My modeling journey gave me confidence and purpose – Esinam Zigah

&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Ghanaian plus-size model&comma; women’s advocate and founder of The Indigo Care Foundation&comma; Esinam Zigah&comma; has shared how her modeling journey helped build her confidence and gave her a platform to advocate for issues affecting women and people living with sickle cell disease&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">According to Zigah&comma; her interest in modeling began during childhood&comma; largely influenced by her grandmother&comma; who encouraged her to catwalk on their compound and jokingly predicted that she would one day become Miss Ghana&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">What started as a childhood activity gradually developed into a passion and eventually became an important part of her personal and professional journey&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;My modeling journey gave me confidence and purpose&comma;” Zigah said&comma; explaining that the experience taught her the importance of visibility&comma; self-confidence and presenting herself with strength despite challenges&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Her work in the fashion and beauty industry has also allowed her to promote body positivity and challenge conventional beauty standards&period; As a plus-size model&comma; Zigah has used her visibility to encourage women to embrace their identities and appreciate diverse body types&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Beyond modeling&comma; Zigah has built a strong record in leadership and advocacy&period; During her time as Women’s Commissioner at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration &lpar;GIMPA&rpar;&comma; she organized the institution’s first sickle cell screening and awareness talk show&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">The initiative provided students with information about sickle cell disease and genotype testing&comma; while encouraging members of the university community to take their health more seriously&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Zigah said the discovery of positive cases among some individuals who were previously unaware of their status highlighted the importance of regular awareness and screening programmes&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Her advocacy extends beyond GIMPA&comma; with Zigah participating in programmes focused on women’s safety&comma; sexual harassment and sickle cell awareness&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">She has also collaborated with fashion and lifestyle brands including Christie Brown&comma; GTP&comma; Bloom by Edzie&comma; Crest Mood and February by Serwaa&comma; using these partnerships to promote Ghanaian fashion&comma; inclusivity&comma; self-love and body positivity&period;<br><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<figure class&equals;"wp-block-image"><img src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;mystorymagazine&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2026&sol;08&sol;photo&lowbar;2026-08-17&lowbar;19-30-47-Copy&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" class&equals;"wp-image-11065"&sol;><&sol;figure>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Her passion for sickle cell advocacy is particularly personal because she lives with the condition&period; This experience inspired her to establish The Indigo Care Foundation&comma; which seeks to provide support&comma; raise awareness and change perceptions surrounding sickle cell disease&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Looking ahead&comma; Zigah said she wants to expand her influence as a public figure while strengthening the foundation’s reach across Ghana and beyond&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">She hopes to build strategic partnerships&comma; increase support for people affected by sickle cell disease and create sustainable programmes that promote health&comma; empowerment and inclusion&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"wp-block-paragraph">Through modeling&comma; leadership and advocacy&comma; Zigah continues to use her personal experiences and public platform to encourage young women to embrace their identities while contributing to meaningful social change&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;