Nigerian models taking over the global fashion scene

Fashion season internationally starts in February and September/October for womenswear and January and June/July for menswear in the big four fashion weeks which occur in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Lagos Fashion Week takes off in October and with fashion shows happening pretty much all year round it is pretty safe to say that fashion never sleeps.  

Strutting on the big runways all over fashion central are the young and beautifully sculpted Nigerian models who have been signed to the biggest agencies and have taken part in major campaigns. Whoever said the beautiful ones are not yet born lied because they have and all happen to be from Nigeria.

Davidson Obennebo

Winner of the Elite Model Look 2016, Obennebo is currently signed to Beth Nigeria and Elite Worldwide. In the short period of his career he has driven his way into the hearts of the classics in the fashion industry, during the F/W ‘17 Mens’ shows he opened and closed the show for Versace as well as walked for Issey Miyake, Balmain and Givenchy. Following his win at the local and international stages of the Elite Model Look competition, he was every designer’s favourite at the 2016 Lagos Fashion and Design Week as he walked during the shows of renowned menswear designers. With stunning profile shots and selling the dream to his peers, Davidson seems to be taking the fashion scene by storm one runway and campaign at a time.

Victor Ndigwe

21-year-old Ndigwe is the first Nigerian model to make an appearance on the runways of Milan, Paris and London. He was the winner of the Elite Model Look 2014 and that propelled his career into the limelight, he is currently signed to Beth Model Africa and Elite Model Worldwide. In the duration of his career he has walked for renowned designers such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Versace, Missoni, Hermès, Balmain and many others. He was ranked by W Magazine amongst the top 10 breakout male models of 2016. While walking the runway is always a good thing, bagging a campaign for Missoni’s S/S 2016 campaign validated Ndigwe as one of the sought-after models locally and internationally. He also featured in the Undercolours of Benetton campaign.

Olamide Ogundele

Ogundele rose from local obscurity to being scouted for Few Models Nigeria and now she is signed to Boss Models in South Africa and IMG Models Worldwide. Her career, which was propelled by her strong facial features and skills as a model, have seen her in Harper’s Bazaar Netherlands, Women’s Health Magazine, Glamour and Elle in South Africa. She has been featured in campaign for Mr Price and Truworths Fashion. She recently strutted her stuff at Paris Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Elizabeth Ayodele

Ayodele is currently signed to IMG Models Worldwide, Boss Models South Africa and Few Models Nigeria. With striking facial features and the body to go with it, she shot her way to the international scene after being signed to IMG. During that period, she has walked for the likes Fendi, Saint Laurent, and Miu Miu, in New York and Paris respectively. She has also been featured in editorials for Vogue India. Her quick rise also landed her on the cover of  A Nasty Boy magazine.  Fashion season is coming back later in the year and Elizabeth is looking likely to be a shoo-in for major shows.

Julia Ese Otobo  

After winning the 2013 Pearl Look Model Nigeria competition which included an all-expenses paid trip and a contract to South Africa to work with Ice Model Management, her career has been off to a great start with covers for Waterfront magazine, Luminance and more. During her stay in South Africa, she also walked during the SA Fashion week as well as featured in major campaigns for Marie Claire SA and Mac cosmetics. Currently taking over the scene in New York under MSA Models, she has booked multiple shows for a number of designers like Chromat and Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week.