Jamaican-Canadian model Ardrianna Annalesia Mairs on ‘What’s Next’
Talks appearing in Drake’s music video, dream of becoming a lawyer
Published:Friday | March 12, 2021 | 12:16 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
“Today is a beautiful day,” says someone in a cheerful tone. This is how the conversation starts out with Ardrianna Mairs, better known on the fashion scene as Annalesia, who is one of the five models featured sitting in the snow for a scene of Drake’s latest single, What’s Next.
“It’s seven degrees [Celsius] at the moment, I’ll take that over minus 20, and the sun is shining, so the weather is sweet, so you can’t complain,” Mairs tells The Gleaner.
When the Sutherland Models-signed model landed a role in a video, she was not aware she would be taping for the Canadian megastar rapper until the day before production. A big fan of his music since high school, the fashion model says she had to have a talk with herself about professionalism and the importance of maintaining her composure.
She described the production, which took place at Drake’s mansion, as “one of the hardest jobs” she has done.
“The scene that showed us might have been only three seconds, but we were outside in the snow in minus 30-degree weather for about 30 minutes with him watching from his kitchen,” Mairs said. “I remember the director coming over to us saying, ‘I know this is very difficult, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you want to leave’ because the movement and lighting had to be so precise. There were also shots where we were sitting there knowing we could not move or else we’d have to do it all over again.”
EXPOSED TO MAJOR CAMPAIGNS
No stranger to major campaigns, having fronted a campaign for Colgate in Cape Town, South Africa, Mairs’ role is far more significant than for her own exposure, she explains. “It was all black women in the scene, and we were all wearing pieces from Drake’s collaboration with the global sports brand Nike, called Nocta,” she said.
For her, proudly representing along with other models of similar complexion meant another big step for black models, whom Mairs has been a voice for against anti-Black racism. Also, as a woman with a Caribbean background – Jamaican upbringing – it was an achievement to add to her portfolio.
The fashion model, who stands at 5’10”, shares that she has faced several inconsistencies within the industry, from people who did not show compassion towards dark-skinned models or were not courteous throughout her career.
She said, “It is such an unpredictable industry, and for me, an emotional roller coaster. I would show up to bookings with anxiety in my heart and sweaty palms, and I never thought I’d feel confident in my own skin, with my hair texture because the moment a black model voiced their opinions whether about the treatment or a make-up artist not having the right foundation, they were labelled as a diva or difficult.”
Other challenges included the irregular bookings. Mairs added, “One day you’re down, a month or more without work, and the next you can land a CAD$30,000 booking. At any given time I would want to quit but I am also a perfectionist at heart who believes [I have] a purpose here.”
“I have been manifesting positivity for my life, especially more now, being locked up, I can work on myself internally. When I booked the music video, I hadn’t worked in a few months, so it was honestly the best way to come out of hibernation. It gave me the momentum I needed. Also, for Drake, it made me feel proud to know he is one of the persons who want to celebrate our culture and brought a lot of publicity towards Jamaica and its talented artistes,” she continued.
MIGRATED AT AGE 10
Mairs hasn’t lived in Jamaica since she was 10 years old, having moved to Edmonton, Canada, to live with her father, who she shares she never had a relationship with before. But she waves her flag high for the land of her birth.
“I grew up in Montego Bay, and each time saying it, I get emotional as the memories flood my mind. I think the first time I returned was 10 years after I left, so 2015, and I was there last Christmas spending time with family, which the majority of my relatives still reside in Jamaica. We moved around a lot, but our family home is in Dumfries – we were actually going through a hard time when my mother gave up her parental rights to our father, who I had only heard stories about,” Mairs disclosed, adding that her mother was forced to close down her business, “the same time when the crime rates were appalling, so she said it was an opportunity for me and my sister to go get a better chance at an education”.
What’s next for Annalesia?
“I will still be modelling. Since the move to Toronto, things have been getting more serious; from Cape Town to signing a contract in Germany, I am now setting sail to New York, which is like entering the Olympics of modelling,” she said. “As for Ardrianna Mairs, I have not given up my goal to be a lawyer and don’t plan to. But I made the decision to delay doing my L-SAT examination and applying to law school as the modelling industry is all about capitalising on your youth. Let’s not leave out that it’s over thirty thousand dollars for tuition (not inclusive of books and living).”
Mairs said that she wants to be able to dedicate all the time and energy to studying because she wants to make an impact in the area of foreign policy.
“I had turned down a contract before when I was completing my undergrad studies, and I did get to study a semester of law in Cape Town in my efforts to kill two birds with one stone. To other females, black women with dreams, don’t give up, believe in yourself, know your worth because once you’re confident in who you are, you remove the power from others to put you down,” she said.