Eka Eyoh (@allthingseka), a Minnesota native, came to New York with dreams of becoming a model. Now, after overcoming countless no's, she's looking to empower other aspiring models and help arm them with the greatest tool available: a strong mind.
You came to New York from the Midwest with $6,000 and a goal to model. Knowing what you know now, is there any advice you wish you could give your younger self?
My younger self was so open, carefree, and optimistic, but in contrast was so fragile, vulnerable, and insecure about showing my true authentic self. If I could give my younger self, who just moved to NYC with big aspirations, any advice, it would be these three main points:
- Learn how to set boundaries and practice saying no. Learning how to say no was one of the hardest yet important life skills I had to teach myself. It's very necessary to prioritize your boundaries because true self-care is learning how to say no and not feel guilty about it in any space or capacity.
- Take up space, and be unapologetic about it. I feel like I spent so much of my life playing small and shrinking myself to accommodate those around me. My thoughts that needed to be spoken were left unsaid; my ideas that were so innovative weren't initiated; my emotional and personal needs weren't expressed or nurtured. At some point, I felt like I was allowing others to define my worth, and it was up to me to challenge those limiting beliefs about myself.
- Refine your relationship with time. I feel like in your 20s, you're placed onto this high expectation to achieve everything before you reach 30. It's this immense pressure we put onto ourselves but can also be projected onto us by our peers, society, and family. My life became so much more at ease once I redefined my relationship with time and saw it as what is meant for me will come when the time is right. This mindset has allowed me to practice patience and be more present with myself.
You recently made a guide titled "The Mindful Model" to help others ground themselves while navigating the industry. What prompted you to do that?
My friend Makeena Rivers and I were in a head space of being frustrated at the emotional and mental toll being in this industry can have on us. One of my biggest hurdles was my anxiety. I've dealt with it most of my life, and there are many times it has affected me on set. Incorporating breathwork before and during a shoot has been so beneficial in allowing myself to be more present and not in my head so much. Rejection is part of this industry, but dealing with it is never easy. I used to internalize it and let it define my worth. It wasn't until I learned to redefine my relationship with rejection and see it as whatever is meant for me will align when the time is right.
