CRI听力:Doris Kwaka-the Model Life

It's just a few weeks before Beijing Fashion Week, and African model Doris Kwaka is trying on the clothes she'll be modelling, in preparation for the event.

To people's amazement, she steps out of the dressing room in a beautiful, flowing red dress.

The former safari guide started a career in modeling from unlikely beginnings. But with her covergirl looks, tall figure and noticeably shaved head, a career in this tough industry seemed inevitable, and China was the place that made the dream come true.

"I'm Doris Kwaka from Kenya. I've been in China for four years now and I first came here to study the language and doing modelling. I like it, it's passionate for me. I enjoy this life so it's not a job, it's not a hustle, it's my way of living."

A few weeks later and it's the big day. Major Chinese fashion designer, Hu Sheguang, is showing his collection at Beijing fashion week, and Doris is to play a major part in this.

Doris and Hu Sheguang have planned a grand entrance, where the model will play a large part in the theme of the show.

Entering at the midway point, she plans to fall intentionally, and to then have a gas mask placed on her face before getting up and continuing to walk.

It's a very exciting, but nerve-racking experience for the model.

"It was really fast. I was to follow some music, because everyone was just clapping. I think I really became this character. Backstage I was shaking. My whole body, I felt weak. I never expected such a thing."

Life in China wasn't plain sailing from the start for Doris. Coming to China as an aspiring black African model took patience and a lot of hard graft.

"When I first came, it was very strange to especially see a model that is a lady with no hair. Some of them were like, is she a girl? She's a boy? The other thing is the market was not very open to a black model."

But with an eye to the future, Doris has created her own brand, with the plan to create something sustainable for herself here in Beijing.

"This is the shop where I sell my stuff and I like making clothes. I come from a family with that. My best friend said ' how about you start a brand?' and that's how I set up the line, DHK. If I choose to be at any place right now, I would still choose China."

For CRI, this is Daniel Holmes.