Onika Vapi, otherwise known as Onyxx to her friends, is a 23-year-old young woman who hails from Motherwell, Gqebera. Her major for this year is Character Design and Styling, with a minor in Production Design.
STUDYING AT AFDA
Onika’s reason for studying at AFDA GQ was because of its location. ‘It was the closest school to my home, and it’s similar to the New York Film Academy,’ she explains. Onikahad planned on studying at NYFA just before COVID hit in 2020.
Her biggest motivation for studying at AFDA is because of the art. ‘This school is filled with people who are passionate about art and creativity, so getting into AFDA was a breath of fresh air for me,’ Onika explains.
I ask her what art means to her, and why she thinks it’s important. ‘Art is an expression of life. It’s there to teach and acknowledge that life has its ups and downs,’ Onika explains. ‘It also showcases the past and the present. We can learn and grow in who we are as people.’ Onika believes that art is there to serve the ones that come after us, to make this world a better place.
The part she most likes about AFDA is that it is a ‘cheat code’ if utilized properly. ‘People would be surprised at what AFDA and the students themselves are capable of.’
MANY JOBS
Onika is already stepping into her dream job, and she is working hard to make it a reality. ‘I plan to become a full-time musician in a couple of months,’ Onika shares with me.
While she’s busy with that dream, she plans on taking time off in-between to make movies. ‘I would love to open up my own Production Design House and source out Props for Productions all over the country.’ With that up and running, her next step is to have her own makeup house. And that’s not all. ‘As soon as I have the finances, I also plan on doing my third degree in criminology,’ Onika says.
I ask her if she could give a one-hour presentation on anything, and she responds that it would be about music. ‘Music is spiritually healing. It is a source of healthy creativity.’
RESEARCH QUESTION
Onika doesn’t have a research thesis title yet. ‘I am, however, interested in how American films have progressed since before the apartheid years, till now.’ She believes that black films have previously been disregarded by screenwriters and that they only catered to Caucasians in the media. ‘In this way, the masses came to believe that being white is the main blueprint for the standard of beauty,’ Onika tells me. ‘Writers also didn’t have the proper knowledge of fleshing out black characters because they were white themselves.’
As a result, character designers and stylers (CDS) did not have much to work with when it came to black characters. ‘Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor were the ideals to strive for… Fair to pale skin, red lips, red blush, and mascara.’ Onika further shares that while these looks work great on white women, it makes black women look ‘ashy’ and ‘undesirable’. Onika aims to change these perceptions through her gifts and talents as a CDS.
SECOND CHANCES
Onika’s full name is Onikaisiqhamongexeshalazo Vapi. Yep, that’s really her name. Her favorite thing about herself is that she doesn’t take nonsense from anyone. I ask her if she believes that everyone deserves a second chance. ‘No,’ she says again. ‘It is important to have a spirit of discernment. There is a time when we all learn to distinguish between right and wrong. It is important to listen to our ‘gut feelings’ and then act on them.’
When was the last time Onika felt lost? ‘Just last week,’ she replies honestly. And how did she find her way back again? ‘Thankfully, I have friends who are family to me. Just calling them makes all the difference in the world. I don’t even need to tell them I’m in a bad spot. They can just sense it. And vice versa.’
CREATIVE PERSON
Onika is immensely creative in the way she dresses, how she puts on her make up, how she presents herself, and in the way she talks. She believes that every single one of us is creative. ‘There is not a single soul that doesn’t have a creative and artistic bone in their body.’ She explains why some people believe that they aren’t creative: ‘They just haven’t taken the time to learn and discover themselves… They probably have other priorities to take care of, so they haven’t been able to explore themselves much to unlock their creativity.’
It is a widely held belief that the internet kills creativity. I ask her if she thinks the world would be better off without it. ‘No,’ she adamantly replies. ‘The internet itself is something that can be switched on and off. It is up to the person to be resilient and set boundaries.’
What does Onika do just for fun? ‘I perform in shows; I paint, I draw, I work on cars with my dad, and I cook food with my mother.’ She also loves to read and find ways to practically live out her spirituality. ‘Also, focusing on oneself is the most fun thing to do, because I get to discover new things about myself.’
