Today we’d like to introduce you to Soraya Azzabi.
Soraya was born in Casablanca, Morocco where she grew up in a happy family and experienced what felt like being raised in luxury. All of that ended when her family moved to her adoptive hometown, Montreal, Canada. Growing up as the third daughter of a destitute family was a challenge on many levels for her and her sisters. As a little girl in Montreal, there was little she could do, except for dreaming. She remembers walking to school as her tummy rumbled because she had had nothing to eat and would hope that some of her schoolmates would share some of their lunch with her, but would have never dared to ask. The one between shame and hunger is a close match.
Later, her mother became a single mother, in and out of welfare and unable to keep a job while on medical leave. Soraya turned to study, which made her think of the possibilities she could have of bettering her condition and exploring the World. However, the constant racism she was subjected to, including by the teachers, created a further impediment to her academic pursuit. It didn’t matter to her. Soraya seized the first real opportunity to build something for herself when she was approached by talent scouts. Indeed, she accepted to pose for a photographer who then introduced her to a modeling agency. Her career first took her to Barcelona then Milan, Italy, which she quickly made her home base. She became a TV host at Fashion TV and a host of District Mode in her hometown of Montreal.
Being in the midst of the fascinating worlds of fashion, art, and design, her work was a constant enriching experience, that has given her the chance of not only raising above her deprived background but also of immersing herself in new cultures while learning many languages.
In 2014, after being approached by a production company to collaborate in different productions as supervisor and producer, she moved to Toronto.
In 2016, Soraya opened Samo’ Films, to produce and direct among other things, the documentary series “Making It Against All Odds”
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s never a smooth road if it’s a smooth road its cause the challenge is not great enough for you. For me, the key is to surround yourself with positive women but also men that encourage you to be the best of yourself and its imperative to give that same energy back.
No matter what you decided to peruse its gonna be a challenging road but we have to learn to enjoy the journey that gets you to the result.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into documentary series Making it Against All Odds produced by Samo films story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m a model and TV host. That is now producing and directing a documentary called Making it Against All Odds, from survival to success. The documentary is about people that came from poverty or and a difficult upbringing and became successful.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I never had a mentor but I am surrounded by the most amazing friends, I think that we all push each other in a positive way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bragwall/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Briony @dontfeedtheunicorn Www.brionydouglas.com
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