Bold, unfiltered, and full of life — meet Patience, better known as Pasyh, a Ugandan-born carnival model making waves in the UK carnival scene. From cheerleader roots to teen masquerader and now a familiar face in top bands like Exotic Mas and Xtreme, her journey is driven by passion, resilience, and an unapologetic love for the culture. With every step she takes on the road, Pasyh blends her East African roots with Caribbean flair, proving that carnival is as much about unity and expression as it is about feathers and finesse.
- What is your name, and where are you or your family from?
My name is Patience, also known as Pasyh & I’m of Ugandan descent. Shocke,r I know looool.
2. How did you first get involved in the carnival scene?
I got involved in the carnival scene through my old cheerleading team, Angels Cheerleading Academy. It’s with them I attended my first carnival at thirteen and also modelled my first costume for one of the members on my team at eighteen.
- What does carnival mean to you personally?
To me, carnival means unity, community, and vibrant energy. A time that brings people from all walks of life together to create an immersive atmosphere.
- How would you describe your cultural background and how it influences you today?
Being from East Africa, we are known for having a good time and pure enjoyment. Which is literally my personality to a T. We love music, especially Caribbean music & because of this it was easy for me to fall in love with soca and carnival as a whole.
- How long have you been modelling or participating in carnival events?
I’ve been modelling since I was 18, like I mentioned previously, I started out doing teen section with tropical fusion and then I worked with my friends’ small band, Exotic Mas, where I wore a backline costume.
- What was your very first costume or band experience like?
When I first started, I was just happy to be there and to finally be part of the scene in a more pre- productive way. Because when I first attended my first carnival (13), I said to myself I wanted to be a part of it more and create an impact.
- Do you prefer traditional carnival costumes or modern, more daring designs? Why?
I prefer the modern vibes because I like how my body looks in it but I do feel like we should bring back some more traditional options (especially for Sunday) and for those that want to be a bit more covered up
- Which Caribbean carnivals have you participated in so far? (Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, etc.)
Unfortunately, I haven’t attended any outside London, so I feel like I haven’t experienced carnival to it’s full capacit,y but I would like to attend Trinidad, Barbados, St Lucia, Miami, and all of them TBH
- How do you prepare mentally and physically for carnival season?
I trust the process, I take it as it comes because I enjoy it so much I know that every year it will only get better.
- Can you share a memorable or favorite carnival moment?
My favourite carnival was when I was 16 I went with my cousin and best friend, we’d saved up for our costumes and we were so proud of ourselves. We were in the teen section but no one could tell us nothing, and the Soca was soca-ring that year
- How important is it for you to represent your heritage through carnival?
It’s more important for me to connect with people if I’m honest and sing at the top of my lungs. I love my heritage, though; I do & I love seeing my fellow Ugandans on the road
- What challenges have you faced as a Caribbean model in the carnival or fashion world?
When I first started modelling, I didn’t see much representation when it came to dark skinned models and having a baby face didn’t help either so working with different bands wasn’t easy, so I remained loyal to the ones I knew (Exotic Mas & Xtreme) When people saw I was selling out costumes, things started to change
- How do you feel Carnival empower women, especially women of Caribbean descent?
Wow, in a world where women are overly sexualised, Carnival moves away from that
stigma. This is why I do it, we are seen as works of Art, God’s true creation and we are uplifted for our different body shapes and sizes. It’s the one place without a doubt I know women are seen as gifts and we are truly appreciated
- What advice would you give to young women who want to get involved in carnival or modelling?
I would tell them to know their ‘Why’ because that’s always important and it will keep you humble. Once you’ve understood that, the next thing would be believing in yourself worth so you don’t rely on other people’s options on your craft. Because it’s a craft at the end of the day and you genuinely have to believe in yourself or else you may become envious of others, or dishearten when you get rejected.
- Are there any designers, bands, or brands you dream of collaborating with?
YES!! LISTEN TO ANY BIG BANDS/ DESIGNERS IN THE CARIBBEAN, HIT YOU’RE GIRL UP. MIAMI AND TORONTO TOO, I’M TRYING TO BE WORLDWIDE x
- What changes or improvements would you like to see in the carnival or modelling industry?
When it comes to the UK bands, I’d like to see you guys put more budget into your pre-
productions & I’m talking set design, creative directors, photographers & models. Tell a story with your costumes, don’t just have a theme, dedicate time into it because that’s what will help to bring in Masqueraders. Its Marketing is it not? Also finding more sponsorships, these big brands want to be involved, but they don’t know what bands to turn to.
- How do you stay true to yourself while balancing public attention and your private life?
To maintain a balance, I’ve split my social media’s up (but my name is the same on all platforms so it’s easy to find me). Instagram is where I showcase my craft in regards to modelling but I’ll still give a bit of personality on my story, Snapchat & YouTube is where it gets more personal and TikTok is just for fun vibes. I’m not famous yet so it’s not that hard if I’m honest
- What’s your ultimate carnival must-have item (besides your costume)?
My must have is a fan, lip-gloss and my cup
If you could describe your carnival vibe in three words, what would they be?
My vibe….? LLLOOOL carefree, energetic, wholesome
