Eric Akoa - From Waiting Tables to the UAE’s Most In-Demand Model

When Eric Akoa arrived in Dubai from Cameroon, he had little money, limited English, and no industry contacts - only a clear conviction that he would make a life in modeling. He took survival jobs, from waiting tables to cleaning shifts, and studied the craft in the margins: posture, presence, and professionalism. The years were not glamorous. Akoa has spoken openly about running out of cash and the cascade of setbacks that followed. Yet that stretch forged the attributes that now define him: resilience, discipline, and an unshakable faith.

As his confidence and portfolio grew, Akoa began sharing lessons online, part documentation and part playbook for other strivers in the region. The audience followed. Today, his Instagram presence anchors a public narrative that is equal parts model, entrepreneur, and mentor.

Breakthroughs and brand trust

Akoa’s early Dubai years were defined by grind and grit. Rejections were routine; he recalls three failed attempts to join Emirates cabin crew before the doors finally opened. “I became the face of Emirates Airlines because I turned failure into success and refused to give up,” he says. Once inside the room, he made it count. His portfolio broadened across aviation, energy, sportswear, and luxury retail through collaborations with Emirates, ADNOC, Adidas, and Level Shoes, among others. In 2024, Akoa was selected as a brand ambassador for Chivas Regal and attended the announcement of its global partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a gathering of partners, media, and tastemakers on Yas Island. For Akoa, the moment was more than spectacle. It marked another step in a journey built on consistency: evidence of where preparation and persistence can lead.

The entrepreneur behind the image

Modeling is only one lane. Akoa founded Eric Fit Academy, an online program that demystifies the UAE market for aspiring models with step-by-step guidance, from landing the first booking to sustaining repeat work. “My core reason is to inspire transformation, not only in myself but in those who dare to dream,” he says. “With faith and discipline, it is possible to turn any dream into reality. Modeling became my platform to represent Africa with pride and to show that our stories, faces, and voices belong on every global stage.”

Through the academy, that mentorship scales, reaching young Africans across the Gulf and beyond who see Dubai not just as a destination, but as a platform city. Akoa is acutely aware of what his visibility signals. “My greatest fulfillment comes from representing Africa with pride,” he notes. “My journey stands as proof that African excellence knows no borders.” It reflects the region’s evolving casting norms, where diverse faces do not merely appear; they anchor the story.

Why his rise matters, especially to the African diaspora

For the diaspora, Akoa’s path is a replicable blueprint. Start where you are. Refine your craft. Narrate your value. Build infrastructure, like an academy, so success outlives a single face. The implication is quietly radical: creative careers aren’t luck-led or gatekeeper-bound when competence, consistency, and community align. If you are an aspiring creative across the African diaspora, treat Akoa’s playbook as both mirror and map. Study the industry. Build the habits. Convert experience into systems others can use. That is how personal wins become communal momentum. As Akoa puts it, “Your dreams are valid as long as you remain consistent.” The rest is work and the courage to keep going.

About Eric

Full name: Eric Akoa Origin: Cameroon Highlights: Model for Emirates Airlines; Chivas Regal ambassador; Founder Eric Fit Academy Podcast: The Mindset That Made Eric Akoa the Biggest Model in Dubai - Watch here Instagram: @eric.fit_