interview

Name:
Ridzman Zidaine (@ridzm4n)

Pronouns:
he/him

Agency:
Next London

Age:
24

Height:
6’2″

Place of Origin:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ethnic Origin:
Malay

Birthsign:
Cancer

Did you always want to be a model? Tell us about how you were discovered.
Since I’m tall, people in Malaysia have always praised me for being a model. There was a point at the age of 20 when I was skating around my neighborhood and posted some of my pictures on Instagram. I toyed around with a few hashtags on the post, which led to my discovery the following day. I got scouted through one of my hashtags. I told the agency about my dreams and my future plans, which led me to sign with them.

Most memorable modeling experience so far?
I was super lucky to have been flown out from my home country to Hong Kong for the LV cruise show back in 2023. Not only that, I got the chance to open the show for the very first time with the support from the team and Pharrell. It made a big statement on me and got me in articles back in Malaysia. The experience was unforgettable, as the models got the best hotel in the city with complete service from the moment we landed until the very end of the six-day trip.

One song you have on repeat, and why?
Asap Rocky’s “Fashion Killa” is one song that I can listen to repeatedly. I adore how the song’s opening makes me feel like a rich guy, and the words perfectly match that impression.

What other passions do you have aside from modeling?
During my teenage years, I excelled at football, which was my primary passion, and hence, my middle name is inspired by a football legend. My dad invested me in the sport by enrolling me in academies where I gained great knowledge. At one point, I was competing for a position to represent my state, but I lost that position to a friend of mine who is now a professional footballer in Malaysia. In addition to that, I have also picked up other sports, such as skating, badminton, and cycling. When I’m away from the city and at the beach, I usually enjoy surfing as a recreational activity.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do/try?
I do have a bucket list and places I want to visit in the future. I would love to travel to destinations like Budapest, Santorini, and others to experience their serenity. In addition, I would like to become a stylist, florist, and so on. However, I am trying to create a clothing brand with a small team that is slowly growing a community in KL.

What’s one thing people may be surprised to find out about you?
I am actually good at cooking. I cook for my friends when they are around my crib, but I usually cook during my student days, which kind of trained me a little bit about the basics and fundamentals of cooking. With the right ingredients, I think it’s possible to make a good dish if the recipe is followed correctly. It’s not that I eat a lot, but I used to watch my mum and grandma cook and would sometimes help them from time to time.

What change would you like to see in the world?
In my opinion, we all desire peace. I wish to live in a world where everyone is free, self-sufficient, at peace, and entitled to their rights.