JULIA DAKA: ARCHITECT, DESIGNER, MODEL, PHILANTHROPIST, CONSULTANT & CURATOR
Welcome to the Cercle des Créatrices Inspirées where I meet sunny women to discuss creativity, art, self-confidence and entrepreneurship.
Margaux : It was at the studio that I had the chance to discover Julia Daka and I was immediately impressed by her career and her strength! Following our exchange, I wanted to highlight her story which I found so inspiring. Raised by her grandmother in a shantytown in Reunion, her life changes when her plastic arts teacher gives her an architecture book. Then spotted by a Russian photographer, she travels the world as a model and ends up settling in Paris where she decides to concentrate on her job as an architect.
I hope that this meeting with Julia will inspire you too to step out of your comfort zone and increase your range of possibilities!
Margaux: Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Julia Daka, I am an architect, designer, model and also a philanthropist and curator in addition to being a creative consultant.
Margaux: How did you get here? What is your background ?
I was born in Mayotte but I grew up in Reunion. I took a year off and that's when I was spotted by a Russian photographer. It allowed me to travel the world and start working as a model. I stopped after two or three years to continue to focus on my job as an architect.
I was thirteen when one of my teachers, Mrs. Corbière, invited me and some of the students in my class to take part in a painting workshop. She showed us several works and famous artists and asked us to choose the one that inspired us the most. I chose Picasso's "Bottle and Candle Goat Skull". She then gave me a book on 20th century and Bauhaus architects. And I immediately fell in love. It is this book, and this professor of applied arts who knew how to detect an artistic talent in me, which allowed me to be who I am today.
Margaux: Tell me about a project of which you are particularly proud.
I have an association: Sadaka which gives access to education to children through contemporary art. There are all types of art: painting, sculpture, architecture, screenwriting... The idea is really to pass on everything I've learned through my experiences and encounters. that I was able to do and to share it with my community.
Margaux: Would you say that you have confidence in yourself?
Yes, I have confidence in myself. Modeling has a lot to do with it. The meetings and my strength of character too. On the other hand, I sometimes feel the syndrome of the impostor in my work.
Margaux: What scares you in life?
I'm not afraid of anything. Some would say it's luck. I think it's just a predisposition I've had since I was little. It is a choice to be afraid. Until now, I have always preferred to dive head first. Fear is not part of my vocabulary, I rather consider this feeling as adrenaline.
Margaux: Tell me about that moment when you stepped out of your comfort zone.
ITO 5 RINGS CUFF , ITO 7 RINGS RING AND NAMI 3 RINGS RING
