Nigeria models look to rock the runways

Nigeria models look to rock the runways

In Nigeria's economic capital Lagos an international model casting was on the hunt for the face of the future. Elizabeth Elohor is sure that it will be an African one. The former top model created the first modellng agency in Nigeria back in 2004, when there was no Fashion Week on the continent, very few local designers and little high-end fashion.  Now with her "Future Face Africa“ casting, Elohor hopes to expand the search for future talent from Nigeria to the rest of the continent. Before the 2000s, there were few black faces gracing the covers of women's magazines with the exception of iconic figures like Naomi Campbell, Donyale Luna and Beverly Johnson.

In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country with more than 200 million people, the few who at the time dared to venture into modeling were independent, vulnerable, and had to distribute their own portfolios to companies specializing in events and advertising.

When Elohor returned from London in 2004 to start Beth Model Agency, she was breaking new ground, said Marius Isikalu, a former top model at barely 30, who now works alongside her. "Elizabeth was a pioneer. She signed all the known models back then and she said 'If you