Top Five African Models in the world

      African fashion is the rave of the moment in the international fashion community. From her designers to indigenous fabrics and even her models , there has not been a higher fascination with her indigenous fashion than now.

ATL  Journal Constitution recently profiled the top five African models blazing the trail internationally. Check out the list and find out who made the cut.

The Super Woman: Liya KebedePeople toss the word “supermodel” around flippantly, but true “supers” boast an enviable resume that includes covers, contracts, and campaigns—coupled with the honor of opening and

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closing key runway shows. Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede has done it all from covering Vogue, Essence, Harper’s Bazaar, and i-D to starring in campaigns for Gap, Lord & Taylor, and Ann Taylor, plus nabbing a lucrative Estee Lauder contract. She is now the face of L’Oreal, and in ’08 earned a Forbes shout-out as the 15^th highest-paid model.

The Moneymaker: Nina KeitaIn modeling, repping a brand is where the money and longevity is. So when Nina Keita landed the plum gig of starring in Old Navy’s spring 2007 campaign—her face being beamed across America and Europe in the brand’s infectious commercials—she was instantly catapulted into an elite club of models.  She is so valuable to bookers, the Ivorian was allegedly poached from her old agency, Wilhelmina Models, by her new agency Next—eliciting a lawsuit between the two firms. While the agencies duke it out, Nina continues to “smile” all the way to the bank

The Boss: Oluchi OnweagbaSince winning the premiere 1998 “Face of Africa” competition sponsored by African cable giant M-NET, the Nigerian has gone on to hit pretty much every high a model aspires to.  Cosmetics contract/ad campaign? Check.  Onweagba was a CoverGirl — and has appeared in campaigns for L’Oreal, Gap, and Macy’s.  Vogue cover? Check — she’s fronted Vogue Italia.  Appearance in SI Swimsuit Issue/Victoria’s Secret Show? Check. Check. Now married to designer Luca Orlandi and mother to their son, Onweagba still works the runways, but her focus is on the next generation.  Having launched O Model Management in South Africa, Onweagba told Modelinia.com: “I wanted to do more than the usual charity. I wanted to empower young adult women to make a living at an early age, so they can have a voice of their own even if they do not make it to the Western countries like I did.” Zandile Bay admires her for “being an advocate for the rise of the modeling and fashion industry in her native Nigeria

The Heir Apparent: Ataui DengIn the space of three years, Ataui Deng, seems poised to catwalk in the footsteps of her supermodel auntie, Alek Wek. At just 19, the rising star has walked for Zac Posen, Sophie Theallet, and Malandrino. Her model book contains editorial tearsheets from Teen Vogue, V, and Harper’s Bazaar — including a cover of insider magazine Lurve.

The Super-in-Training: Nyasha MatonhodzeDiscovered in 2009, the Zimbabwe-born, Britain-raised model was introduced to the world on London’s catwalks, sashaying for Jonathan Saunders, Emanuel Ungaro, and Louis Vuitton, among others. Just two years later, now 16, Nyasha has racked up editorial tearsheets in Harper’s Bazaar, V, and Teen Vogue. Amazingly, she has just been announced as a face of Louis Vuitton. Look for her in the brand’s fall campaign, which will be shot by star maker Steven Meisel.