Dream girl Flavia is Ugandan-born with a South Sudanese background from Kenya, and currently lives in Melbourne. Her favourite thing about her hometown is how culturally diverse it is and if she was taking someone there for the first time, she’d take them to Footscray to sample the “great selection of African restaurants that tend to get overlooked” there. (The best in Melbs, according to her).
Her idea of a perfect day goes a lil’ something like this: “Wake up early, refreshed and energised. Then a cup of green tea or coffee, depending on what I'm feeling, before going off to exercise—I usually do hot Pilates. Next would be a big breakfast full of eggs, veggies and lots of fruit (“a bowl of tropical fruit is my thing”). Then work. In a perfect day, I would be on set. My afternoon would be filled with research and relaxing with a bit of music. And then finally at the very end of the day, I’d sit and read or fall asleep to one of the many TV shows I'm bingeing.” Heaven.
Flavia has always had an interest in interior design and decoration, and would like to do something in that realm when she grows up. She believes that “getting old is probably the coolest thing” a person can learn “if done right”, but doesn’t believe in NYE resolutions, because “you don’t need to wait an entire year to make the change necessary to better your life.” True. In the next ten years, she hopes that our focus will have shifted more towards being content within ourselves and prioritising our family, the planet and genuine connection. “Although technology is dope, it’s taking away from the human experience, and compensating for a lot of the things that make it unique and meaningful,” she says. “Including things as simple as thinking for yourself—that’s actually wild!”
Family, friends, fulfilment and joy are her the most important things to her. Growing up, she hated that she was a little odd, although now she embraces it. If someone made a biopic about her life, her future daughter would play her, and if she had to give Instagram up for a month “only good things” would happen. “We could all do without it and if it wasn't for modelling I wouldn't care for it at this point in my life,” she continues.
If you’re in the market for some quality book, podcast, film, TV and music suggestions, then you have come to the right spot, because the human angel is full of them. In saving the best for first, she says that everyone—but especially people of colour—have to watch Embrace of the Serpent, a film that changed the way she looked at everything. Other things she recommends treating your eyeballs to include: Blow, GoT and Grand Designs. If reading is more of your thing, her fave books are: ‘Letters to a Young Poet, ‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. For podcasts, she suggests checking out Small Doses, Serial and SuperSoul Conversations and for music, add the following to your current playlist: Tracy Chapman—‘The Promise’, Saint Germain—‘Sure Thing’, Jose Chameleone—‘Badilisha’, City Girls—‘Twerk’, Hioshi Suzuki—‘Romance’, Skepta & Wiz Kid—‘Energy’.
The best piece of advice she’s ever received is that, “If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get better.” Disappearing halfway through the night is her party trick (lol), and to her being cool is “just doing you and being kind and respectful towards everyone.” 10/10.
Words: Maddy Woon Photos: Bec Martin Fashion: Abby Bennett Production: Chloe Hill
Flavia is represented by:
Kult SYDNEY
Duval MELBOURNE
Shot on location at Fairfield Park, Melbourne
