Fatou Khan is unquestionably a top model in the making. A Gambian, born in Sweden, she started
modeling at a tender age and luckily for her she got a contract with a giant Swedish modeling agency
in Stockholm. In this interview with Gainako, Fatou talks about her career as a model among other
things.

GON: Who is Fatou Khan?

Fatou Khan: I am an 18-year-old Gambian girl who
was born and raised in Sweden.

GON: Can you tell us more about your parents and
your home village in the Gambia?

Fatou Khan: My father was born in Gambia but my
mum was born in Senegal but raised in Ndugu Kebbeh in
the Gambia. For my father, he was raised in Medina. I've
been to Ndugu Kebbeh but not in Medina. I would say
that i know more about my mother's heritage than my
father's. They got divorced shortly after I was born.

GON: How many times have you visited Gambia?

Fatou Khan: Oh! Many times, I used to visit every summer and in 2003, I spent one year there.
It was a lot of fun, because I got to know about my culture and also improved my wollof.

GON: Where did you get the inspiration to storm the model industry?

Fatou Khan: I've always been told, that I should be a model. One day when I was in town I met
this photographer that wanted to take some pictures of me. He also gave me a lot of advice about
modeling. After that, I took the pictures he had taken and sent them to two agencies in Stockholm.
Luckily for me I got a contract with one of them.

GON: What made the people think that you can make a good model?

Fatou Khan: It would probably be my height and my body. People always ask me if I'm on some
kind of special diet, and am not. I just have good genes.

GON: So you are beautiful?

Fatou Khan: Of course! We all are, black is beauty.

GON: Yes I know black is beauty, but do you think you are beautiful?

Fatou Khan: I believe that I'm beautiful and I think that's why everybody else can see it as well. I
think having confidence in your self is the key to success.

GON: Tell us about your contracts?

Fatou Khan: Right now am signed to an agency called Stockholm's Gruppen, which is the second
largest agency in Sweden. I've been working with them since I was 15. Together with my manager we
are also looking for agencies abroad, because I might be moving from Sweden.

GON: Second largest? How did that opportunity come your way?

Fatou Khan: I just sent them my pictures and they called me for a meeting, after that a got a letter
saying that they need my service.

GON: Is modeling lucrative in Sweden?

Fatou Khan: If you are a top model yes, but if you really want to be a working model it is better
in US, UK, Paris, Milan or Tokyo.

GON: What's the difference between a top model and a working model?

Fatou Khan: Top models are very well known, they don't have to go to castings to get a job
because the designers already know their capability. While a working model has to prove that she is
and have to go to castings before actually getting the job.

GON: So what are you?

Fatou Khan: I would say something in between but I still have to work myself to the top.
sometimes they just need my picture to get me a job but sometimes I have to go to castings.

GON: Are you making good money from modeling right now?

Fatou Khan: yes I am. I don't think you can call yourself a model if you're not making money out
of it.

GON: So you must be a rich young Gambian living in Sweden?

Fatou Khan: (laughs) not rich yet, but soon inshalla.

GON: So what are your plans to reach stardom?

Fatou Khan: Have a lot of projects with my manager. but the main thing is just to stay focused
and keep doing my thing. Cause i have the feeling that my big break will come soon.

GON: what was your family's reaction, when you started modeling?

Fatou Khan: Everybody was happy and very supportive. My mum started helping me with my
catwalk and she's a very good coach.

GON: That's surprising. But what about your extended relatives?

Fatou Khan: They were little bit shocked but in a good way, because they didn't realize when it
all happened. I like laying low but aiming high.

GON: Would you ever pose naked?

Fatou Khan: No! because I believe very strongly in my religion and my family have a lot of faith in
me. I would not pose naked. I don't look down on the models that have been victims of it but I think
somewhere you have to draw a line.

GON: Is there any other Gambian in the Swedish model industry?

Fatou Khan: Hmm! yeah there is, Gambia have very beautiful girls. In my agency we are 3
Gambians, which is a lot compared to the other agencies

GON: Do you all have the support of the Gambian community in Sweden?

Fatou Khan: I don't think the Gambian community here knows about me. Because as I said
before I lay low, but I think they would have supported if they knew that I was working as a model.
We have a lot of Gambian youths here with talents that get promoted and supported by the
community.

GON: You also into dancing. Tell us about that?

Fatou Khan: (laughs....) dancing is fun, I enjoy doing it during my spare times. I used to be in a
dance group called Killah Dancers. But with modeling and school i didn't have time, to be in a group.
Very sad, because I love dancing but I love modeling more and I feel, I have more talents in modeling
than dancing. The killah dancers had 5 members, and we used to perform at different events. Like
back up dancers for different African musicians.

GON: Are you serious with school?

Fatou Khan: Of course, school comes first that's the agreement that I have with my mum.
Modeling isn't a job that I'm going to do for the whole life, that's why is important that I have my
education on top of that. As a dancer and a model, I guess you must be having lot of boys running
after you. Am I right? (laughs) I don't have time for them. I have a lot of things on my mind. Boys are
the last thing on my mind right now.

GON: Thanks for talking to Gainako and good luck.

Fatou Khan: Thank you!

.........................................News
GOVERNMENT UNILATERALLY REVOKES CONTRACT
OF GAMTEL/GAMCELL MANAGEMENT
.............................By Solo, Banjul correspondent............November 11th, 2008
The Gambia Government has unilaterally revoked the contract
of the Detecon Company, which was managing the GAMTEL/
GAMCEL Company for the year. The Detecon International is
a consulting and management partner of the SPECTRUM Company
that owns 50% shares of the troubled telecommunications company.
It is a German company said to have more than 30 years international
experience in Telecommunications and other related industries.

This decision was made public on Friday 28th of November 9,
2008 over the Gambia Radio And Television Services, (GRTS)
and accused it of bridge of contract. The whole trouble began when
the State House issued a statement over the public media giving an
ultimatum to the Spectrum and Detecom managements to explain
their operations otherwise face their wrath.

Since then, GAINAKO has been monitoring the scene and reported that the state has seized the
company and put the management of GAMTEL/ GAMCEL under arrest and no one was allowed into
the premises except the workers and the security forces who were armed and on guard.

Now it is announced by the same state media that the state has unilaterally revoked or terminate the
management of contract of the management company, Detecon. Reliable information however has it
that the State has a joint ownership with the SPECTRUM GROUP, each owning 50% percent shares
in both GAMTEL/GAMCEL.. Now it remains to be seen whether the Spectrum Group has a say in
the termination of the Detecon contract or not and what their reaction would be to the news.

The Jammeh administration told the people that they sold the 50% shares to Spectrum and gave the
management of the Gamcel/Gamtel to Detecon and as they put it, to salvage the company from
collapse. They said the company was near bankruptcy and was heavily indebted. Now the same
Government is saying something different and rumors, unconfirmed ones, are rife that Government
wants to bring the old management back to replace the DETECON, but as the rumor insists, that
management is yet to accept the erstwhile risky offer. Many fear gloomy future for the once leading
telecommunications company.