The new wave of African models taking over international catwalks and campaigns is surely going unnoticed. According to a diversity report released by The Fashion Spot, the Fall 2019 runways featured more models of colour than ever before. Approximately 38.8 percent of the models were nonwhite, 2.7 percent up from the previous season.
More than ever, the global industry is hungry for new faces of colour, a void that’s getting filled by aggressive model managers and scouts in emerging markets such as East and West Africa. Every year, this East and West Africa Model Agency ranking is released as an index to show how boutique agencies have performed against each other during the just concluded season.
This list, more than anything, celebrates the hard working agents behind this talent as they help Africa tell its beautiful story to the world.
- Few Model Management from Nigeria has taken the bull by the horns since making their entry into the market in 2014. 2019 has proved to be a great year for the Lagos based agency.
One of their stars, Olamide Ogundeleo, started the year with an Issey Miyake campaign, an editorial feature for Harper’s Bazaar before walking for Emilio Pucci.
Eniola Abioro, Elizabeth Ayodele and Ruth booked shows for brands such as Mui Mui , Dolce & Gabbana, and Dion Lee. They also landed campaigns for Calvin Klein, Thom Browne, Nine West and a global beauty campaign for Revlon starring Eniola Abioro.
The agency went ahead to debut new faces from Ethiopia and Nigeria. We can’t forget Dotain Yeshitela who made her debut as an exclusive at Dior. Yeshitela went on to open her first show for Lanvin, before starring in the brand’s campaign. Another Ethiopian star, Mihret Endga, made her global debut for JW Anderson before landing a Celine look book.
Other international models from Few included Ayobomi (Gucci show and Elle UK feature), Alexandra (walked for Mui Mui ), Amarachi (walked for Tommy Hilfiger) , Deberechi ( Versace and Valentino campaign) and Tolu (debuted at YSL).
It’s without a doubt that Few Model Management is the continent’s top agency.
2. Beth Model Management from Nigeria
Beth is famous for Mayowa Nicholas, who is undoubtedly an industry icon. The supermodel brought in bookings for the agency such as a Tom Ford Campaign and an exclusive Dsquared show appearance. She went ahead to turn heads at Balmain, Moschino , Jil sander, Marni, Hermes, Tod’s , and Roberto Cavalli. This Nigerian super model is not slowing down anytime soon.
One of their stars, Davidson, kicked off the year with a Dolce & Gabbana campaign. The Elite model look winner bagged campaigns for River Island, Brooks Brothers, Tommy Hilfiger and Supadry.
Victor was another strong performer for the agency. The singer/ model has charmed his way into many major campaigns for brands such as Zara, Hermes, Lacoste and JW Anderson‘s latest campaign. Now we understand why he’s a favourite at the house of Dolce & Gabbana.
Other Beth stars include Jeffery Obed ( walked for Vivienne Westwood & started in Wales Bonner campaign), Nora ( walked for Balmain and starred in a campaign for Ami Paris & Balmain), Nyagua (walked for Koche) and Nosa ( walked for Amelia Jane).
3. Isis Modelsfrom Nigeria
Isis is home to Africa’s break out star of the year Nyarach Abauch. This Kenyan beauty, who signed to the Lagos-based agency, has gone on to walk for Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana, Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli and Balenciaga. She has starred in major campaigns for Burberry , Balenciaga and Hermes.
Another break out star from Isis is Amal Tobi who made her exclusive debut walking for Prada. She then walked for Mui Mui, Valentino, Off White and Gucci.
Onother exciting new face was their new South Sudanese model Awoui. She walked for Hermes, Valentino, and opened her first show for Ellie Saab.
Other international models include Imade (walked for Alexander Wang), Ibukuh Sammy (Loewe campaign), Hakima (Campaign for Hermes and walked for Givenchy and Thom Browne), and “Redcross” (new face from Isis made her debut for Valentino).
4. East Africa’s leading model agency, Joram Model Management, from Uganda breaks into the top five of the rankings as the first none Nigerian agency on the list.
The Kampala-based agency has grown to become highly respected for its rare and unique faces such as Patricia Akello who walked for Christian Siriano, Vivienne Westwood, Marc Jacobs, and Giorgio Armani.
Last year Aketch Joy Winnie made her debut walking for Gucci, before landing campaigns for Mui Mui, BMW and GreenCross this year.
Ayak Veronica was the next JMM model to follow making an exclusive debut for Valentino. This young beauty later walked for Maison Margiela and Thom Browne.
But, no one has made major impact at JMM more than the stunning Aliet Sarah this year! Since she made her debut for JW Anderson, the teen beauty has walked for Max Mara, Lanvin, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta plus campaigns for Versace and Mui Mui.
The agency then concluded the season with two new faces walking for Gucci, Adut Mary and Ayen Emily.
5. Yafan Models from Ghana
The Ghanaian international agency had Steve flying the French flag high in 2019 with e-commerce jobs for Guess, Kappa and NAPAPIJRI plus an editorial for Icon magazine as a Fendi Special.
Ottawa Kwami bagged campaigns for Fendi, Wales Bonner, Zolando & Desigual , Thom Browne , Daily Paper and Feng Chan Wong.
Ottawa Kwami has walked major shows for Missoni, Fendi, Balmain, Jil Sander, Off White , Lacoste, APC, GCDS, Acne Studios, Ermenegildo Zegna, Qasimi, Berluti, Marni, Y-3 , Maison Margiela for covers of M Magazine, GQ Italia and Icon Magazine.
Ivorian model Cherif Douamba, also from Yafan, debuted this year walking for Ermenegildo Zegna. The law student took the industry by storm during his first season walking for Marni, Fendi, Valentino, OAMC, Lemaire, Balmain, Fun Hill, Byblos, Missoni, Dior, Neil Barrett, Berluti, L’Oreal , Lacoste, APC and Thom Browne. He also starred in a look book for Zegna and OAMC.
The Ghanian agency debuted another new face Sandah Alhassan during June’s menswear fashion week. The teen walked for Palm Angels, Fendi, OAMC, Jil Sander, Loewe, Valentino, Rochas, Frankie Morello, Marcelo Burlon, Christian Dada, Calcaterra and Gucci.
The next 10 agencies on the list are:
6 – Raw Models (Nigeria)
7 – My Booker Models (Nigeria)
8 – Cast Model Management (Ghana)
9 – Angels Model Management (Benin)
10 – Fuse Model Management (Nigeria)
11 – Star Model Management (Nigeria)
12 – Enrole Model Management (Nigeria)
13 – Zane Model Management (Nigeria)
14 – Gala Model Management (Uganda)
15 – Crystal Models Africa (Uganda)
satisfashionug@gmail.com
