"I Am Still An African Woman" - SUPERMODEL OLUCHI

Nigerian born international supermodel, Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi is one star that has taken the bold steps to climb up the ladder of success to stardom. A household name in the global modelling industry, Oluchi says despite her success and the fact that she’s married to a white, she’s still an African and a Nigerian. This is probably why she pops into the country now and again to impact the local industry with her insights from the global scene.

At 17, Oluchi took the whole of Africa by storm when she won the inaugural edition of Face Of Africa contest in 1998. This was the first-ever continent-wide model competition, organized by the South African channel M-Net in collaboration with Elite Model Management. Her victory attracted her a three-year modelling contract with Elite Model Management.
Since then, Oluchi has never looked back. She has become one of the most sought-after models in the world and has graced the cover of many international magazines such as Italian Vogue, i-D, ELLE, Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and other national editions of Vogue around the world. She became the face of campaigns for Gianfranco Ferré, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor, as well as working for Victoria’s Secret. Onweagba’s runway experience has been with John Galliano, Christian Dior, Shiatzy Chen, Costume National, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, among others, in London, Milan, Tokyo and Paris.

She has worked with such notable photographers as Steven Meisel, Nick Knight, and Patrick Demarchelier.
Beyond modelling, she tries to serve as a role model for other aspiring talents in Nigeria, especially young girls. In 2008, she launched a modelling agency in South Africa, OModel Africa, with offices in Johannesburg and recently in Cape Town. In August 2005, she exchanged marital vows with her longtime companion, Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi. Oluchi believes that the best thing one can do is to marry her friend, which she did.
Oluchi has also affected the Nigerian modelling industry in no small way.

She says: “In the last five years I have been constantly coming to Nigeria. I support every event just because I don’t want to be people from the past. Akeem Olajiwon, the Nigerian basket ball player who lives abroad, how often do you see him? Has he ever done anything? He does not even come to Nigeria. But I come back and I give my support. So, I think I have given 100 per cent of my support.”