Today we’d like to introduce you to Ifreke Inyang.
Hi Ifreke, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Moving from Nigeria to America at the age of 4, I never adopted a traditional “English” name. My name is Ifreke Essien Inyang, and my first name means “I do not forget”. It’s not on my birth certificate, but the full sentence is, Ifrekeabassi, or “I do not forget God”.
Unfortunately, for the longest time in my life, I did not know or care about the significance of my name, especially, because I let the abominable way most Americans pronounce my name steadily reduce the confidence I had in it, and to an even greater extent, myself, especially because I didn’t have the backbone to correct them. Prompted by the loss of my father, there’s was a period of time in college where I felt like my life was completely flipped upside down, and for a while, all my time seemed like it was being spent trying to get oriented.
It was like the next phase of my life was being represented as everything around me being puzzle pieces recklessly thrown on the floor and I was tasked with putting it all together, very, very unsuccessfully. But in that mess called getting my life together, I feel like I did some good things and put out some really good work. I began to discover more about myself and my talents, and finally initiate the incredibly long journey of building a truly, deep-rooted sense of confidence.
The truth is, I’m not even close to the end of that journey. I’ve walked in fashion shows for some really great designers, did photoshoots (some of which are featured in prestigious magazines) with amazing photographers, a short film with a skilled filmmaker, and a music video for a very talented artist and production crew. I’ve worked towards identifying both parts of myself I could be really proud of, but also parts of myself that needed a metric f***ton of work. So, here I am at the door to the next phase of my life, frankly a little terrified because there’s a part of me that feels unprepared and underqualified to even touch the handle.
I still feel like I have so much work regarding finding the discipline to be successful and find a balance with everything. However, in all the mess that is my past, and uncertainty in my future, the true meaning of having self-confidence, at least to me, has begun to reveal itself. It’s about loving myself, as well as my imperfections, and realizing just how far I’ve come, despite what felt like insurmountable obstacles. Grasping the faith in God, and in myself that no matter what lies ahead of me, I’m going to be great at it. Because, Ifrekeabassi means that I do not forget God, and part of that is to realize that God will always be with me. So, I look forward to all the artists, filmmakers, and photographers that I’m going to work with in the future because I just know that everything that comes out from this point forward, will be extraordinary.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So, I am primarily a model for print photography, but I like to branch out, instead of just being boxed into that category alone. I have done runway shows, a music video, and a short film, and I am itching to do a ton more. I am definitely most proud of the photoshoots I’ve had that were featured in Vogue Italia because it really opened my eyes to just what I could be a part of. I feel that what sets me apart is my desire to fit into any sort of creative space as a model. I have a curiosity that can only be quenched by new experiences in that field, and I want to see just what I can truly do.
What’s next?
I want to be able to do exactly what I love, as well as discover new things to love and be able to provide for the people that I love.
Contact Info:
- Email: ifrekeinyang97@gmail.com
- Instagram: officialinyang
- Twitter: officialinyang
Image Credits
Gillian Rae Ruiz
Ikechukwau Dike
Ikechukwu
Taia (Shoota)
