JUNE 2019- Jhb East

VOICE
for the voiceless
She is an FHM Top 20 model, has made it to the cover of an international magazine,
is an actress … and she is deaf. We chat to Jenelle Joanne Ramsami (36) from
Edenvale about being a proud deaf woman who lives her life to the full.
Text: Ina Gouws. Photo: Tanya Borchers Photography. Make-up: Eunicia Ngwenya.
Jenelle is an activist for the deaf and
her passion is to bridge the gap
between the disabled and hearing
communities. “The deaf also
deserve equal rights and we don’t want
to be isolated. I speak for those who can’t
speak, listen for those who can’t hear, see
for those who can’t see. I want to inform
people about the deaf culture and I want
to be an inspiration,” she states.
According to Jenelle, deaf people in
this day and age are not being taken
seriously at all and there is a perception
that the deaf are incapable of
doing what normal people can do.
Although she studied business
management at Oval International
Institution and graduated after three
years with seven distinctions, she has
been turned down from opportunities
because of her disability. She creates
awareness with her Facebook page, Break
the Silence – Hearing Aids Rock, and she
started another page, DEAFinitely Unique
– “Don’t let others DEAFine you”, where
she wants to
run a blog to interview all kinds of
inspiring people.
What is the biggest challenge
that you have experienced as a
deaf person?
Communication is the biggest challenge.
People sometimes treat you as if you
are retarded.
I learned to communicate through sign
language at school, but I had this spirit
12 Get It Joburg East June 2019
of trying to be heard.
Although I could not pronounce words
properly, I would lift my hands anyway
just to get across what I wanted to say.
It made such an impact on the teacher
that I was placed in a school that
taught me how to speak as well as lipread.
I have also learned to read body
language. Humans don’t realise how
many true signals their bodies give
“Most models felt that I
modelled for pity because I am
deaf, which is not true”
away, regardless of their words.
What does it mean for a deaf person
when they see an able-bodied
person signing to them?
It is extremely heart-warming that
someone actually took the time to
learn to communicate with the deaf
community instead of shunning us as
many do. I encourage people to see the
beauty of sign language. I’m crossing
fingers that our government makes
sign language a 12th official language.
You are a part-time aspiring model
and actress. What is your
full-time job?
I am a traffic bureau operator under
the operations department at Netstar.
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by the deaf American actress,
Marlee Matlin. She inspired me to
become an actress. I acted in the first
South African deaf movie called Home
– It’s Where You Belong. Unfortunately,
the South African film industry prefers
well-spoken actresses with no hearing
and speech disabilities. However, I am
not giving up on my dreams to be
an actress in the SA film industry
one day.
Tell us about your
modelling career.
I have modelled in many pageants.
I was the first-ever international
model for Mollmag SA and Mollmag
USA as well as the front cover
model for Moll Magazine SA on the
December 2018 issue.
How do other models treat you in the
industry of modelling as you are the
first model with a hearing disability?
Most models feel that I model for pity
because I am deaf, which is not true.
The reason I model is because I love
modelling and it helps boost my selfconfidence.
Some feel threatened by
me, while others have built a beautiful
start to a never-ending friendship.
What is your goal for the future?
I want to start a modelling school for
unable and able people in order to get
to know each other’s challenges and to
build confidence.
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2019/05/15 03:25:27 PM