From Juba to Lagos: the African models who owned fashion's biggest runways in 2026

On the evening of 5 October, beneath a flock of giant glowing birds at the Grand Palais in Paris, a 22-year-old from Lagos walked out in look 73 of Chanel's spring-summer 2027 collection: a yellow and grey tweed skirt suit. Not long before, Rachel Ojuromi had been known for filming outfit videos on the streets of her home city. Now she was on the most watched runway in fashion.

Her story is the latest chapter in a run of African success that has defined fashion's last twelve months. South Sudanese models have collected the industry's top honours, closed its most famous shows and filled its rankings, while a new route in, straight from a phone screen in Lagos, has opened beside them.

• 3Black models to close a Chanel show; all three have South Sudanese roots
• 2025Anok Yai named Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council
• 2026Anok Yai named to the TIME100
• 83looks in Chanel's spring-summer 2027 show, one worn by Rachel Ojuromi

Anok Yai's year at the top

No one has had a bigger year than Anok Yai. Born in Cairo to South Sudanese parents and raised in New Hampshire, she was discovered in 2017 when a photo of her at Howard University's homecoming went viral. Within a year she had opened a Prada show, only the second Black model to do so after Naomi Campbell.

In December 2025 the British Fashion Council named her Model of the Year, for a season in which, according to Dazed, she opened shows for Ferragamo, Coperni and Hugo Boss and closed them for Ralph Lauren and Fendi. In April 2026 TIME put her on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Chanel's three brides

The final look of a Chanel show, often styled as a bride, is one of the most coveted spots in modelling. In the house's long history, only three Black models have closed one, and each has South Sudanese roots. Alek Wek was the first, in 2004. Adut Akech followed in 2018. And in October 2025, at Matthieu Blazy's first show as Chanel's creative director, Awar Odhiang became the third.

Odhiang's walk became one of the moments of the season. Born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, she was spotted while working at an Old Navy store. Models usually keep a straight face to the end of the runway. She smiled, clapped and spun, then went into Blazy's arms, and the internet loved it. She later told Vogue the moment was spontaneous.

This is your moment, this is a chance for you to just enjoy it, do what you do, and do you.

Matthieu Blazy to Awar Odhiang before the show, as she recalled to Vogue

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Why South Sudan?

The pipeline from South Sudan is now one of the most talked-about stories in fashion. AFP, reporting from Juba this summer, counted nine South Sudanese models among the 50 names on Models.com's industry ranking. A modelling agency in the capital, Jubalicious, trains young hopefuls in runway walking for free before they try for work in Paris, Milan and London, and successful models can earn tens of thousands of dollars in a single season.

The new way in: a phone and a Lagos street

Rachel Ojuromi did not come through a scouting trip. With a friend who styled her, she built a following by filming bold outfits on everyday Lagos streets and markets. One video, a recreation of Chanel's Métiers d'Art collection using thrifted clothes, went viral and caught the eye of Matthieu Blazy himself. The invitation to Paris followed.

Briefly News and StyleRave both report that she cried at the first rehearsal, and that Anok Yai was among the models who helped settle her nerves backstage. Afterwards she called it the result of years of work rather than overnight luck.

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