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The Name I Call Myself

Rhea Dillon,  pictured here with Head of Art, Mrs Smith, graduated from Croydon High School in 2014 with an A* in Fine Art, A in English and a B in French. She went on to study at Central St Martin’s for her Foundation year and stayed there for her degree in Fashion and Communication. Mrs Smith told us how privileged she felt to go and see Rhea’s final degree show ‘The Name I Call Myself’ – a video installation in Shoreditch.

We have since heard that Rhea has received a First Class Honours degree from Central St Martin’s, many congratulations Rhea!

Here, Rhea speaks to Vogue about her new work, just ahead of its London debut.

What kick-started the idea for the film, ‘The Name I Call Myself?’ 

I went to Jamaica last year to meet my family for the first time. My aunt, there is a police inspector, so I asked her if she could help me to meet up with a Gully Queen. I wanted to find out how life was for them following the shoot with Hood By Air years ago and even the recent [British] Vogueshoot with Tim Walker. I got to talk to an amazing person called Peaches, and they said life was so much better now; they could walk down the street hand in hand. Obviously, there are still problems—they are still labelled Gully Queens, and they still live in the gully. Also, I’m part of the queer community in London. So, all these things came into play.

Read the full interview here

Mrs Smith