- Oluchi Onweagba
-
Oluchi Onweagba Born August 1, 1982 [1][2]
Lagos, Nigeria[2]Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3] Hair color Black[2] Eye color Brown[2] Measurements 34-24-35 (US); 86.5-61-89 (EU)[2] Weight 128 lb (58 kg; 9.1 st) Dress size 4 (US), 34 (EU)[2] Agency DNA Model Management Storm Models Viva Models OmodelAfrica Website http://oluchi.com/ Oluchi Onweagba (born August 1, 1982) is a Nigerian model.[1][2]
Contents
Biography
Early life
Onweagba grew up in the suburbs of Lagos, Nigeria with her two brothers and sisters. She is the daughter of a civil servant father and mother who was a nurse.[2] When Onweagba was 16 years old, she won the "Face Of Africa" contest.[2]
Discovery
She was urged by a family friend to enter into the M-Net "Face of Africa" preliminary screening at the M-Net office in Victoria Island, Lagos.[4] The agency groomed her to be one of Nigeria's entrants for the 1998 competition (now called the Nokia Face of Africa). This despite the fact that, growing up, she had maintained a relative ignorance towards fashion and modeling.[citation needed] With the support of her family and friends, she decided to compete in the inaugural edition of the Face of Africa in 1998. This was the first-ever continent-wide model competition, organized by the South African channel M-Net in collaboration with Elite Model Management.[citation needed] She won the competition.[5] She was just seventeen years old. Elite Model Management awarded Onweagba a three-year modeling contract.
Career
After moving to New York City, where she still lives, Onweagba graced the covers of Italian Vogue, i-D, ELLE, Untold, and Surface; she also was featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and other national editions of Vogue around the world.[citation needed] She became the face of campaigns for Gianfranco Ferré, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor, as well as working for Victoria's Secret.[citation needed] Onweagba's runway experience has been with John Galliano, Christian Dior, Costume National, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, amongst others, in London, Milan, Tokyo and Paris.[citation needed] She has worked with such notable photographers as Steven Meisel, Nick Knight, and Patrick Demarchelier.[citation needed]
Beyond modeling, she tries to serve as a role model for other aspiring talents in Nigeria, especially young girls.[citation needed] She volunteers her time and her image for such NGOs as LEAP Africa (an entrepreneurship incubator) and NIPRO. She also is continuing her higher education, having studied for an associate's degree in the New York City educational system.[citation needed]
After her three-year contract with Elite expired, she signed with DNA Model Management.[citation needed] A highlight of her career so far was when she was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue four times, from 2005 to 2008.[citation needed]
In 2008, she launched a modeling agency in South Africa, OModel Africa, with offices in Johanesburg and recently in Cape Town.[citation needed] The 2008 winner of M-Net Face of Africa, Kate Tachie-Menson, was awarded a US $50,000 modeling contract by OModel Africa.[citation needed]
Personal life
Onweagba is married to Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi. They have a 3-year-old son.[1] Onweagba's first name comes from the Igbo language and means "God's Work".[2][6]
References
- ^ a b c Sewing, Joy (25 March 2010). "Supermodel Oluchi Onweagba takes on the world". Houston Chronicle (Downtown Houston, Texas, USA). http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/style/6928444.html. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Fashion Model Directory: Oluchi Onweagba". Fashion Model Directory. http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/Oluchi_Onweagba. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ http://www.dnamodels.com/women/oluchi-onweagba/portfolio#/page/1
- ^ "Facing Off". Times LIVE (Johannesburg, South Africa: Tim). http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article118509.ece. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Model Bio: Oluchi". New York Magazine.
