Seasonally, more models of diverse races, sizes, ages and abilities appear on fashion runways, among other things that have long separated them from the standard of fashion.
From beloved new labels like Hanifa to fashion editorials and storied maids like Valentino, consumers are casting a wide net all introducing the latest creations to the masses.
Here, WWD highlights five diverse models who helped change the face of fashion’s runways.
achieng agutu
Self-proclaimed “Tantalizing Confidence Queen,” Kenyan influencer Achieng Agutu is breaking barriers as a curvy model, at Hanifa’s Spring 2022 ready-to-wear show this June and for the black-owned swimwear brand in July Starting the runway. Matt Collection show at Miami Swim Week.
With over 471,000 followers on Instagram, Aguthu continues to inspire her fans through Instagram video monologues that focus on empowering women to be their most confident, stylish and healthy. Even before modeling, Agutu had partnered for social media campaigns with brands such as Valentino, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park, Marc Jacobs and Moet.
emira d’span
Content creator and model Emira D’Espain is already heating up the industry, making history in February by becoming the first black transgender woman to work with Victoria’s Secret. The influencer with over 1 million followers on TikTok posted a video, titled “Single Girl’s Guide to the Perfect Valentine’s Day,” in collaboration with the lingerie brand to promote social content for Valentine’s Day. Showing how to enjoy a vacation without. mate.
In June D’Spain partnered with skin care brand Clinique on its first ever NXT makeup collection, “#MetaverseLikeUs,” which aims to bring more under-represented groups into the metaverse.
alato jaztpero
Standing at an astonishing 5’9″, Sudanese model Alato Jazipper Michael is already making strides, walking runway shows for notable fashion houses including Saint Laurent, Lowe’s, Fendi and Chanel.
According to her Instagram page, she is represented by Fuse Management.
In July, the model opened for Valentino’s Fall 2002 Couture Show, with an Instagram caption addressed to Pierpaolo Piccioli, creative director of Maison, that read, “Dear @pppiccioli, to provide me this space and position to open my fabulous show. Thank you for this. It was a golden moment for me and I appreciate you.” This fashion fashion week, jazzyper Michael also opened for Fendi, walked in the Schiaparelli show and made his first show for Chanel.
mamur speechless majengo
Signed by Elite Model Management, Mamur Awak Majeng, who lives in Sudan, is already securing runway spots for designer labels including Balenciaga, Givenchy and Dries Van Noten.
Majeng, who calls himself an “elite boy” according to his Instagram bio, is using his visibility to shed light on issues in Africa, posted on Instagram on July 1 about migrant deaths at the border between Morocco and Spain doing, and encouraging his followers in others. Post to help refugees, homeless and hungry people.
Rosanna Owls Robles
Dominican model Rosanna Owls Robles has just stepped into the modeling scene, making her runway debut in March this year in Valentino’s Fall 2022 ready-to-show in Paris, the famous and highly photographed “Pink PP” collection .
She is signed to IMG Models internationally and Socrates Model Management in the Dominican Republic and has also walked for Givenchy for the label’s Fall 2022 RTW collection.
Aaron Rose Phillip
Aaron Rose Phillippe is an Antiguan-American model with a large presence – both in terms of being expressive and because of his spirit. Philip became the first black, transgender model with a disability to be represented by a major modeling agency in 2018 when she signed with Elite Model Management at the age of 17.
Now signed under Milk Model Management, Philippe made his New York Fashion Week debut at Moschino’s Spring 2022 show. Philip Collina has also appeared in campaigns for Strada and Sephora.
“As a disabled child, I’ve always had to advocate for the rest of my life … to get what I wanted,” she told WWD in her Diversity Forum in March. “I was who I was, being young and disabled, and being young and trans, I really wanted to be able to find myself in the world. I realized how much I loved fashion.… I’ve never seen myself in these faces in magazines and books that I loved so much.” She said she wonders how fashion can be so reductive and added, “With this question in mind, he was my catalyst for entering the fashion industry.”
Originally published at Pen 18