That’s a profound existential fear. So what you’re saying is that fear motivated you to become a workaholic to suppress it from possibly manifesting, and then that strategy itself created a negative consequence?
“Yeah. And when I made that decision yesterday, I stepped back and looked at my life and realized I don’t have anything but that career. I don’t want that to be the legacy… So to answer your question, what I plan on doing is other things. Like what I’m doing today with Boss. I also plan on teaching: I want to be more involved with people who look like me who want to figure out how to have the opportunity to do things that I’ve done, right?… I want that to be my legacy, a legacy that I really helped change people’s lives–and not just the celebrities’ by putting them in the best dress, you know?”
And there is your television work. Plus we are colleagues–you are West Coast Editor of British Vogue. So maybe we’ll see more of your work there?
“I’m trying to figure it all out, you know? This just happened yesterday. I’m soul searching and I’m speaking to people that I trust, like Edward [Enninful], and I just have to figure it out. But I’m so excited that today I get to release. The Boss team has been really supportive of me: sensitive and kind. I really appreciate that and it makes me want to do the best job on the runway that I possibly can do.”
So how are you facing the challenge of walking the runway?
“I don’t think I have any challenges. I’m a fucking diva! Even if they were to put me on a 10-inch high heel I would be walking that runway. The little gay boy in me–I’m living out a dream! The hair, the makeup, the look they chose for me: it’s literally a dream!”
Immediately after what would prove to be an absolutely nuts show–Law shared the runway with models including Pamela Anderson, DJ Khaled, Naomi Campbell, Khaby Lame, and Precious Lee, all of whom were thoroughly drenched by the killer combination of a fountain backdrop and high winds–we caught up with him backstage. So how did it go? Roach said: “For my first time walking to be in a production as big as this was incredible. I have so much more respect for the models: to be able to walk in these elements, in those puddles… In my mind I was saying, “Think Naomi. Think Naomi. Think Naomi!” And I think the spirit of Naomi and her being here really pulled through. So it was fine! That water was aggressive, but I think it was beautiful.” If you can walk the show Boss challenged its models to this evening, then there aren’t many runways you can’t master: Law Roach’s next chapter has begun.
