Deaf role model speaks out
EAF model Jenelle Joanne Ramsami has made it her mission to bridge the gap between the hearing and deaf communities.
The 34-year-old Phoenix resident, who has a business management diploma, is passionate about empowering her deaf peers to stand up to those who treat them differently and encouraging the deaf not to give up during challenging times.
“Don’t give up because someone will see your worth,” she said.
“I want them to feel our deaf culture and to understand us,” wrote Ramsami, in an e-mail interview.
Growing up, she said, was a struggle.
“The doctor told my parents I was perfectly normal, so I went to a mainstream primary school in Greenwood Park. It was difficult because I was unable to hear.
“I was then transferred to the VN Naik School for the Deaf where I got my grounding. I was given speech therapy and had access to an audiologist.
“After four years, I was transferred to Durban School for the Hearing Impaired and after matriculating with three distinctions in mathematics, accounting and business economics, I enrolled at Oval International Campus and completed a diploma course in business management. I graduated with six distinctions,” said Ramsami proudly.
She secured a job as a marketing executive and despite being retrenched last year, the budding photographer and actress keeps herself busy.
“I am one day hoping to start a dance, acting and modelling agency that includes both deaf and hearing people to bridge the gap between the two. I want them to feel our deaf culture and to understand us.”
Since she was a child, modelling and dancing have been her passions.
“(They) bring out my confidence,” said Ramsami.
“When I started modelling, it was a stepping stone into the real world. I was an introvert and wanted to feel what any normal person would feel.
“My proudest moment was when I was chosen as an FHM Top 20 model by public votes and I was the first deaf model to achieve that.”
The passionate deaf activist currently has her own brand called Hearing Aids Rock.
She created the brand to raise awareness of deaf and hard of hearing people.
“I am hoping to get an NGO to support me to make a difference. I also started a T-shirt brand called DEAFinitely Unique.”
Her T-shirts can be bought online only at https:// represent.com/store/ deafinitelyunique.