BREAKING THE MOULD

HADRI HASHIM AND RIDDUAN TTFGA ISMAIL ARE RESHAPING THE MODELLING LANDSCAPE WITH THEIR BOLD AND DARING ENTERPRISE TOPBOI CITIZEN

- KC YAP

SINCE THE 1960S, MODELLING HAS GROWN FROM A NICHE CAREER TO A GLOBAL INSTITUTION OF POP CULTURE.

Besides commanding the power to bring commercial goods and works of art to life and wielding enormous influence over consumers and onlookers, models also serve as harbingers of change and cultural icons, continuously breaking new barriers and redefining the standards of beauty with each passing generation.

While the international fashion and modelling scenes have collectively heralded numerous chapters, positive changes and reforms, becoming increasingly diverse over the years, the history of modelling in Malaysia, despite the nation's multicultural diversity, has for many years now been largely charted by temporary foreign models.

Recognising a lack of representation for local talents and the industry's need for a distinctive makeover, two like-minded individuals by the names of Ridduan Ismail, or more widely known as TTFGA (Tukang Tangkap Foto Gembira Anda), and Hadri Hashim, have taken the initiative to turn their mutual passion for fashion and unconventional homegrown aesthetics, into a model management enterprise called Topboi Citizen to chart a new course for the industry with their unique community of models.

The partnership is more than just a meeting of two minds. Originally conceived by Ridduan as a photography series, Topboi has led the established street photographer to discovering Hadri, the founder and managing director of the café Thursdys, firstly as the series' foremost talent and subsequently his business partner.