Davina Bennett knew of Maluma’s existence, but had never heard his music. Even so, when someone told him that the Colombian singer was looking for a model for the videos of his album “7 days in Jamaica”, he did not think twice and auditioned for the role.
The model had no idea of the magnitude of the filming, but anyway she wanted to take advantage of the window to do what she likes the most: show the beauty and culture of her country, as well as the pride of its people.
“I thought it was going to be a simple video, something smaller,” said Davina in a phone call from Miami, where she now resides. ” It was a tribute to Jamaica, and I was not going to miss the opportunity because I always look for a way to support and make my country look good. ”
The singer’s new album is an EP with seven tracks, and each one has its own video; He made it known in January on his YouTube channel and, in addition to being filmed in Jamaica, it includes the participation of Ziggy Marley, the son of the famous reggae singer, Bob Marley.
In the material, which lasts just over 25, Davina plays Maluma’s love interest, something she knows will make her jealous to millions of people around the world.
“Yes, I know that now I am the envy of the world,” said the model, who gained notoriety in 2017 at the Miss Universe pageant because, instead of straightening or combing her hair, she showed her afro style in all its splendor.
” They didn’t force me to change my style, although they did bully me a lot on social media, ”said Davina, 24 years old. “They told me that with that hair I wasn’t even going to be one of the 16 finalists.”
Davina not only made it to that ranking, she came in second place.
“I made history because I was the first runner-up to wear afro hair,” she said. “Now we have a finalist with natural hair who is slowly changing and breaking with this beauty standard […] This changed how people see and label this pageant.”
Currently, Davina works as a model in one of the most important agencies in the world, and divides her time between Miami and Jamaica. She travels constantly and participates in campaigns aimed at girls who aspire to participate in Miss Universe.
She, more than anyone, knows what many women have to go through before feeling suitable for compete in this contest. She says that when she was little she was very insecure, but above all, she didn’t feel pretty.
“My family and the people around me told me that I was beautiful, but whoever The most influencing in my way of thinking was my dad, who told me I was pretty ”. He said. “You finally start to believe what they tell you and it was what changed my approach and the way I think about myself.”
Participating in the Miss Universe was the event in which Davina discovered all her potential, she said, and that is why she now believes that this type of contest is necessary, despite the fact that there are more and more detractors who consider that the contest promotes a wrong idea of what is the beauty of women and that It also uses the female figure as a commercial object.
“I disagree,” he said. “These contests build your self-esteem and self-confidence […] You learn a lot, not only for the contest but for other things, such as how to eat, rules of etiquette. All girls have to experience it, and parents should motivate their daughters to participate because it increases self-confidence […] I think it has more good things than bad. ”
