By Chinazam Ikechi-Uko.
It is the first of October, and on this day, Nigeria began her walk as an independent and democratic nation. She is among the 17 African countries that did it in the year, 1960. 64 years later, in a green and white dress, it is the day, Ololade Ayelabola began her walk into history.
On the fifth of October, Ayelabola broke the Guinness World Record’s longest distance by a model. The distance of the history-making walk was measured at 130.62 km. This involved completing 2,058 laps at the Indoor Sports Centre of the University of Lagos.
The announcement came as a surprise to the masses, however, for Ayelabola, it has been a long time coming. Earlier this year, she took advantage of the Olympic training season and pushed her body to the limit. Yet she insists that this is just the beginning and alludes to the altruism of her project.
Ayelabola’s motives add layers of depth and history to her challenge. This approach rarely crosses our minds as Nigerians have developed a fastidious relationship with the Guinness World Record.
Ayelabola wearing a Mcnwatu dress on the runway.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
The early 2020s of Nigerian pop culture have been marked by successful and infamous attempts for a Guinness World Record. In April 2024, Intel Region reported that between 2021 and 2024, 11 Nigerians had broken a record, including the starting gun, Hilda Baci, and chess master, Tunde Onakoya. Since then, newer records have been broken and the most was Toyin Eleniyan’s attempt at Longest Non-Stop Interview in October.
However, the final year University of Lagos student, Ayelabola, aimed to break a 41-year-old Guinness World Record to prove a point.
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BEFORE BREAKING RECORDS, SHE BROKE INTO THE MODELING INDUSTRY.
Reluctant to say her age but admitting to being a 90s baby, Ayelabola explains that she moved to Lagos to pursue an education and career. Now waiting for her convocation, she reflects on her ambitions and how hopeful she was at the beginning. She took on work in an industry she has always admired but developed a gripe because it has been unkind to her.
It is the modelling industry, and she has been at it for close to seven years. “I started with pageants, I have won four pageants, including Face Of Akoka and Miss Aminat 2019,” she expresses. She loves her job, and her voice lights up as she discusses the different types of modeling. “I have worked in close to ten categories. I have done commercials, editorial, and hand modelling but runway has not been kind to me.”
Ayelabola finds the casting process demeaning and exclusionary. “I auditioned for two fashion weeks in Lagos and they spoke about my height. They do not think I am tall enough,” she says. The setback inspired her, if the agencies are not going to take her then she will make a back door entrance. The Guinness World Record is the entrance.
The Guinness World Record(GWR) does not pay record holders for their achievements, however, it comes with recognition. Ayelabola has been featured in publications like Maire Claire Nigeria and Premium Times. She is making brand deals and most importantly, she is associated with runway modelling.
A genius plan that cost her a total of one year. However, the physical price she paid made it a long year. The after-effects of tedious practices and days of walking in heels include damaged feet. Ayelabola agrees it is insane to go through such extremes to settle a score but it is the price of being first. “I am going to create a stage where talented models can walk without having limitations. A space for ladies with tribal marks, albinos, and inclusive sizes. I want to change the narrative, I think talent is what matters on the runway.”
Ayelabola’s words regurgitate the sentiment of the Lagos Fashion Week 2024 audience who complained about the increase in substituting models with celebrities. The audience took to the internet to explain the need for talent. But Ayelabola plans to take it a step further, she wants to break the wheel.
In between busy schedules and Ayelabola’s healing treatment, she got on a call to discuss how to apply for a world record, what fees are required, how she trained for hers, and what is next for her.
MEET OLOLADE AYELABOLA:
You said, you came to Lagos hopeful, what city were you born in?
O: I am from Ekiti; however, I was born in Ibadan.
You always knew what you wanted and adored the industry. What was your favourite part about it?
O: I love how the models express themselves in different ways. It is like acting but with photos.
Since you began working as a model, has your favourite part changed?
O: Not really, it has also grown. I love the expressiveness and I love being able to diversify.
I know you faced challenges with runway but what about in commercial modelling?
O: A challenge for me is always having to show up. Sometimes you have a photoshoot and boom, you are on your period. You have to suck it in and go. Sometimes photographers are nasty but you can not let it show on your face. The camera sees it. I don’t like vendors who are in their own world too.
That is similar to most jobs, working hard and ignoring the pain. You seem to know a lot about that, you walked for four days, how was that?
O: They had to tend to my legs because, by day 2, my leg was out. I walked with bandages on. My feet were bruised, and they had to be iced. The pain is still there, but I am now on slippers. My foreskin and toenails were removed at some point.
Wait, you put on bandages during walks? You had breaks? Does that explain the outfit changes?
O: Nope. It was not a break. You see, you can not change outfits outside 12 hours. The outfit change was a miracle, I was working against time. I had to change my outfit in one minute. As I step on the stage, the next look and anything like a band-aid is already set. So within the one minute that a lap ends, I am in the look and put together. At a point, I took off my wig to keep going. I was tired and one minute is not a lot. It is not a rule that Guinness set that you only have one minute but a calculation that my team and I did.
Sounds like a Formula 1 race. But those are cars and this is your body, how did you get your body machine ready?
O: That is the best way to put it, machine ready! I had two trainings every weekday. I’d start my morning training with athletes at the University Of Lagos (Unilag) sports center for four hours. Then in the evening, I’d go to the gym and practice with my trainer, Zion. Then, weekends were for catwalk lessons.
I’d die if I had to train for five-plus hours a day. What did you eat to sustain consciousness?
O: So true, I had to change my diet. I got a nutritionist because you can actually die, well, pass out. I started physiotherapy too. Plus, the Unilag was a great support for me.
How long did this last?
O: Four to five months.
So after you got greenlit by the GWR committee? How does one apply for a world record? I think Nigerians google that question more times than they like to admit.
O: You get on the site and apply, however, it requires patience. This was not my first record to apply for, I applied for something that does not exist on their site. You can break already set records or you can create a new one. To create a new one, you are required to pay a £5 application fee. The other is free. Then you have to wait twelve weeks to find out if your application was successful or not.
Or not? Do they reject attempts?
O: Want to hear a secret? I have applied six times. On my fifth application, I understood what they wanted and opted to break an already set record instead. Some day, I will set that other record but not today.
So you have plans to dive back into extreme waters in the future? What else is in your future and is this still about proving a point I’d say that the ship is beyond the horizon now.
O: No it is not, it is for me. On my future, I am excited to announce I am launching an agency in December. It is a mother agency, it is called LA Models. I am putting together the company. I want to launch a fashion app too.
*Note: A mother agency is the primary agency that represents a model’s career. It’s like a home base, handling the model’s bookings, negotiations, and overall career management. These agencies often set models with trusted foreign agencies to guide their international jobs.
I like the exclusive, but are you not worried someone might steal your ideas?
O: Let them try. I have copyrighted it, and I will sue you for a million dollars.