involved in this business earlier than Rakhat and Nursultan, says that he never even dreamed of becoming a model, but over time he got really keen on that. We talked to Yertai, who returned from Milan to Paris.

- Yertai, have you always had a goal to become a model? Or did it just happen by accident?
- No, I never dreamed of becoming a model. I did not aim to be famous either. I was born in Almaty, but when I was nine years old, my family and I moved to Kaskelen on the outskirts of Almaty. At first, I studied at the gymnasium, then at the high school. If you  want to ask me who I wanted to be, at first I aspired to be a chef because I like to cook. After that, I dreamed of becoming a pilot. But I had to give up this dream because I felt dizzy when I got into the car. After graduating from school in Kaskelen, I chose digital marketing as a major and entered the Faculty of Economics of Suleiman Demirel University. I am a third-year student there.

- How did you get into the fashion industry?
- When I finished school, my girlfriend at the time, took part in the casting of Bacca Models in Almaty and suggested that I try out, too. “I’ll try, no one will take me anyway,” I decided and went. Later, the agency said that about a hundred people participated in the casting, but only I was chosen among them. At first I was shocked. My parents were also very surprised. But eventually I realized that I am good enough to be a model, and I began to venture into this industry. I have only recently started going abroad and signing contracts. This is my second season. My first work in the world of fashion began in Paris. Exactly one year ago, I participated as a model in the presentation of Alyx Studio and Amiri during the fashion week there. According to the management, I was the first Kazakh man to do a show in Europe at that time. Our girls often go to such big catwalks. I was the first among male models. My appearance in Paris was a big news for Kazakhstan modeling industry. As I was the first Kazakh to participate there, it is not an exaggeration to say that I was watched by modelers in Kazakhstan during that show. In fact, it prepared me for the shows for a long time. That's why my self-confidence increased over time.   

At the same time, our agency, headed by Anna Lesovaya, is currently doing its best to promote Kazakhstan, including Kazakh models.
- Yes, when Anna agreed to the interview, she said that she started a business in the country from scratch, and that she wanted to show the world that there are good-looking Kazakhs who can be models.
- Yes. In fact, we flew to Milan as a team from Kazakhstan (laughs). Apart from me, Rakhat Koshkinbaev and Nursultan Ondas participated in that week. Most people in the country should know about it. Because some news agencies wrote about him. Last week in Milan, I presented two clothes from Emporio Armani. Rakhat wore clothes from Balenciaga brand, and Nursultan made his debut and showed clothes from the world famous JW Anderson brand. All three of us work at Bacca Models. I was the first to get a job at the agency. Rakhat joined us last winter, and Nursultan recently. Indeed, the number of compatriots who go to world-class shows is gradually increasing.

- How did your parents react to your decision to work in modeling?
- At first they were happy. Then, during the signing of the contract, they looked at my choice with some suspicion. You know that most people in the country do not know much about the fashion industry. That's why they hired several lawyers to get to the bottom of the matter and check the contract in detail. Later, after making sure that everything was clean and that the representatives of the agency could be trusted, they changed their mind and welcomed my decision.
- Some people go to castings, and still not able to get a hang of it. And some participate in castings from a young age and prepare scrupulously. Did you like this job right away? Or did you start to enjoy it in the process?
- My sister would always tell me that I could be a model and that I should try out for an agency. We both watched America's Next Top Model a lot when we were kids. I was a kid back then and was only attracted to beauty. Growing up, there was no great interest in the world of fashion. But after entering the industry a year ago, I realized how multifaceted and full of secrets it is. I really like this job now. I'm still reeling from last week's show in Milan. After people started writing about me more often, my parents and friends tell me that they are proud of me and express their warm wishes. Nothing compares to doing something that makes you happy. For example, today I took part in a shooting for Asics ad, a famous sportswear brand, and I was very satisfied with the process. Going to shows and taking pictures are different. And the feeling I get from working outside the camera is completely different. How can I put it? Look, I like it so much that I don’t even have words to describe it. During the shooting, you will establish a friendly relationship with the photographer, make-up artist, stylist, and designer, and work in a comfortable atmosphere. Before I became a model, I couldn't even dress fashionably. Most models are like that. Some of them get scouted on the street or on the bus and invited to work. Some of them pass the casting like me. I was taught how to dress stylishly by my hard-working agent Alex and my Latvian friend.

At Emporio Armani show

- How did you get invited to Emporio Armani show?
- Of course, I was surprised at first. It is a whole different level. The atmosphere is different. First, I participated in their casting. More than a thousand models took part there. During the casting, the founder of the brand, designer and casting director pay special attention to your walking style. They also pay attention to your style of dressing. I went to Emporio Armani casting dressed in a mix of different styles. As you know, each brand should be represented by its own style of walking. For example, you have to look serious at the Balenciaga shows. While Yves Saint Laurent chooses very thin models. By the way, when I uploaded the video I took during the casting to social media, some people wrote comments like “It would be ridiculous if they approved you as a model there” saying that it would be impossible. Later, people from Emporio Armani contacted me and told me that they began fitting, i.e. measuring clothes. Meaning I was partially confirmed as a model. When I was finally confirmed and invited to work, I laughed as I read the messages of those who told me that they found me being a model “ridiculous”. By the way, I talked a little with Giorgio Armani, the founder of the Emporio Armani, and took a photo. I was surprised to find out that the eighty-eight-year-old designer is a very down-to-earth and open person.

