Today we’d like to introduce you to Desmondo Bootle.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am Desmondo Bootle, I was born and raised in The Bahamas. I’ve been modeling here in The Bahamas for about 4 years. In that time, I’ve managed to land myself in a few major campaigns for brands such as Atlantis, Nike, Bahamar, Calvin Klein, Rimowa, and Cartier.
I began modeling after a photographer suggested to me that I give it a shot. Before this, I never imagined being a model because it is not a job that is common here on the islands. Engineering is my first passion, I studied engineering at University and have been working in the Engineering section at The Ministry of Works for The Bahamas Government.
For the longest, I have only wanted to be an engineer, so when the idea was mentioned to me by the photographer this felt completely foreign to me. The photographer set up a test shoot for me and even though I had my reservations, I decided to still give it a try. I like to stay open-minded and try new things because you never know what opportunities one decision can lead you to. Also, the photographer was reallyyyyy good so I was excited about the free photos. I thought that nothing would happen from the shoot and that at least I would be getting some great photos for free. I honestly would have been happy with just that.
To my surprise, the photos blew up on Twitter. We got like 3,000 retweets and 5,000 likes. I felt like Michael B Jordan after that (LOL). From there, I decided that I’d take it seriously and give it a shot. The photographer became a good friend of mine and from there we’d do more shoots to practice my craft and he would assist me with getting modeling jobs.
We managed to book a lot of local jobs here in Nassau. After we had this market on lock he encouraged me to boost my social media presence, so that we could target international brands. This plan worked, and it was through my Instagram that I landed my first major collab with Calvin Klein in 2019. From there things have just continued to progress for me with more campaigns with Nike, Bahamar, Rimowa, Alabany, and Cartier as I mentioned earlier.
Modeling has now become a huge passion of mine, I model on the side now whenever I am free from my engineering work. It is also an outlet for me, that I use to express myself through what I like to call art. When I am posing for the camera, I view this as a form of art. I also like to use it to show my fellow Bahamians that if you believe in a dream then you can make it happen. When I began to take modelling seriously the goal of mine was to collaborate with major brands, get signed by international agencies, and walk in the biggest fashion shows.
I live on an island that is only 21 miles long by 7 miles wide so it’s easy for most people to think small and settle for a simple life. When I began modeling, I didn’t have anyone else to look up to, so I would like to continue to excel in my modeling career to show the next generation of Bahamian dreamers that anything is possible no matter how small your beginnings may be.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For me, there have been a lot of doubters telling me that a career in modeling is not worth pursuing, that I am wasting time pursuing modeling, and that I should stick with engineering. As I mentioned before here in The Bahamas most careers in the orange economy are not respected. Because there aren’t too many people pursuing careers like modeling a lot of locals limit their beliefs on what they think is possible for themselves. I’ve learned to not allow the opinions of others to determine what I believe for myself. I believe that if you have a dream then you should go after it even if you are the only one in your town with a dream like yours.
Another challenge of mine has been finding a US agency. For the longest, I have been trying to get signed by an agency in the US. I have had a few offers from some agencies but unfortunately, once they learn that I am Bahamian and that I do not have my O1 artist visa they all say that they would love to have me but want me to get my visa myself and then come back to them. So I am currently looking to find an agency that would be willing to sponsor me as I do not have the funds to do so for myself. I’ve also begun exploring the European market for agencies, the goal of mine is to find an agency in any of the major international markets, so whether it’s the US or Europe would not make a difference to me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Fashion and Commercial Model. What makes me unique is that I am Bahamian along with my features.
I have facial features that make me stand out from other models. I also have a unique physique that is almost mythical. My physique can be attributed to my active lifestyle. I gym, swim, play tennis, and compete in judo, so I am always doing something to stay in shape.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think risk is what allows the brave to be rewarded. I truly believe that to succeed or elevate to another level of something then some risk is needed. It should always be calculated risk though, never risk more than you’re able to lose.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Desmondo Bootle
- Facebook: Desmondo Bootle
Image Credits
Jamie Bruce, Blair Meadows, Wade Rhoden, and Melissa Alcena
