Joey Gollish
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Malcolm Omoruyi: From IT Student to GQ Fashion Model
See how this GQ model went from studying IT to travelling the world with his VIEREN Black Diamond watch
September 2025
Meet Malcolm Omoruyi
Born in Canada and raised in Nigeria, Malcolm Omoruyi credits his early cultural transition with shaping his perspective. Returning to Toronto for university, he planned to study Commerce and IT—but was scouted for modeling at Ryerson. Since then, he’s worked with brands and publications like GQ, OVO, Jumpman, and Kollar Clothing, bringing natural confidence and charisma on and off the camera.
Meet Malcolm Omoruyi
Born in Canada and raised in Nigeria, Malcolm Omoruyi credits his early cultural transition with shaping his perspective. Returning to Toronto for university, he planned to study Commerce and IT—but was scouted for modeling at Ryerson. Since then, he’s worked with brands and publications like GQ, OVO, Jumpman, and Kollar Clothing, bringing natural confidence and charisma on and off the camera.
Never one to slow down, Malcolm balanced a full course load, startup work, and the demands of a budding modelling career. He knows what it means to chase your passion despite obstacles, and shares his insights on mentorship, resilience, and finding true self-confidence.
Never one to slow down, Malcolm balanced a full course load, startup work, and the demands of a budding modelling career. He knows what it means to chase your passion despite obstacles, and shares his insights on mentorship, resilience, and finding true self-confidence.
What are you doing when you feel most passionate?
I feel most passionate and alive when I’m doing something that I was told I could not do. There’s this [saying] that, whenever someone’s in the zone, they’re in a state of flow. I have a passion or drive whenever I’m in a situation that I was told I couldn’t do or “it’s not for you.”
What is the first moment you felt successful in your career?
To be honest, you never really feel that way—I think that’s why you keep going. However, a moment when you feel that way is when you achieve a goal. So for me, it’s graduating from University [and] I had a goal [that] when I graduate I want to have a worldwide campaign. It just so happened that year, I had the campaign for Nike and Jordan all over the world.
What struggles have you had to overcome to pursue your passion?
When I first started modeling I went through a number of agencies. The top 3 or 5 at the time all declined [to sign me] and said things like “no the look is not in style yet” and“we have someone just like that.” Then, the next year, I got re-scouted by Dulcedo in Montreal and Toronto. Other struggles would be balancing a full course load with school, working at a start-up company, and at the same time trying to go to New York and London for fashion week. Overall, my struggles have been people rejecting me and having too much on my plate.
What are you doing when you feel most passionate?
I feel most passionate and alive when I’m doing something that I was told I could not do. There’s this [saying] that, whenever someone’s in the zone, they’re in a state of flow. I have a passion or drive whenever I’m in a situation that I was told I couldn’t do or “it’s not for you.”
What is the first moment you felt successful in your career?
To be honest, you never really feel that way—I think that’s why you keep going. However, a moment when you feel that way is when you achieve a goal. So for me, it’s graduating from University [and] I had a goal [that] when I graduate I want to have a worldwide campaign. It just so happened that year, I had the campaign for Nike and Jordan all over the world.
What struggles have you had to overcome to pursue your passion?
When I first started modeling I went through a number of agencies. The top 3 or 5 at the time all declined [to sign me] and said things like “no the look is not in style yet” and“we have someone just like that.” Then, the next year, I got re-scouted by Dulcedo in Montreal and Toronto. Other struggles would be balancing a full course load with school, working at a start-up company, and at the same time trying to go to New York and London for fashion week. Overall, my struggles have been people rejecting me and having too much on my plate.
“The biggest killer for success is when you compare yourself to others.”
@malcolm.omoruyi
“The biggest killer for success is when you compare yourself to others.”
@malcolm.omoruyi
Have you had any mentors and how have they helped you on your journey?