With Giorgio Armani

- On your personal TikTok page, you wrote that you received a gift from Emporio Armani.
- If I knew that my post would gain that much traction, I wouldn't have posted it (laughs). But I really liked their gift. About fifty models appeared on the runway. Big brands have a tradition of giving gifts to models after the show. This time, Emporio Armani gave me a set of sports clothes. Before, while watching the Emporio Armani show, I never even dreamed that “one day I will be on the runway like this.” But I'm glad that I took the opportunity and was recognized as a worthy model to present the clothes of such a big brand in the second season.
- Is this the first big brand you have worked with?
- No, it isn’t. I was invited to South Korea and appeared in a commercial introducing Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra. The ad was shown on the biggest billboard in Korea. The commercial was also on YouTube and other social media. I was expecting it to spread to Kazakhstan, but it didn't. After this advertisement, people started to recognize me. Once, while I was sitting in a cafe, an elderly couple told me that they had seen me on TV and asked me to take a picture with them. Then I took part in the closed Dolce & Gabbana show in Thailand. There, we presented exclusive clothes made by the founders of Dolce & Gabbana and are now in the museum. At that time, the organizers told me that they invited me to the show because I remind them of an artist from Thailand.

At Emporio Armani show

- I was about to ask you whether you get confused with other Asian ethnicities. But since you, Rakhat, and Nursultan started participating in the fashion weeks in Paris and Milan, it seems that many people have started recognizing you as Kazakhs.
- Yes, because this industry is now developing in our country. There are enough modeling agencies in Kazakhstan. But they do not know how to enter the global market. And it is only our agency that is successfully implementing this, introducing us as “this is what Kazakh models look like“. On the one hand, this is, of course, a good thing. But on the other hand, it is really sad because no one insists that the country needs to reach the international level and there is lack of good advertising. Young models participate in shows abroad and try their best to promote Kazakhstan. I'm not bragging, but the group led by our director is trying their best to find, train and teach many models. If we continue to work at such a pace, I think that soon we will reach a level where the people of Europe will recognize that we are from Kazakhstan without saying that. About confusion with other Asian ethnicities. I attended about forty castings a year ago. People around would ask where I was from and when I answered that I was from Kazakhstan, they would then ask, "Where is it?" When I was working under contract in South Korea and Thailand, they thought I was Korean and Thai. Sometimes people assume that my parents are from two different nationalities. But after always talking about where and what nationality I come from, now when I participate in castings, everyone knows very well that I am Kazakh and that I am from Kazakhstan. Now, as you mentioned, after the number of Kazakh models who often appear in world-class shows has started to increase, many people know that there are good-looking people who deserve to be models in our country. They can distinguish what Kazakh model looks like. Although we belong to the Asian group, they know that we are different from Koreans and Japanese. Therefore, I think that I am representing not only a brand, but also a nation and a country on the runways.
- What’s next? Do you have a dream, “I wish I could present the clothing of this brand”, “I wish I could appear in the advertising video of this company”?
- In the future, I would like to participate in Prada shows. Then, of course, I dream of becoming the face of world brands. In general, the opening of the new season and the presentation of new collections are held in Paris and Milan. And other times, the models are mostly based in New York or London to work with different brands. Likewise, I intend to return to work in those two big cities. Negotiations are underway with America. And signed a contract with an agency in London. After Paris, I am going to China. Then I am going to work in New York or London.
- Noticing that most of the time, you see frowning models and o yourself, "Are these models always this moody?" And what kind of person are you? Has your personality changed since becoming a model?
- I notice that I have changed for the better since I started working in this business. My horizons widened and I began to look at my surroundings in a completely different way. I wasn't much to talk to before. And now I hang out with a lot of people. I make new friends every day. I am developing myself and improving my knowledge. My English has improved. I also started to understand French. I learned some Korean while working in Korea, and some Thai while in Thailand. I also started to care less of what other people have to say. Many people living in Russia and Kazakhstan start assuming a sexuality of a man works as a model. I mean, it is completely wrong! In general, there are people who make fun of me for being a model. But I don't listen to what they say.
 

- You already have an answer to these questions. As you said, you are representing the Kazakh nation on the runways.
- Thank you. Now I know how to respond to malicious people. There’s something I would like to say to those who want to do what they love, especially those who want to become a model like me - do not take someone's words to heart. I am one of those who have heard lots of criticism. But my confidence withstands. It is your business only. Do whatever you want. If you really want something, you can achieve anything. Sometimes, even if you don't want it, you achieve a lot. That's why you should stay faithful to your work. The bottom line is that you will get results.
- What do you do in your free time? What hobbies do you have?
- I like walking outside. I like to watch anime. I play videogames. I try to help my parents in my spare time. My mother works as a pastry chef in Kaskelen. She bakes pies, muffins and buns. As I mentioned before, I like to cook. Therefore, I can say that I am my mother's assistant.
- Thank you for the interview!
All the best in your endeavors!

Interviewed by Aliya TILEUZHANKYZY

Photo: From Yertai Abdibekov's personal archive