Gedeon Dapsia’s rise at Balenciaga

Across the world, in Africa, Gedeon Dapsia had no idea that clicking the ‘like’ button on social media photos would eventually take him to Paris and propel him into a successful modelling career. This unexpected turn of events happened four years ago when Dapsia liked a series of images on the Instagram account of SAINT chief executive officer Deiwght Peters, marking a significant transformation in the life of the Cameroonian native.

“I came across an Instagram ad looking for new model faces and went to Mr Peters’ profile,” Dapsia recounted. “I saw photos of superstar models like Tami Williams, Romaine Dixon and others, so I liked some photos, far from imagining what was to follow. A few seconds later I received messages from Mr Peters who told me he thought I had potential, and we could work together. I didn’t hesitate based on the models who were part of the agency. That’s how it all began,” Dapsia shared.

In a rapid turnaround, Dapsia was booked directly from Jamaica by Peters for luxury fashion house Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2020 runway show. After securing a visa, he was on a plane to Europe for his exclusive international modelling debut.

“My first time in Paris was naturally like the beginning of a dream come true. Walking for Balenciaga as a brand-new model was amazing,” he reminisced. “I was very excited to see what my first catwalk photo would look like for a major brand at Paris Fashion Week. My look for the show was a football kit. I was also very excited to meet and speak with African superstar models like Alek Wek and Grace Bol. All things I had never imagined before. I was a little stressed, which I understood was normal being that it was my first time,” he added.

Today, with the initial nervousness far behind him, Dapsia is a certified go-to Balenciaga face. He has made multiple appearances on the runway and on the e-commerce portal for the high-end French house. According to financial estimates, Balenciaga was a significant earner for the Kerig Group, of which it is a part. The Kerig Group recorded global sales of €20.35 billion in 2022 for its diverse portfolio, which includes Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.

“Balenciaga’s team is great and they treat models very well, and it’s the same feelings other models share. We are stars with Balenciaga. It’s almost another family on this side,” the SAINT model raved about the fashion house, which has been helmed by creative director Demna Gvasalia since 2015.

“Demna for me is a genius. I absolutely love everything he does,” Dapsia added. “People might think that my opinion is subjective, but no one can deny that since his arrival at Balenciaga, he has breathed distinction in the house even if he’s very provocative in his art, his originality and creativity shine through.”

“Gedeon’s sense of discipline, work ethic, and of course, his chiselled features are all a winning combination,” said Peters. He continued, “I vividly remember how excited he was when I told him Balenciaga was interested in him, and up to the present, he’s demonstrated an admirable dedication to his career, which is a major plus in this industry.”

Life in Paris, Dapsia explained, “is very different from that of Cameroon. The atmosphere of the city is unique. There’s a huge mix of nationalities and lots of tourists. What I like here is the cafés on the edges of the streets. I love going to museums. They relax and cultivate my mind on trends and inspirations.”

Before becoming a successful high-fashion model, Dapsia studied international relations at the University of Yaoundé. He was born in Yagoua, Cameroon, in the far-north region, and is the eldest of 10 children to his parents, who are educators.

“I grew up there until I was 12 years old, before our family migrated to the capital city. My childhood life was very far from modernity, but it was rather cool with the realities of this area. Living part of my life there allowed me to know where I come from. I believe I would like to live out the later years of my life there because it is my real home,” he said.

In terms of future plans, Dapsia is taking it one day at a time. He shared, “I’m very ambitious and always aim high. I would like to become one of the greatest models in the fashion industry and give hope to the young people where I come from that it is possible to dream and live your dreams. Even if it’s very hard, it’s not impossible.”