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By Chinazam Ikechi-Uko
It’s almost time for the end of the international fashion calendar which means the final season of 2023 is at its dawn. Fashion weeks are the most anticipated part of the calendar for fashion enthusiasts and Paris Haute Couture fashion week is also drawing nigh. Over the years, the fashion industry has become more diverse so it isn’t unusual to see an African model on the runway and rarely do you have her there as the token black girl. She is usually there because she has earned her spot and has a fierce walk. There are several African models catching the attention of the high fashion community and slowly they’re making their way and defining themselves as forces to be reckoned with in the industry. Fashion Week is not too far away and we hope to see them strutting down the aisles, here are some of them below.
Top of the top, every show, multiple campaigns per season and several Vogue covers away from new-gen Supermodel status—this is Maty. Maty has proven to be an unstoppable force in the industry. She is of Senegalese origin, but moved to Italy at the age of 9. She has taken the modelling industry by storm, debuting at the Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2020. In the past 3 years, Maty has opened Missioni and Philosophy shows, and closed Valentino, Dior, Max Mara, Schiaparelli and Blumarine shows. She has covered Vogue Italia, British Vogue, Dazed, Numéro, Vogue Netherlands, and the i-D magazine. Maty has also been featured in Dior, Guerlain, Versace, Nordstrom, Max Mara, TOD’S and many more. Notably, Maty walked more shows than any other model, during the Spring/Summer 2021 fashion show season. She has also been ranked as one of the Top 50 Models on Models.com.
Best known for her work with Louis Vuitton, Akon has been killing the game, with Vogue France, Vogue Hong Kong, Re-edition, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue Germany, British Vogue and Numéro France covers under her belt. Akon is definitely an industry favourite and her striking features are highlighted in editorials. The South-Sudanese born model equally relocated at age 9, but unlike Maty, her family made the big move to Australia. She has walked the runways for Valentino, Nina Ricci, Versace, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Lanvin, Giambattista Valli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli, Jason Wu, Dior, Fendi, and Chanel. She has also been featured in Gucci, Paco Rabanne, ami, Louis Vuitton, Isabel Marant and several more.
Eniola Abioro has become synonymous with a lot of “firsts”. First Nigerian model to walk for Prada, first Nigerian to feature in a Tiffany and Co ad, and the first Nigerian to be Revlon’s global brand ambassador. In 2020, she made the graduates list on Models.com. If TikTok was looking for their next face of “lucky girl syndrome” to manifest the same level of luck into their lives, then Abioro is probably the perfect match. From being a school teacher, to the main feature in Calvin Klein campaigns. Abioro was born and raised in Nigeria, and she was scouted while participating in the first edition of FeW’s Next Face Africa model search. Prior to her participation, she had been discovered on her street by a FeW scout while teaching some children. Abioro’s career took off pretty much after that, with her earliest gigs being Versace, Prada, and Tommy x Gigi shows. Shortly after, she was featured in Vogue and has since walked for the likes of Fenty Beauty, Proenza Schouler and VS Pink. Abioro would be the first person to tell you she feels like the luckiest girl in the world, but to attribute all of Abioro’s achievements to luck is rather unfair and untrue (I’ve seen her walk, she’s fantastic). Abioro has earned her right as a household name in the fashion industry and her world domination has only just begun.
The Rwandan model was listed as a newcomer of the Spring-Summer 22 season on Models.com and she hasn’t slowed down ever since. She has featured in Giorgio Armani, Isabel Marant, Gucci and covered the 5’Eleven magazine. This year alone, she’s walked for 16Arlington, Christopher Kane, David Koma, Dior, Dundas and Yuzefi. Her modelling career began after she attended an open casting where she signed with Few. With dreams of becoming a supermodel someday, Christine’s career is only beginning, but she’s certainly on the right path.
The Numéro cover girl has been blowing up this season with Another Magazine, Vogue Italia and Numéro France editorials. Born in South Sudan, Apajok has been killing it the runway, from Milan Fashion Week to Paris Fashion Week. It’s only been her first season and she’s already walked for Giambattista Valli, Alexander McQueen, Acne Studios, Valentino, Hermès, and Tod’s.
Ornella has been featured on the newcomers’ list of both the S/S 2022 and the F/W 2023 season of fashion week, and has walked for Prada, Missoni, The Row, Elie Saab, Miu Miu, AZ factory, Dundas, EENK, Armani Privé Haute Couture show. The Rwandan model is making her strut known across the industry. She’s also been featured in an editorial for Another Magazine. With fashion week looming over us, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the runway favourite back on the catwalk.
Recognized as one of the top newcomers on Models.com. The South-Sudanese model can be spotted in editorials in W magazine, Harper’s Bazaar France, and Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall campaign. Chuol ruled the Fall/Winter 23 season, walking for high fashion brands such as Sacai, Miu Miu, Ann Demeulemeester, LANVIN, Coperni, LOEWE, and Alexander McQueen. She recently landed the cover of Numéro France.
Vanity Fair Italia, L’Officiel Italia, Vogue Australia, V magazine, WSJ magazine, Elle UK, British Vogue, Elle USA, Vogue Arabia, Vanity Italia and The Collector magazine are a few of the magazine editorials Okekunle has booked in the last few years. Along with covers of M magazine and Evening Standard magazine. She’s featured in campaigns for YSL beauty, Mulberry, Guccix Oura, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, TOMFORD beauty, Chanel beauty, Mac cosmetics, Versace couture and several others. The Nigerian beauty is having a promising journey and her work speaks for itself.
The Ethiopian model gaining global recognition is known to make appearances during fashion week, and has featured in Vogue Italia, LANVIN and Burberry beauty campaigns. Dotain’s runway portfolio includes JACQUEMUS, LANVIN, Rokh, Beautiful People, and Cédric Charlier. Yeshitela has been noticeably missing from recent seasons, hopefully, she is back on the runway this season.
