From Zenji to the world: Zara Bedel’s rise to global spotlights

Walking through the historic city that is Stone Town, set against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset in Zanzibar, it was another beautiful evening that two young ladies found themselves enjoying, enroute to Forodhani food market to grab some Urojo.

This is one flavourful and popular Tanzanian dish and enjoying it by the clear beaches of Zanzibar, lost in the spreading oceanic view and good company is undefeated.

During this idyllic moment, a man approaches, business card in hand and insists that she attend a runway audition for an upcoming fashion show.

The man introduced himself as Farouque Abdela, a Zanzibari fashion guru, was on the lookout for models for the Zanzibar International Fashion Week, at that time being the very first edition on the Island.

That was 2013 and for Zuhura Bedel, now an international fashion model, better known as Zara, this was a breakthrough. During the Zanzibar Fashion Week event, the young Tanzanian beauty was then named the ‘Face of Zanzibar’

Walking the runway of the first Zanzibar International Fashion Week, graced by up-and-coming as well as established designers, Zara captured audiences including beauty pageant management teams.

Zara then ventured into the world of beauty pageants, and in 2014, went on to represent Tanzania in the Miss Universe competition, where she was crowned third runner-up.

She also participated in the Miss Tourism pageant held in Guangzhou in 2016.

Driven by a vision and a belief in her capabilities, Farouque made a steadfast commitment to guide and nurture Zara’s blossoming modelling career.

“He said I had the look and body of an international model. But by then, fashion and beauty weren’t what I was interested in. I was into airplanes to the extent that I wanted to work in one,” details Zara.

Zara grew up wanting to work in the aviation industry, adding that anything that involved an airplane impressed her.

“I would stare at planes flying up in the sky for so long and tell my playmates how badly I wanted to work in one and that one day, I would do it. I did not know what position I wanted or what would suit me at the time but any post would work for me,” says Zara.

Her childhood dream did come true and Zara worked as a flight attendant for Tropical Air for a number of years.

“After completing my O-level education, I opted to go to college and luckily, my former school teacher, who knew my passion, helped me with my college application for flight attendants in South Africa. I then had an opportunity to work in South Africa after college as I was one of their best students but I wanted to work home in Zanzibar,” she shares.

Before enrolling at the Cape Town Flight Training Centre to train as a cabin crew member, Zara also pursued a specialised program in front office operations at the Zanzibar Institute of Tourism Development (ZIToD), formerly known as Zanzibar Institute of Tourism and Airlines Management.

Farouque was not the only fashion guru who saw Zara’s potential in the industry from the early onset.

Years after working for Tropical Air, Zara caught the eye of a touring agent who eagerly photographed her during a flight. This fortuitous encounter led to her recruitment by Fashion model management in Italy.

“I used to be mapepe situlii (very playful), so I would cause a lot of trouble in the flight. Not dangerous though. So one day, after we landed, a lady asked to speak to me. My manager was worried that I might have done some wrong, and probably the lady wants to complain,” says Zara.

Zara says the lady waited for her for a couple of minutes soon after landing. Not knowing there is a whole new door of opportunity eager to receive her. Zara took her time putting things back in order for the next flight attendants.

“My supervisor came and told me there was a lady who wanted to speak with me. He was as worried as I was but I took heart and went to see her,” shares Zara.

Adding that when she went outside to see her: “I was shocked that all she wanted was to take pictures of me standing and posing differently.”

The tourist was called Lia Anderson and gave Zara her business card and asked her to call so they could discuss more about her modelling prospects.

“I agreed, and we parted ways. I did not call her until a year later when I was going through my old photos and I saw a picture of her business card.” Zara recalls reaching out to the lady and reminding her where they had met. “She was so happy to hear from me and asked if I was interested in going to work in Italy as a model. I said yes, sure! But I did not think she was serious or that it was going to happen just like that!”

But it did.

The following day, Zara was instructed to go to the Italian embassy in Dar es Salaam to process her visa.

“So I boarded a Sh55,000 Kilimanjaro-Azam boat to Dar es Salaam and went straight to the embassy on the same day,” explains Zara.

She says she had no idea what kind of questions they would ask her, and she had no answer to most of the questions they asked.

“I only knew where I was going, which city I would be in, and the name of my host. I had no information on the name of the agency I was going to work with or who would cover my travel expenses,” she says.

After the interview at the embassy, Zara went back to the hotel worried that she might have messed up the interview and that she wouldn’t get the visa, hence not being able to work as a fashion model as Lia had hoped.

“The following morning, the embassy called me to go collect my passport. They said my host had already shared most of the information with the embassy. I was so excited!” shares Zara as she recalls the exhilaration of becoming an international fashion model.

“I went back to Zanzibar and told my parents that I would be travelling to Italy for some time for a modelling gig. They gave me their blessings. Sadly, I had to quit my job as a flight attendant to pursue this new passion that most people have been telling me I will be good at,” she adds.

The mentorship and support both Farouque and Lia provided played a pivotal role in propelling Zara onto the international stage, where she is now recognised and celebrated.

In Italy, under the new representation of Lia Anderson and her team, Zara worked with esteemed brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Adidas, Karl Lagerfeld, Tiger of Sweden, Level Shoes (DUBAI), and Landeros, New York.

She says knowing what kind of model one wants to be is a great foundation for success.

“I think that was what helped me become the international model that I am today. It also simplifies work for your agent,” shares Zara.

“I could not stay for long in Italy since I went there during the winter season. I couldn’t stand the cold. I flew back home after a couple of gigs and stayed for two months until my agent changed my schedule and I flew back to Milan in 2019,” she says.

When Covid-19 hit the world, the modelling industry was also affected but for Zara, it was the best year.

“It was a time I had the most work, was paid more, and was taken care of very well. Only a few models were present in the country, even fewer black models,” she says

“I received and did a lot of gigs, especially for online stores. We were given triple the care since there were only a few of us. It was a less competitive era for black models in Europe.”

Until one day Zara got homesick and decided to head back to Zanzibar to be close to her family and friends.

She says the impact of the pandemic scared her: “People were dying, being hospitalised and quarantined; I got scared. What if something were to happen to me and I was thousands of miles away from home? What would happen?” she thought.

Movements were restricted in Milan; there were certain distances that taxes were allowed to travel and certain directions, such as hospitals.

As Zara explains, the airport was one of the restricted areas, with too many checkpoints in between.

“But I had to get back home, at least until the pandemic slowed down. And by then, Tanzania had not closed its borders. I spoke to a taxi driver and explained my case. Fortunately, he agreed to help me and explained to police forces at all the check points,” Zara further details.

Zara was one of the people the government used to create public awareness. Authorities said that since she was coming in from a country that had experienced the impact of Covid-19 first-hand, the public could use one or two pieces of advice from her.

“My passport had a number of visas and stamps from China, Italy, the United States, and others. Although I had not gone to all these countries, I had permission to and have worked with some stores present in those countries. I spent a couple of weeks creating public awareness in Zanzibar about the pandemic,” shared Zara.

Zara shares that she would be interested in jumping into acting to showcase her talents beyond modelling. The International model shares that she has already received multiple offers to appear in TV series and films.

“Modelling is not forever. I would want to settle down someday and start a family, you know. I do not want to go back to work as a flight attendant; I would love to explore acting,” she says.

She’s also made a notable appearance in The American TV show, The Amazing Race, which was shot in Zanzibar.