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FASHION
ADWOA ABOAH CHATS MAKEUP
By Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, 24 February 2019
Model and mental health activist Adwoa Aboah is one of the most recognisable (freckled) faces of her generation. On the launch of her collaboration between her online mental health platform Gurls Talk and cosmetics brand Revlon, ASOS Mag spoke to Aboah about Gurls Talk, the new line and how she feels about being a role model. Read some excerpts from our convo below, get the new ASOS Mag Spring 19 issue for the full interview and shop the Revlon x Gurls Talk range below.
On her platform Gurls Talk
'I put my hands up – there are still things I’m working on personally and I need Gurls Talk as well. I’m 26 and I’m speaking to girls a lot younger than me. The difference is that I wasn’t attached to my phone all the time. Lack of confidence, feeling worthless and anxiety and mental health and positivity? It might not have been talked about as much but it was around. I know a lot of girls my age or older who say they needed these kind of things when they were at school.'
On the importance of diversity on the platform
‘[It’s] 100% intersectional. We have such a range of shape and colour and background – some live in big cities, some come from country villages and some have travelled overseas. Some are posh girls, some aren’t.’
'I put my hands up – there are still things I’m working on personally and I need Gurls Talk as well. I’m 26 and I’m speaking to girls a lot younger than me. The difference is that I wasn’t attached to my phone all the time. Lack of confidence, feeling worthless and anxiety and mental health and positivity? It might not have been talked about as much but it was around. I know a lot of girls my age or older who say they needed these kind of things when they were at school.'
On the importance of diversity on the platform
‘[It’s] 100% intersectional. We have such a range of shape and colour and background – some live in big cities, some come from country villages and some have travelled overseas. Some are posh girls, some aren’t.’
On combining Gurls Talk with modelling
‘I think I would melt if I didn’t have the balance of my modelling work and this. It’s integral to my day-to-day mental state. Both my worlds are meshing quite beautifully. I get certain jobs because of Gurls Talk and I’m able to give it a bigger platform through my modelling.'
On the new collaboration with Revlon
‘I’ve been part of it from start to finish, from the texture to the colours. [But] the thing I knew about doing this, is that it couldn’t just be “Adwoa the model”. It’s not about that… It had to have a deeper meaning and be honest and true.’
‘I think I would melt if I didn’t have the balance of my modelling work and this. It’s integral to my day-to-day mental state. Both my worlds are meshing quite beautifully. I get certain jobs because of Gurls Talk and I’m able to give it a bigger platform through my modelling.'
On the new collaboration with Revlon
‘I’ve been part of it from start to finish, from the texture to the colours. [But] the thing I knew about doing this, is that it couldn’t just be “Adwoa the model”. It’s not about that… It had to have a deeper meaning and be honest and true.’
Picture: Thurstan Redding, Styled by Natalie Michaelides
On being a role model
‘I have a responsibility to my community and everything I stand for. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise everything… If you do something phoney, you deserve to be outed. The youth, who I’m aiming this towards, have no time for that casualness and jumping on trends, whether it be feminism, diversity or representation.’
On her new love
‘My dad turned to me the other day, and he knows – he’s my best friend and a feminist. He said, “I can tell you this as your dad – this is the first time I’ve seen you comfortable in your relationship.” And he’s right. Obviously, there are certain parts of it that are uncomfortable, because love is, but it’s not like before. I’m me. For the first time. And that feels great.’
‘I have a responsibility to my community and everything I stand for. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise everything… If you do something phoney, you deserve to be outed. The youth, who I’m aiming this towards, have no time for that casualness and jumping on trends, whether it be feminism, diversity or representation.’
On her new love
‘My dad turned to me the other day, and he knows – he’s my best friend and a feminist. He said, “I can tell you this as your dad – this is the first time I’ve seen you comfortable in your relationship.” And he’s right. Obviously, there are certain parts of it that are uncomfortable, because love is, but it’s not like before. I’m me. For the first time. And that feels great.’
