Spotlight on Bintu Baba Jallo: From Runway to Screen

Senegalese-Ghanaian and fully unapologetic, Zenith University tourism sophomore Bintu Baba Jallo has been turning heads on and off the runway. Crowned Female Runway Model of the Year in 2024, Bintu has seamlessly transitioned from strutting catwalks to commanding the screen, taking on a daring supporting role in the upcoming Socrate Safo film Sextortion. In this candid Afronova Radio interview, she opens up about the adrenaline of modeling, the challenges of acting in provocative roles, navigating society’s expectations, and her vision for the next chapter of her career. Get ready to meet the model, the actress, and the young woman unafraid to push boundaries.

Bintu Baba Jallo: Good afternoon. My name is Bintu Baba Jallo, and I’m a professional model.

Angelina Kamasah: Of course. You won the coveted Female Runway Model of the Year award last year. Can you take us back to the exact moment where your name was announced?

Bintu Baba Jallo: I was shocked, and I was nervous, because I never expected that I was going to win. There were a lot of good models … contesting together, so I was a bit nervous. It was a stage where everyone was actually deserving.

AK: What do you do when you’re not on the runway?

BBJ: Well. I’m an indoor person. When I’m not working, I love to be indoors, and read, or think about myself. Yeah!

AK: How much of your own personality do you pour into your runway walks?

BBJ: Um, you see, when you’re on the runway, you are selling something. You’re not just walking. You’re not just going catwalking. You’re selling the product that you are wearing –   the costume that you’re in, or whatever you’re holding. So, when I’m on the runway, I’m selling. It’s not about showing off. No, no, no.  I’m advertising.

BBJ: In modeling, we call something body parts model. It can be only my hand with rings or watches. It can be a bag that I’m holding. So, if I’m on the runway and I’m holding a bag, I can’t be like a normal person who is holding a bag on her way to work. I have to hold it in such a way that someone will see that and say, ‘oh, this bag… I would love to have this kind of bag’.

AK: And now, you are an actor. How did you transition from modelling to acting, and what convinced you to take such a daring role in Sextortion?

BBJ: I love challenges, and I love to challenge myself. So when I heard about the role, I read the script, and I asked myself, ‘can I do this?’ Like, am I really sure that I want to do this? And I was like, okay, let me try it, and I did it.

AK: Your supporting role was a memorable and raunchy one. What personal emotions or experiences did you draw on to bring such an authentic performance?

BBJ: I won’t lie …it wasn’t easy. I had to watch a lot of movies to get myself ready for that situation!

AK: I know Sextortion is not released for the theatres yet, but do you feel judged by those who’ve had the privilege of previewing for the role? 

BBJ: You see, the funny thing is, when the trailer came out, I was a bit unsure about posting it. I was like, do I ready want to hear what people will say about me?  And was I really ready to allow them to judge me about something like this?

AK: I know. How do you navigate that tension between arts and society’s expectations? 

BBJ: You know, we have this perception that people who act these kinds of roles are lesbian. I posted the trailer, and my DM exploded! People were asking me, ‘why, why did you do that?’  ‘Why? Are you okay?’ ‘Are you a lesbian?’ ‘Why?’ Like, what happened?  Everybody wanted an explanation, but I was like, it’s a movie. It’s just acting. It’s just acting, and I don’t have time to explain myself. It’s acting.

AK: What was it like working with Socrate Safo?

BBJ: I have known Mr. Safo for some years now, but I hadn’t worked with him before…You see, when you are working with him, you can’t joke around. Basically, no matter how free you are with the person, when it’s work, it’s work.

AK: OK. Moving on to power and agency: in an industry that is known for exploiting women, how do you protect your sense of self-worth and maintain agency over your image? 

BBJ: You make sure you are not desperate, and you train yourself. You see, we have some people who, because they’re slim, they think they can be models, but it’s not like that. You have to train. If you are not trained well and you go for auditions and they don’t pick you,  you might get a photographer who will be like, ‘oh, come and do this for me. I can help you work on this show’. And because you are desperate, you will do that.  In this industry, no matter how good you are, sometimes people try to take advantage of you.

AK: You said ‘train yourself’. How do you train yourself?

BBJ: Like I said earlier on, I am not desperate. If I come for your audition and you don’t pick me, I’m good to go. Sometimes I’ll ask, ‘what did I do wrong?’ You see, when the auditions flyers come out, some list the criteria like height, shoe size etc. You have to read and see if you fit in that category. If you don’t fit in, don’t go. Why would you go for auditions for tall ladies when you know you are 5’1″?  If they want size 6, and you are not size 6, and they don’t pick you, is it their fault? No, it’s your fault. So you have to make sure that you fit the spec, then you go. And then, if they don’t pick you, then maybe it’s the quality of your work.  Maybe it’s your facial expression. So, go and work on it.

AK: Okay. So, let’s move to culture and conversation. Ghana can be conversative about sexuality. What do you hope your role in Sextortion spark in terms of public conversations?

BBJ: I think this culture, we still don’t understand our sexualities, and we need to educate people around us. If you see somebody doing something that you think is ‘bad’ for you, why is it bad for you? Is it the culture, or is it your religion? Sit the person down, talk to them. Try to understand the person.

AK: So, moving on to the next chapter: are we about to see a completely new side of Bintu? Perhaps producing, directing, or even starting your own fashion line?

BBJ: Of course, very soon. Very soon. I’ll start working on that. I would love to be a director one day.

AK: Catwalk, or camera: which gives you a bigger adrenaline rush? Slaying the runway or nailing a tough scene?

BBJ: So I’ve been modelling for five-six years now. I will say runway. I feel more comfortable on the runway. And you know, on the runway, we don’t talk much, you know. Models – we don’t talk. Your actions do the talking. Yeah, but the acting is fun, and I’m enjoying it.

AK: If you had to do only one type of role for the rest of your career, what would that be?

BBJ: Romantic. Romantic. That’s me. I love love, you know.

AK: Wardrobe malfunction confessions: what’s the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on the runway?

BBJ: Okay, you see, I went for an audition. It wasn’t a show. And trust me, I couldn’t do it; I was so scared, I couldn’t do it. That was when I started modelling.

AK: All right, so guilty pleasures: what’s that one thing you binge on after a big show or shoot?  

BBJ: I go home and rest. You don’t stress yourself. I go home and sleep, and when I wake up, I’m like, ‘was everything really, really okay’? And I have people around me that if something goes wrong, they come on board and be like, ‘you did this on the runway or this costume; you should have given attitude, but you were smiling too much. So the next time..’.

AK: Secret talent: if you weren’t modelling or acting, what’s a hidden skill that you would surprise us with? 

BBJ: Secret talent? Oh, my God. I love to sing in the shower. That’s a secret talent. It’s not open for all. It’s something that I would want to get out there. Singing.

AK: DMs check: what is the weirdest or most memorable message you ever received from a fan?

BBJ: The weirdest thing? Oh, it’s nasty. Some are annoying. ‘Can I date you for a day?’ For a day? Oh, I blocked the person. I don’t like explaining myself.

AK: So, last word. One word. Describe Sextortion in a single word.  

BBJ: Educative. Yeah. Great!