The Kenyan Government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, has recognised African fashion entrepreneur and founder of Africa’s Next Supermodel, Joan Okorodudu, for her contribution to the development of the continent’s fashion and modelling industry.

The recognition adds to Okorodudu’s decades-long career spanning sports, beauty pageantry, fashion, modelling, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.

An Olympian and former beauty queen, Okorodudu emerged Miss Nigeria Kaduna in 1981 before becoming first runner-up at the Miss Nigeria pageant, an achievement for which she won a brand-new car.

She later transitioned into fashion and entrepreneurship, focusing on discovering African talent, creating international opportunities and promoting African models and designers on the global stage.
Through Africa’s Next Supermodel, ISIS Models Africa and other fashion initiatives, Okorodudu has worked to identify emerging talents across the continent and connect them with opportunities in the international fashion industry.

The Kenyan recognition is significant against the backdrop of Nairobi’s role as a base for Africa’s Next Supermodel and Okorodudu’s efforts to link fashion with tourism, youth empowerment, cultural exchange and economic opportunity.

Africa’s Next Supermodel has attracted participants from several African countries while creating opportunities for young talents, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and refugee communities.

Okorodudu said the recognition reinforced her belief in the potential of Africa’s creative industry.

Her words: “This recognition is not just about me or Africa’s Next Supermodel. It is about every young African girl and boy who dreams of having an opportunity to compete on the global stage. We have always believed that African talent can stand confidently alongside the best anywhere in the world.

“Kenya has provided an important platform for us to continue building that dream. Fashion, tourism and culture are interconnected, and we believe Africa can use its creative industry to tell a powerful new story about the continent.”

Okorodudu’s career has spanned more than four decades, during which she has combined fashion entrepreneurship with efforts to promote African models and designers internationally.

Following her experience in sports and beauty pageantry, she established herself in the fashion industry, with a focus on talent discovery and development.

As founder of ISIS Models Africa and Africa’s Next Supermodel, she has promoted greater representation of African talent in the international fashion industry and sought to create pathways for models from the continent to access global agencies, designers and fashion markets.

A major milestone in Okorodudu’s international fashion career came in 2014, when she launched the Vogue Talents for Africa initiative in partnership with Vogue Italia through her Nigerian company, International Business Consortium Nigeria Limited.

The initiative sought to identify and showcase African fashion talent while providing emerging designers with international exposure.

According to the information provided, Okorodudu raised €100,000 for the initiative, with €70,000 sponsored by Access Bank and €30,000 personally contributed by her.

She also served on the jury that selected South African designer Laduma Maxhosa as the winner.
Studio 24, described as a longstanding partner of Okorodudu’s fashion initiatives, sponsored Maxhosa’s flight and hotel accommodation in Milan to support his participation.

The collaboration between International Business Consortium Nigeria Limited and Vogue Italia was aimed at connecting emerging African fashion talent with an international fashion institution.
The latest recognition from Kenya comes alongside other honours associated with Okorodudu’s work in fashion, modelling and youth empowerment.

In 2024, she received a Lifetime Presidential Award associated with then United States President Joe Biden, recognising her work in empowering young people, particularly young African women and talents from refugee communities.

In 2017, she received the New African Woman Award in Arts & Culture at a ceremony in Dakar, Senegal.
The award recognised her contribution to raising the international profile of African models and fashion.

Through Africa’s Next Supermodel, Okorodudu has continued her focus on talent discovery and creating links between African models and the global fashion industry.

She said stronger collaboration among governments, financial institutions, corporate organisations and the private creative sector would help increase the contribution of fashion and modelling to Africa’s economy.

“Africa has the talent, the culture, the creativity and the stories. What we need are stronger platforms, partnerships and institutions capable of taking these assets to the world. This recognition encourages us to keep building those platforms and opening doors for the next generation,” she stated.