It had only been a few months since Samuel Bayisa Tufa arrived in Dubai. Born and bred in the Oromia region’s Burayu district, northwest of Addis Ababa, he had been a management student at Oromia State University. But he interrupted his studies and set off for Dubai, chasing new opportunities. Little did he know, as he laid eyes on a Lamborghini, that his life would take a dramatic turn.

He made his way to Dubai after borrowing money against all odds, but unexpected opportunities awaited him once he got there.

“I come from a poor family, and they expected me to land a job and support them. But everyone knows how tough things are for graduates in our country,” he says.

In Dubai, he started working for Tiger, a contracting company, where he spent his days hauling cement. The company paid him a monthly wage of 900 dirhams, but after deductions, he took home 800 dirhams. He put up with it for a while.

One day, while walking around the streets of Dubai, he spotted a Lamborghini and was blown away by it. He couldn’t take his eyes off it. As he stared at the car, he realized the driver was looking right at him.

“I had only ever seen this car in movies. We don’t have anything like it back in our country,” I told him.

He complimented the driver of the car, who then invited him to step closer for a better look. He didn’t hesitate. He then invited him to hop in. Samuel refused—not to put on a show, but out of genuine hesitation. He glanced down at his dusty clothes, worried he’d mess up the car.

“Since I work in construction, I’m covered in dust. I can’t get in,” he told him. The driver insisted he get in, and after a moment of hesitation, Samuel finally gave in and slid into the passenger seat. They started talking.

“Where are you from?” the driver asked.

“Ethiopia,” Samuel replied.

“Brace yourself, I’m about to drive this car fast,” the driver said. “Okay,” Samuel said, not showing a hint of fear. “But when I saw how fast he was going, I couldn’t help but feel scared,” he recalled. He felt like the Lamborghini was soaring through the air with wings. He shouted, “Let me out of this car!” He pulled over, let him out, and then went his way. The whole thing was caught on camera—without Samuel having the slightest clue. Little did he know, the footage was broadcast on a “Premier Supercars Rental Dubai” page, earning him some unexpected notoriety, putting him in the spotlight, and earning him some unexpected fame. He went back to his usual routine—construction work.

Six days later, his phone rang. The caller was Eric, a Cameroonian living in Dubai. Eric had seen the video on Instagram, which had racked up 1.2 million views. He searched for him and eventually tracked him down.

They chatted, and Eric shared how, when he first landed in Dubai eight years ago, he was captivated by the sight of a Lamborghini. Eric himself started as a cleaner before transitioning into a model.

Eric asked Samuel to team up with him, and they made a video together. That’s when Samuel’s life as a laborer started to turn around. “When I was photographed, many people responded to my style,” he recalled. “Eric’s friends even said the shots had modeling potential.” They shared it on a site known for casting calls, and soon, things started to move.

The duo went on to shoot a sportswear ad, and that’s when Samuel started attracting real attention.

Samuel never, in his wildest dreams, imagined he’d become a model.

After his image was featured on a page called Living in Dubai, he quickly started trending on Instagram and TikTok. “There are so many people in this country trying to make it as models, but they don’t. Congratulations, you’re a model now,” Eric told him. “A lot of people want you for ads.”

Model agencies, academic institutions, and various organizations reached out to him for collaborations, including Ethiopian real estate companies.

Thanks to the Lamborghini he stumbled upon, he was now on the fast track to becoming a model.

“I trust in God, and I’ll count on Him,” he said.