- ^ "2007 Sports illustrated Swimsuit Bio -Oluchi Onweagba". CNN/Sports Illustrated. http://cgi.cnnsi.com/features/2007_swimsuit/models/oluchi_onweagba/bio.html. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
External links
- Official Website
- Oluchi on MySpace
- Oluchi Onweagba at the Internet Movie Database
- Oluchi Onweagba at Fashion Model Directory
- 2006 SI Swimsuit Issue gallery
- Oluchi Onweagba at AskMen.com
2000–2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2000 Elsa Benítezp • Kylie Bax • Michelle Behennah • Laetitia Casta • Yamila Díaz • Luján Fernández • Kristy Hinze • Malia Jonesp • Heidi Klum • Melania Knaussp • Shakara Ledard • Ana Paula Lemesp • Noémie Lenoir • Josie Maranp • Carré Otis • Daniela Peštová • Audrey Quockp • Gabrielle Reecep • Rachel Roberts • Molly Simsp • Veronika Vařeková • Estella Warren2001 Michelle Behennah • Elsa Benítez • Aurélie Claudel • Yamila Díaz* • Luján Fernández • Janelle Fishmanp • Heidi Klum* • Shakara Ledard* • Kim Lemantonp • Noémie Lenoir* • Shirley Mallmann • Josie Maran • Petra Němcováp • Daniela Peštová • Audrey Quockp • Molly Sims* • Fernanda Tavares* • Veronika Vařeková* • Amy Wesson2002 Ana Beatriz Barros • Elsa Benítez • Ehrinn Cummings • Yamila Díaz • Isabeli Fontana • Bridget Hall • Melissa Keller • Heidi Klum • Shakara Ledard • Vanessa Lorenzo • Josie Maran • Carla Mariap • Marisa Millerp • Annie Mortonp • Petra Němcová • Chandra North • Daniela Peštováp • Audrey Quock • Molly Sims • Veronika Vařeková2003 Michelle Alvesp • May Andersen • Ana Beatriz Barros • Yamila Díaz • Reka Ebergenyip • Isabeli Fontana • Bridget Hall • Rachel Hunter* • Melissa Keller • Noémie Lenoir • Juliana Martins • Marisa Miller • Petra Němcová • Sarah O'Hare • Daniela Peštová • Audrey Quock • Molly Sims • Fernanda Tavaresp • Jessica White2004 May Andersen • Ana Beatriz Barros • Elsa Benítez • Yamila Díaz • Bridget Hall* • Melissa Keller* • Noémie Lenoir* • Angela Lindvall • Marisa Miller* • Fernanda Motta • Carolyn Murphy • Petra Němcová* • Daniela Peštová • Frankie Rayder • Molly Sims • Jessica Van Der Steen • Veronika Vařeková • Jessica White*2005 Michelle Alves • Ana Beatriz Barros • Yamila Díaz • Alicia Hall • Bridget Hall* • Shakara Ledard • Noémie Lenoir • Michelle Lombardo • Marisa Miller* • Fernanda Motta • Carolyn Murphy • Petra Němcová • Oluchi Onweagba • Frankie Rayder • Daniella Sarahyba* • Mallory Snyder • Jessica Van Der Steen • Anne V* • Veronika Vařeková • Jessica White*2006 Ana Beatriz Barros • Elsa Benitez • Carla Campbell • Brooklyn Decker • Yamila Diaz • Bridget Hall • Rachel Hunter • Heidi Klum* • Noémie Lenoir • Elle Macpherson • Marisa Miller • Fernanda Motta • Carolyn Murphy • Aline Nakashima • Petra Němcová • Oluchi Onweagba • Daniela Peštová • Rebecca Romijn • Pania Rose • Daniella Sarahyba • Molly Sims • Mallory Snyder • Yésica Toscanini • Veronica Varekova • Anne V2007 Ana Paula Araújo* • Ana Beatriz Barros • Brooklyn Decker • Yamila Díaz • Selita Ebanks • Julie Henderson • Beyoncé Knowles • Marisa Miller* • Fernanda Motta • Aline Nakashima • Raica Oliveira • Oluchi Onweagba • Tori Praver* • Bar Refaeli • Daniella Sarahyba* • Irina Shayk • Fernanda Tavares • Yésica Toscanini • Anne V • Veronika Vařeková • Jessica White2008 Melissa Baker • Ana Beatriz Barros • Yasmin Brunet • Jeísa Chiminazzo • Brooklyn Decker • Selita Ebanks • Jessica Gomes* • Quiana Grant* • Melissa Haro • Julie Henderson • Jarah Mariano • Marisa Miller* • Oluchi Onweagba • Tori Praver* • Bar Refaeli • Daniella Sarahyba • Irina Shayk • Anne V • Jessica White2009 Kim Cloutier • Brooklyn Decker* • Cintia Dicker • Lucia Dvorská • Esti Ginzburg • Jessica Gomes • Melissa Haro • Jessica Hart • Julie Henderson* • Damaris Lewis • Jarah Mariano • Ariel Meredith • Tori Praver • Bar Refaeli • Hilary Rhoda • Daniella Sarahyba • Irina Shayk* • Anne V • Jessica White*40th Anniversary (2004)
Hall of FameAll-Star Reunion
Cover (2006)Elsa Benítez • Yamila Díaz • Rachel Hunter • Elle Macpherson • Carolyn Murphy • Daniela Peštová • Rebecca Romijn • Veronika Vařeková (Celebrity special: Maria Sharapova)bold indicates cover model, *appeared in bodypainting by Joanne Gair, pappeared in print edition only
2010–2019 · 2000–2009 · 1990–1999 · 1980–1989 · 1970–1979 · 1964–1969 || CoversCategories:- 1982 births
- Living people
- Igbo female models
- Nigerian female models
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