SIIMA SHAMIM, 28, professionally known as ONLYSIIMA, is a Ugandan model, actress and influencer. Born in Kampala in 1998, Onlysiima began her modelling career in 2017. Her journey, however, was tested early, but instead of giving up, she redirected her career and rose from the ashes like a phoenix.She signed with Crystal Models Africa, before moving to Canada, where she signed with Torontobased agency, 6ix Element. Away from the runway, Onlysiima is pursuing dental studies and has ventured into acting. Quick Talk sat with Onlysiima for a chat recently. Congratulations on building a modeling career on two continents. Thank you! Now, who is Onlysiima? Onlysiima is my professional name, while my real name is Siima Shamim. I am a proud Kampala girl, born and raised in Seguku along Entebbe Road. I graduated from Makerere University Business School with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Computing, and I am currently pursuing dental studies in Canada. I am a commercial and editorial model, an actress and influencer known on TikTok, Instagram and all social media handles as OnlySiima. I am someone who is very passionate about community work.Where did your journey in the creative industry begin? My journey started here in Uganda. I attended Emmanuel College for my O-Levels and Old Kampala Senior Secondary School for A-Level. By 2017, I felt a strong pull toward fashion and decided to pursue modeling professionally. Your early modeling journey suffered a major setback. What happened? It was a very difficult experience. On the day of a major runway event, I was involved in a serious accident that left me unable to walk. For someone who was just entering the fashion industry, it was a huge setback. But I did not want that experience to determine how my story would end. I realized that if I could not immediately continue with runway modeling, I could find another way to remain in front of the camera. That is what pushed me toward commercial and editorial modeling. What did signing with Crystal Models Africa mean to you? Signing with Crystal Models Africa gave me an opportunity to grow, gain experience and work on commercial campaigns across East Africa. I also got to attend different fashion and entertainment events, which helped me understand the industry better and build my confidence. Tell Quick Talk about the move to Canada. Moving to Canada was a new chapter in my life, but I did not want to leave my creative career behind. I wanted to challenge myself in a different environment and see how far I could take my modeling career internationally. I eventually signed with 6ix Element in Toronto and continued working as a freelance high-fashion model. You have now moved into acting. What attracted you to film? Acting gives me another way to tell stories. Modeling is largely about communicating through an image, while acting allows you to explore characters and tell stories in a much deeper way. I have enjoyed making that transition, and I feel my experience in modeling has helped me become comfortable in front of the camera. The Toronto International Film Festival! What was that experience like? It was an absolute whirlwind and a massive eye-opener. TIFF is a major international film festival, and being exposed to that side of the industry gave me an incredible opportunity to learn, connect and see the film world from an entirely different perspective. Being there as a Ugandan actress and model felt deeply empowering. I attended the festival alongside Ugandan filmmaker Jerry Sessanga, which made the experience even more meaningful. He is passionate about elevating Ugandan cinema, so navigating the festival with him was a valuable learning experience. We found ourselves surrounded by filmmakers, creators and people with different perspectives on the industry. As a model, I loved seeing the fashion and creativity around the red carpets, but as an actress, the networking sessions and industry events were particularly exciting. Being in those spaces and representing East Africa gave me an opportunity to connect with people and showcase the talent coming from back home. The experience changed how I view the global film landscape and strengthened my desire to contribute to putting Ugandan cinema on the global map. It reminded me that our stories deserve to be seen on international screens. Which film projects are you working on? [Laughs] You will have to wait a little longer for that! I am involved in projects that I am excited about, but because of non-disclosure agreements, I cannot reveal the titles or specific details yet. What is one misconception people have about models? People think it is an easy, effortless job where you just look glamorous for a few minutes. They do not see the reality behind the final image.They do not see the 12-hour shoot days, standing in freezing weather, wearing painful shoes, dealing with constant rejection at auditions or managing exhausting travel schedules. It requires immense physical stamina and, more importantly, thick skin and mental resilience. It is hard work, and the glamour is only about five per cent of the actual job. You are also involved in community work. What inspired you? I have always believed that having visibility or a public platform should also come with responsibility. I support vulnerable children. We contribute toward school fees for children who need support to remain in school and also provide essential household supplies to families experiencing financial difficulties. For me, being able to contribute to people’s lives is very important. It keeps me grounded. Where do you see Onlysiima in the next few years? I see myself successfully graduating from dental school and expanding my footprint in international cinema. I do not believe in limiting myself to just one box. I want to be an example of someone who can bridge the gap between a demanding professional field and the global entertainment industry. On the creative side, I plan to take on narrative film projects that bring African stories to the world stage. Finally, what would you tell a young girl dreaming about becoming a model? I would tell her to be completely fearless and never let an unexpected detour rewrite her script. There will be moments when the runway you planned to walk on gets taken away from you, and there will be times when people tell you that you cannot balance education with your creative dreams. Do not listen to them. Stand tall, trust your journey and keep moving forward, because the camera will always find you if you stay ready and remember that no stage in the world is too big for a girl from Seguku [or wherever]. geofreyserugo1992@gmail.comThe post Accident that broke her legs did not deter Onlysiima from modeling appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.