Long Beach model Onome Ituah has adjusted by focusing this year on growing her social media followers, and using her platform to spread awareness for social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter.
Ituah is a sophomore at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. In addition to being a student, she has modeled around the country from L.A. to New York Fashion Week.
Because COVID-19 has canceled fashion shows nationwide, the only gigs she has booked have been for print.
During the pandemic, she has booked two magazines, including her first cover ad with “So Free Teen Magazine.”
Standing at 5 feet 10 inches, the runway is her specialty. Ituah has been at least 5’8 since she was 10 years old, which allowed her to break into modeling at an early age.
Modeling has kept her uplifted from depression during this quarantine. She has been so inspired during the pandemic that she also aims to uplift her classmates.
Modeling and taking online classes from home has made her feel more like an adult, she said.
She said, “At first the experience was challenging, but now I like it. Learning from home has made me more independent, and I feel more prepared for college than ever before.”
Ituah is used to juggling a work-school-life schedule because she has been modeling for five years. Some of her classmates have just started their first jobs during this pandemic.
Ituah has been able to help them balance their schedule.
“It’s all about time management. Although I am not traveling to New York like I used to, I am spending much more time on social media. Growing my followers is a job in itself. But it’s all about priorities. I don’t get online until after I am done with my homework,” she said.
The pandemic has brought Ituah and her classmates closer. Everyone is helping each other, and everyone is excelling, she said.
She said she believes this year is creating a lifelong bond between her and her classmates.
Ituah’s mother is a registered nurse on the front lines. For Ituah, the hardest part of the pandemic has been fear for her mother catching the coronavirus.
Her mother, Adesuwa Ituah, takes great precaution, when she arrives home each day, heading to the bathroom first to shower and then she cleans her clothes before she greets anyone.
“My mom and I are so close. I am used to hugging her when she comes home, but now I must wait for her to clean herself and her clothes. This has been the hardest part of the pandemic for me. But by the grace of God, my mother and no one in my family has gotten sick.”
Adesuwa said, “Besides worrying about me, I think the hardest part of the pandemic for Onome is not getting on the runway.”
Ituah admits to wanting to get back on the runway, but she does not want to jeopardize anyone’s health.
“Onome can hold out on returning to the classroom much easier than returning to the runway. She misses it badly, but she will have to wait or start doing virtual fashion shows,” Adesuwa said.