I didn’t really grow up with a father. I grew up with a bunch of single moms and I was very lucky that a lot of people took a liking to me. I had a football coach in high school named Paul and he was a mentor in the sense that any business ideas or questions I needed I would reach out to him. In University, we still kept in touch and would grab lunch and he would help me think of the bigger picture and things that I couldn’t see for myself. At the same time, I was working at a restaurant and I was helping this gentleman named Frank. He owns one of the biggest venture capitalist firms in New York, and he became a mentor as well. Anything I needed as far as references, getting ideas out, reaching out to new people, starting a new business—he’s there. Also, seeing how my mom carried herself as a single mom with multiple kids. She got up at 8 a.m. every day to go to work and came back at 5 p.m. put dinner on the table and never complained once. Seeing that really motivated me.
Where do you get your self confidence?
It’s all about timing. In life, everyone has their timing. Also, comparison—the biggest killer for success is when you compare yourself to others. Drake has a bar that says, “Mike never tried to rap like Pac, Pac never tried to sing like Mike.” One time when my self-confidence declined was when I was comparing myself to the competition and essentially replicating what they were doing in my mantra and regular routine. I noticed it wasn’t natural [for] me or confident and I had to take a step back and do what I do best.
Have you had any mentors and how have they helped you on your journey?
I didn’t really grow up with a father. I grew up with a bunch of single moms and I was very lucky that a lot of people took a liking to me. I had a football coach in high school named Paul and he was a mentor in the sense that any business ideas or questions I needed I would reach out to him. In University, we still kept in touch and would grab lunch and he would help me think of the bigger picture and things that I couldn’t see for myself. At the same time, I was working at a restaurant and I was helping this gentleman named Frank. He owns one of the biggest venture capitalist firms in New York, and he became a mentor as well. Anything I needed as far as references, getting ideas out, reaching out to new people, starting a new business—he’s there. Also, seeing how my mom carried herself as a single mom with multiple kids. She got up at 8 a.m. every day to go to work and came back at 5 p.m. put dinner on the table and never complained once. Seeing that really motivated me.
Where do you get your self confidence?
It’s all about timing. In life, everyone has their timing. Also, comparison—the biggest killer for success is when you compare yourself to others. Drake has a bar that says, “Mike never tried to rap like Pac, Pac never tried to sing like Mike.” One time when my self-confidence declined was when I was comparing myself to the competition and essentially replicating what they were doing in my mantra and regular routine. I noticed it wasn’t natural [for] me or confident and I had to take a step back and do what I do best.
"To find self-confidence, you need to be comfortable in your own skin, be happy with who you are, and it will show in your charisma and how you carry yourself."
@malcolm.omoruyi
"To find self-confidence, you need to be comfortable in your own skin, be happy with who you are, and it will show in your charisma and how you carry yourself."
@malcolm.omoruyi
How do you power your time?
For me, I’m so big on creating notes on what needs to get done. Every day I’ll make a list of things I need to get done, whether that be business or anything in general. If it gets done it gets a checkmark. If it’s not completed, it will get an X. This is the most honest book of myself and also helps me measure my efficiency. I live [by] these books to a T. For time, this is how I put it in. Even if I’m seeing a friend—it goes in the book.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what’s next for you?
For the next five years, I definitely want to continue modeling and probably get into acting as well. I want to dive deeper into business, specifically artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Lastly, I want to increase my overall real estate portfolio and dive deeper into that at well. I’d also like [to start] my own company to feel more on my own two feet.
How do you power your time?
For me, I’m so big on creating notes on what needs to get done. Every day I’ll make a list of things I need to get done, whether that be business or anything in general. If it gets done it gets a checkmark. If it’s not completed, it will get an X. This is the most honest book of myself and also helps me measure my efficiency. I live [by] these books to a T. For time, this is how I put it in. Even if I’m seeing a friend—it goes in the book.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what’s next for you?
For the next five years, I definitely want to continue modeling and probably get into acting as well. I want to dive deeper into business, specifically artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Lastly, I want to increase my overall real estate portfolio and dive deeper into that at well. I’d also like [to start] my own company to feel more on my own two feet.
