10 Top Models In Africa
Liya Kebede – Ethiopia
Liya Kebede was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Kebede is an Ethiopian model, maternal health advocate, clothing designer and actress who has appeared three times on the cover of US Vogue, and has been seen on the covers of Italian, Japanese, American, French and Spanish Vogue, V, Flair, i-D and Time’s Style & Design. Kebede has been featured in ad campaigns including those for Shiatzy Chen, Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent, Victoria’s Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, Revlon, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton.
Kebede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A film director spotted her while she was attending Lycee Guebre Mariam and introduced her to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a Parisian agency. Kebede later relocated to New York City.
Her Profile:
Country: Ethiopia
Star sign: Capricorn
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Manager: IMG Models New York, Viva Models Paris, D’management Group
Candice Swanepoel – South Africa
Candice Swanepoel was born in Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. She was spotted by a model scout in a Durban flea market at age 15.
Swanepoel’s resume includes covers for Vogue, ELLE, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, and Ocean Drive (U.S.) and advertisements for Nike, Diesel, Guess?, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford, and Versace. Swanepoel has walked the runway for Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, Chanel, Betsey Johnson, Diane von Fürstenberg, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, and numerous other designers, as well as for Victoria’s Secret in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
Her Profile
Country: South Africa
Date of Birth: October 20, 1988
Star sign: Libra
Height: 5ft 9in (1.75 m)
Manager: Ice Model Management, IMG Models, Why Not Model Agency, Modelwerk
Ajak Deng – Sudan
Melbourne-based model Ajak Deng was born in Sudan and has become a fashion favourite on the runway for Lanvin and Louis Vuitton.
Angelique “Ajak” Deng, 19, was one of the breakout stars of the SS10 Paris shows, booking Chloe, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Lanvin.
She appeared in the Calvin Klein fragrance campaign for Steven Meisel and she appeared in the March, 2011 issue of Vogue Australia.
Her Profile:
Country: Sudan
Star sign: Sagittarius
Height: 180 cm
Manager: FRM Model Management.
Betty Adewole – Nigeria
Nigerian-British model, Betty Adewole, is steadily becoming a big name on the international fashion scene.
The dark-skinned beauty is the new face of Tom Ford Beauty in its Spring/Summer 2014 ad campaign, replacing Polish model, Zuzanna Bijoch.
Her Profile:
Country: Nigerian/London UK
Star sign: Aquarius
Height: 180 cm
Manager: One Management, Elite Models, Major Models, and Models 1 agencies in New York, Milan, and London respectively
Alek Wek – Sudan
Alek Wek was born in Wau, South Sudan, Alek Wek is a South Sudanese British model who first appeared on the catwalks at the age of 18 in 1995, sparking a career lasting to date.
Wek was discovered at an outdoor market in London in 1995 in Crystal Palace, London by a Models 1 scout. She first received attention when she appeared in the music video for “GoldenEye” by Tina Turner, in 1995 and from there entered the world of fashion as one of its top models.
Amongst other things she has done advertisements for Issey Miyake, Moschino, Victoria’s Secret and make-up company Clinique as well as walked the runway for high-profile fashion designers Shiatzy Chen, John Galliano, Chanel, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Jasper Conran and Ermanno Scervino. In walks for Christian Lacroix, she took the role of the bride on several occasions. In 2002 she made her acting debut in The Four Feathers as Sudanese princess Aquol.
She was the first African model to appear on the cover of Elle
Her Profile:
Country: South Sudan
Star sign: Aries
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Manager: Storm Models, London
Behati Prinsloo- South Africa/Namibia
Prinsloo was born May 16, 1989 in Johannesburg, South Africa. At a young age, her family moved to Namibia, where she was raised.
Prinsloo has walked in the fashion shows of Chanel, Prada, and Miu Miu. She has been on the covers of Vogue, the British Telegraph, Italy’s Muse, Russian Vogue, French, Swedish & Italian Elle, and American Velvet. Her ad campaigns include Adore, Aquascutum, Chanel, H&M, Hugo Boss, Kurt Geiger, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Max Studio, Nina Ricci, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, DKNY Jeans and Nine West as well as a Vogue Italia editorial.
On her resume are appearances in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Her Profile:
Country: Namibia / South Africa
Star Sign: Taurus
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Manager: Storm Models, Women Management, Marilyn Agency, D Management Group
Ajuma Nasenyana- Kenya
Nasenyana was born in the town of Lodwar, situated in the Turkana District of Kenya. Her first foray into modeling was in the Miss Tourism Kenya competition in 2003, where she was crowned Miss Nairobi. Here, she came to the attention of Lyndsey McIntyre of Surazuri Modeling Agency.
Nasenyana participated in the New York Fashion Week alongside Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek for designers such as Baby Phat and Carlos Mienes before traveling to Milan to model for fashion houses such as Ungaro during the Italian Fashion Week. Paris was the final destination during the winter show season and British designer Vivienne Westwood made her the lead model in her show and she has worked with Victoria Secret and Carlos Mienes, among other designers.
Her Profile:
Country: Kenya
Star sign: Capricorn
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Joelle Kayembe- DR Congo
Joelle Kayembe is a Congolese-born South African model best known for her role as a suitcase model in the game show Deal Or No Deal.
Kayembe has appeared in Ludacris’s Pimpin All Over The World music video, she was a finalist in the International Supermodel 2005 competition in China and is included as a Global Honey on SKY TV in the UK.
Her Profile:
Country: South Africa / DR Congo
Star Sign: Capricorn… Or Gemini
Height: 5ft10
Fatima Siad- Somalia
Born December 17, 1986 in Mogadishu, Somalia, Fatima Siad is a Somali-Ethiopian fashion model. Raised in Boston, Massachusetts, she placed third on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 10.
Siad did a presentation for Gemma Kahng at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009. She also walked in the Dazzle Your Senses fashion show at Club Sol, Stærk, Boy by Band of Outsiders, Betsey Johnson and Michael Angel at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009/2010, for Lublu K. Plastinina in Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010, and for a designer in the Project Runway Season 7 finale.
Her Profile
Country: Somalia
Star sign: Sagittarius
Height: 5 ft 9.5 in (1.77 m)
Manager: New York Model Management, L. A. Model Management, Ace Models (Athens), Ice Models (Milan), Munich Models, Oui Model Management, Modellink Model Agency
Noémie Lenoir- Madagascar
Noémie Lenoir was born in Les Ulis, Essonne, France. Noémie Lenoir is a French model and actress of African and European descent. She is best known for appearing in top magazines such as Elle and Sports Illustrated, and modeling in advertisements for high fashion brands. She is known for her work with Gucci, L’Oreal, Next, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, and Marks and Spencer.
Her Profile:
Country: Madagascar
Star Sign: Virgo
Height: 1.765 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Manager: Elite Model Management: New York, AMT Models: Vienna, Models 1: London, Option Model Agency: Zurich, Model Management: Hamburg, Elite Model Management: Milan, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Paris, Cape Town
