Let’s know the African Models used For Fenty Beauty a little better, Now that the Beauty reviews craze is over, or rather, the hype has died down. Always delighted to see our African Queens getting recognition and opportunities they deserve.
I think African faces are being more celebrated, and that is what we love to see. We want to reach to a point where it won’t be a big deal anymore when they get international recognition.
I won’t get to the details of Fenty Beauty here and how it made a huge landmark in the beauty industry, am sure by now your ears are full and honestly everything you should know is already out there.
Rihanna’s highly anticipated beauty collection Fenty Beauty took everyone by storm. I mean did you see how many beauty gurus flocked in lines spending their money to give us reviews? Since the launch the reviews are still coming in.
So with the release of 40 shades, yes 40. The shades cater to different black complexions. So of course, the use of African models is/was expected.
Thumbs up for Riri, she tried it, and of course she did it!
So for the first ever Fenty Beauty launch and ad campaign, the African beauties representing us As the Faces of Rihanna’s ‘Fenty Beauty’ are:
South-Sudanese Duckie Thot, in #thedarkestshade 490
Thot was First seen as a competitor on Australia’s Next Top Model 8th cycle back in 2013, where she finished third, being a finalist at only 17.
She won the spot as Alice in the all-black, 2018 Pirelli calendar. Joining an epic cast that includes RuPaul, Naomi Campbell and Lupita Nyong’o.
She walked her first couture show for Ulyana Sergeenko’s Fall 2017 collection; She walked for the Yeezy Season 4 catwalk show and was featured in the Season 5 presentation.
She closed the Naeem Khan Spring 2017 catwalk show during her first ever New York Fashion Week.
She was featured in Rihanna’s Paper magazine shoot and subsequently walked in the Fall 2017 Fenty x Puma show in Paris.
“My journey in New York hasn’t been ordinary. My first job was with Kanye [West] for Yeezy, and that was where I met Pat [McGrath]. We’ve been working non-stop filming videos and doing projects, which has been great. Pat has been so great—she’s guided and supporting me while understanding that it’s all still very new for me. And I’ve absolutely loved [working with Kanye and Rihanna]. Just seeing how they create is amazing, because not many people get to see that. All the people I’ve worked with so far have been wonderful and really taken care of me.”
Nigerian Nneoma Anosike in shade 460;
Nneoma posed as the match for the Pro Filt’r foundation’s 460 (cool) shade which features in the darker range.
Nneoma’s career got a boost when she emerged as the winner of Elite Model Look in 2013. In 2015 the beauty was signed by Ford Models NYC. She has since participated and featured in magazines, lookbooks, campaign images and catwalks.
“We have amazing brands representing us, yes, but not enough. I believe we are getting there slowly, and some day we are going to have too many and for all. But for now, we have 40 shades from Fenty Beauty to use! Meaning that I get a shade, you get a shade, and every freaking one of you can get a shade- so girl, go look! Thank you, Fenty beauty and @badgalriri. Welcome to the makeup world! You started with a bang!”
Uganda’s Akello Patricia in shade 470
Patricia started modeling a few years ago, after her fellow Ugandan model Aamito Lagum introduced her to Joram Model Management’s owner. Soon after, she was signed with South Africa’s Fusion Model Management which helped her score multiple Glamour and Marie Claire eds, Exact campaign & much more.
She is well on her way and continues to rise in her career.
Somalian Halima Aden in shade 390.
Born in a refugee camp in Kenya and moved to US at age 7, Halima Aden has pulled many firsts. She is the first Somali-American to compete and become a semi-finalist in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. Following her participation in the pageant, Aden received national attention and was signed to IMG Models.
She was the first contestant in that pageant to wear a burkini and a hijab, signifying a move towards diversification in the modeling industry.
In February 2017, Aden made her debut at the New York Fashion Week for Yeezy Season 5. She has since walked for numerous designers, including Maxmara (alongside Gigi Hadid, and Alberta Ferretti, among others. She has also participated in the 2016 Milan Fashion Week and London Modest Fashion Week.
She has also posed for American Eagle, British Glamour, and has a CR Fashion Book cover.
In June 2017, she became the first hijab-wearing model on Vogue Arabia’s cover. She also became the first hijab-wearing model on an Allure cover, for their July 2017 issue.
“Society puts so much pressure on girls to look a certain way,” she said. “I have much more to offer than my physical appearance, and a hijab protects me against, ‘You’re too skinny’, ‘You’re too thick’, ‘Look at her hips’, ‘Look at her thigh gap’. I don’t have to worry about that.”
Congratulations to the girls!
Credit
ELEKSIE PLATFORMS
Web www.eleksie.co.ke | Instagram @eleksie_africa | Facebook: @elexyfashiontalk
