Odusoga, who is known as a model and presenter on Arto Nyberg’s show, talks openly about the racism and prejudices he has encountered during his career.
With her upcoming children’s book, Lola Odusoga wants to break old attitudes. Inka Soveri
Presenter and model Lola Odusoga, 45, talks openly about her career and the attitudes she faces to journalist Arto Nyberg.
Odusoga says in Yle’s program that at the beginning of his missionary career in the 90s, instead of his personality, only his skin color was seen.
– Then we thought, Can I even go and can anything come of black, Lola says, referring to the Miss pageants.
– Every day only skin color issues were written, he specifies.
Odusoga won the 1996 Miss Finland competition and she finished third in the Miss Universe competition. Despite the success, he felt that he did not have a face to identify with. The discussions always turned to ethnic themes.
With his own experience, Odusoga was inspired to write a children’s book with a talking afro. Through it, he wants to create an object of identification for children.
– Afrotuka has its own will, it’s almost its own personality, the presenter laughs, referring to her hair.
At the same time, he says that a few years ago, the afro had to be hidden in pigtails, for example, so that it would be perceived as appropriate in official situations. This has not only affected him, but many others as well.
Odusoga states that he has had to adapt to a certain mold for a long time. He now wants to break that mold.
The interview with Lola Odusoga can be watched on the Arto Nyberg program YLE Arena.
Lola says that she receives all kinds of feedback from heaven and earth. The messages are sometimes really mean. Jenni Gästgivar / Iltalehti