Africa’s Next Top Model – Where are they now?
Regular readers will already know that Africa is a striking continent, full of talent and uniquely beautiful faces. For a wider audience, Season One of Africa’s Next Top Model (AfNTM) brought that beauty to a global, mainstream audience for the first time. Much has happened since 2013 and we are now on the verge of Season two arriving our screens. Ahead of the new series, we decided to take a look at what’s happened to the pioneering contestants from the original line-up.
We begin this series of articles with the runners-up, Opeyemi Awoyemi and Michaela Pinto. We start by looking back at their origins, the impact that this iconic show had on their lives and where the AfNTM journey has taken them to in 2015.
Opeyemi Awoyemi (Yemi) from Lagos, Nigeria was the third girl to enter the AfNTM house. She was in her twenties on arrival and had been modelling while at college. AfNTM’s supermodel host, Oluchi Onweagba, was immediately impressed by Yemi’s height and amazing skin. She grew in confidence each week and, of the three Nigerian models that started, Yemi was the only one who made it to the semi-final.
Yemi is one of AfNTM’s greatest success stories. She has been very busy since the show, doing brand campaigns, editorial spreads, features and runway shows in multiple countries. Below are just a few examples:
Editorial
Ingqephu Magazine, shot by photographer, Jurie Potgitier wearing pieces from African designers; David Tlale and Thula Sindi.
Designer
Gavin Rajah
https://instagram.com/p/-CScg6o129/
https://instagram.com/p/-CQBtfI1yx/
Store
Modelling for Foschini SA- With over 200 stores located in prime shopping centres and CBDs in Southern Africa, Foschini is the top-to-toe destination for the fashionable woman – and the second largest departmental retailer of cosmetics in South Africa.
Education & Development
Yemi has done a lot of modelling, including a guest appearance at Fedisa (the Institution for fashion education in the Western Cape of South Africa), which has grown into a leading contributor for the global fashion industry. Fedisa graduates often go on to have amazing careers, in a variety of jobs across the globe.
https://instagram.com/p/91OeKHo133/
https://instagram.com/p/9_qkTCI10p/
Modelling for November issue of Glamour Magazine 2015
https://instagram.com/p/9N3f5PI14C/
https://instagram.com/p/9V7DPbI18A/
In September 2015, Yemi was nominated as Model of the Year at the Lagos Fashion Awards, sponsored by Jaguar. Both Yemi and Africa’s Next Top Model Season 1 judge, photographer, the talented, Remi Adetiba were nominated by Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards,
Yemi is on Instagram and regularly posts about her personal life and modelling adventures, click here to follow her on Instagram. You can also follow her on Twitter.
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