Even casual fans of fashion know a handful of the top black models in the industry. There's Joan, Chanel, and Jourdan and, of course, icons like Naomi Campbell. But there are a number of young Black models who aren't as well known in the mainstream yet they're building enviable resumes. The women walk runways across the world and grace ad campaigns, and we're always happy to see them.
Take a look at nine Black models currently nabbing great gigs in fashion.
Betty Adewole
The Nigerian-British beauty is the newest face of Tom Ford beauty. This past seasons she walked at all 4 fashion weeks, and hit the runway for Ford as well as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Prada.
Georgie Badiel
Since her debut at London Fashion Week’s Spring 2008 season, Georgie Badiel of Burkino Faso has become one of fashion’s most sought-after faces. The former Miss Africa has modeled for diverse brands from House of Holland to Diane von Furstenberg.
Cindy Bruna
19-year old-French model walked the Victoria Secret fashion show last year as well as runways for Givenchy, Balmain, Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Moschino, and Elie Saab. Bruna is only the 3rd black model ever to be featured in an ad for Prada.
Malaika Firth
Kenyan-born Britain Malaika Firth can be seen in Spring 2014 campaigns for Valentino, Burberry, and Prada. She starred in Prada's Fall 2013 campaign and was the first Black women in 20 years to be featured. Firth has walked for Jean Paul Gaultier, Bottega Veneta, Marc Jacobs, Kenzo, Dolce & Gabbana among a host of others.
Grace Mahary
Canadian-born Grace Mahary is one of many young, working models of color discovered by Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci. She booked Givenchy's Fall 2012 campaign. She's walked for Chanel, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs.
Riley Montana
Detroit-native Montana is rapidly rising the ranks through the industry. She's featured in Givenchy's Spring 2014 ad campaign along with Erykah Badu. Last season, she walked for Erdem, Anna Sui, Mary Katrantzou, Oscar de la Renta, and countless others. And she's already posed for Vogue Paris and Love
Herieth Paul
Herieth Paul is a Tanzanian fashion model who has walked for Diane von Fürstenberg, Lacoste ,Tom Ford , Calvin Klein , Armani , Cavalli and 3.1 Phillip Lim. She's also appeared in beauty campaigns for Tom Ford and ckone. She's appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia and Canadian Elle
Jasmine Tookes
Jasmine Tookes is a native of Huntington Beach, California. She landed campaigns for Ugg and Gap before gracing the pages of Vogue Italia in 2011. She's walked the runway for Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Prada, Miu Miu and Versace.
Jeneil Williams
Jamaican model Jeneil Williams has editorial credits for days that include shoots for Teen Vogue, I-D, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, W, Russian Vogue, Italian Vogue, French Revue Des Modes, Love, plus strutting for every major designer of note on all the major shows in the fashion capitals of the world.
Kimberly Foster is the Founder and Editor of COLOURES. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster
