shopping Queen
Candidate Oumi Janta brings back the roller skate cult
© @vadimphotography
“Just Jamming”. With these words, roller skater Oumi Janta posts a video that brings her to the screens of world stars with millions of clicks. And that makes her a star in the scene herself.
Everything screams 90s. The time when roller skates started hype again, bringing back a slice of the ’70s disco era. In Beyoncé’s music video for her track “Blow” in 2014, we see that our favorite stars also like to devote themselves to the sport: Queen Bee dances casually on skates with her girl crew through the roller skating hall. Nostalgia is in the air and it doesn’t take long for the wind to carry you to Germany.
When jam skater Oumi Janta posted a video of herself jam skating early in the 2020 pandemic, her views skyrocketed. Black Joy, feelings of freedom and the opportunity to have fun despite limitations – whether alone or together. Just the thing for the lockdown timeline! Because in a still dreary time, the yellow shorts and blue signature braids convey hope and harmony. “Just jamming is good for now”. World stars like Alicia Keys and Timbaland, who share their video, think so too. We quizzed the “Shopping Queen” contestant about her relationship with roller skating. And one thing is clear: that’s not the only passion of the 31-year-old.
GUIDO: What is the essence of jam skating for you? Aside from the fun…
Oumi Janta: You and the music are one. You perceive your body one hundred percent, which creates a unique performance. It feels like a new level of consciousness.
What is the most important lesson in dealing with people that you learned while roller skating?
As the saying goes: “Each one teach one”. The unconditional acceptance of new skaters into the community is definitely part of it. Also that you skate with people you just don’t know: age, profession or other categories are not relevant to us.
You now have your own jam skate school in Berlin. What do you pass on to others in your lessons?
Just knowing the steps is not enough. I try to convey a sense of rhythm and body. We learn to make ourselves loose and free, because the most important thing is to have fun.
If you look at the community, also globally, what does Germany contribute to it?
Internationally there is still a lot of room for improvement. The German roller skate community is in the process of establishing itself and I am working on contributing to the growth of the scene. Seeing the community grow bigger every day makes me wholeheartedly happy.
Whether Y2K or 90s glam. Lots of looks and activities from the past are trending again right now. How do you see the return of roller skates?
I initially thought of the return of roller skating as a trend, but it’s not. A piece of culture has returned. Whether it stays the same intensity, I can’t say. Roller skating is both a sport and a hobby, but first and foremost it’s freedom and fun – that’s what makes it so special.
If you follow you on Instagram or google you, it quickly becomes clear: Jam Skating and Oumi are one. What do you do when you’re not on wheels?
When I’m not skating, I draw, shop for vintage clothing, edit videos, and create designs. I am a very creative person and have a lot of hobbies. There’s only one thing that gets me bored otherwise.
With “Shopping Queen” you went to the mountains for your motto. How was it for you?
I really enjoyed it and had a great time. The most beautiful, but at the same time challenging, I found the implementation of my topic. I’ve never dealt with traditional costumes, so I’m glad I had the chance to let off steam in this format.
Looking back, what was the most difficult thing?
Definitely finding a right leather pants for me. Most of them are only tailored to men’s bodies and I didn’t fit in there. Luckily, the shop in the house had a tailoring shop that adjusted my trousers directly and voila: they fit perfectly!
Be honest: have you worn your look again since the episode, or parts of it?
The opportunity has actually arisen: a birthday party with the motto “traditional clothing”. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to do that day, but I’m quite sure that the look will be used soon.