If you’ve had your eye on the catwalk this season, you’d notice a few more models of color getting their shine on in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. In addition to industry mainstays Joan Smalls, Ajak Deng, Melodie Monrose, Anais Mali, Nyasha Matonhodze and Jourdan Dunn, new girls like Marihenny Rivera, Fatima Siad, and Jasmine Tookes are also popping up on the runway, stomping with the best of them.
Here’s a quick rundown of five fresh faces.
1. Jasmine Tookes
The white, black, Brazilian, and West Indian Bombshell is a Cali native who was discovered while shopping with her celebrity stylist mom. Her first job was at age 14, posing for Bruce Weber.
Known for: Rockin’ body and lips.
Spied at: Jason Wu, Cushnie et Ochs, Jonathan Saunders, Versace, Jaeger London, Bottega Veneta, Missoni, Balmain, Calvin Klein, Prada, Peter Som, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nina Ricci, Miu Miu, and Louis Vuitton.
2. Marihenny Rivera Pasible
Born in the Dominican Republic, Marihenny cites reading the bible, playing volleyball, and cooking amongst her favorite activities.
Known for: Mile-long legs and an ever-present pucker.
Spied at: Duro Olowu, Giles, Aquascatum, Topshop Unique, Ohne Titel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu.
3. Roberta Narciso:
Representing Angola, this 19-year-old newcomer signed with Elite Models in 2010 and made her runway debut at Valentino Spring Couture in January 2011.
Known for: Her sleepy, sultry eyes.
Spied at: Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, Louis Vuitton, Elie Saab, and Maiyet.
4. Lais Ribeiro
The 20-year-old is also a new mom, and came on the scene with a splash for the Fall 2010 collections scoring spots at Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace. She came back with a vengeance this season–and isn’t stopping soon.
Known for: Body, height, legs.
Spied at: Cushnie et Ochs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Giles, Alexander Wang, and Oscar de la Renta.
5. Fatima Siad.
Yes, this Boston raised Somali-Ethiopian sphinx caught her break on America’s Next Top Model. While other former ANTM contestants have enjoyed TV success, she might be one of the few who is actually walking–not just in New York, but in the notoriously difficult European market.
Known for: Lithe limbs and an uncanny resemblance to supermodel Iman.
Spied at: Dries van Noten, Hermès, and Andrew Gn.
In addition to the newcomers, a few veterans also had very good seasons:
Joan Smalls
Spied at: Chanel, Stella McCartney, Hakaan, Chloé, Balmain, Gucci, Viktor & Rolf, Giambattista Valli, Jason Wu, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Isabel Marant, Nina Ricci, Gareth Pugh, Thierry Mugler, Gianfranco Ferré, Anthony Vaccarello, Roberto Cavalli, Moschino, Salvatore Ferragamo, Missoni, Bottega Veneta, Emilio Pucci, Etro, D&G, Dolce & Gabbana, MaxMara, No. 21, Giles, Burberry Prorsum, Christopher Kane, Anna Sui, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez, Rodarte, Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, Derek Lam, Diane von Furstenberg, Victoria Beckham, Jason Wu, Rag & Bone.
Editorial Note: Joan Smalls might have to have had the best season ever.
Jourdan Dunn
Spied at: Louis Vuitton, Hakaan, Paco Rabanne, Valentino, Emanuel Ungaro, Giambattista Valli, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kanye West, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, Thierry Mugler, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Bottega Veneta, Emilio Pucci, Etro, Iceberg, Moschino, Versace, Alberta Ferretti, Gucci, Burberry Prorsum, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, J. Mendel, Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, Rodarte, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, Tommy Hilfiger, Alexander Wang, Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu.
Ajak Deng
Spied at: Paco Rabanne, Hermès, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Damir Doma, Mary Katrantzou, Todd Lynn, Erdem, Matthew Williamson, Ohne Titel, Jason Wu, Richard Chai.
Shena Moulton
Spied at: Gianfranco Ferré, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander.
Nyasha Matonhodze
Spied at: Gianfranco Ferré, Givenchy, Elie Saab, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Hakaan, Lanvin, Loewe, Louis Vuitton.
This was a very good season for models of color. Here’s to many more!
Read more in our Model Manual.
October 7, 2011 9:24 am
GREAT POST! The newcomers are baaaaaad!!! We’ll be seeing them more, and yea Joan had a major season. And I always knew Fatima would go far, she had that look. Some of the girls on that show really have potential.
October 7, 2011 9:34 am
LOVE LOVE
October 7, 2011 9:39 am
These are all beautiful women and Joan is getting her hustle ON! Get it ladies
October 7, 2011 9:40 am
OVERWHELMED by their beauty. I also appreciate the diversity of their looks. Nice work!
October 7, 2011 10:49 am
i said it once, I’ll say it again Joan Smalls is the return of the Super Model
October 7, 2011 11:17 am
Yessss Yesssss Yessssssssssssss Joan is KILLER But I absolutely LOVE Lais Ribeiro!!!!!!!
October 7, 2011 11:32 am
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS to EVERYONE *snaps up & down this post*
October 7, 2011 12:27 pm
BEAUTIFUL!!
October 7, 2011 12:55 pm
I LIKEY!!
October 7, 2011 12:59 pm
[...] the original post here: The New Models on the Block – The Fashion Bomb [...]
October 7, 2011 1:28 pm
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!
My Black is beautiful
All the ladies are taken the fashion world by storm in both markets US and European
October 7, 2011 1:52 pm
Joan and Jourdan stole all the seats.
I saw Joan at Union Square in NYC. She looks a lot younger in person. Very flawless skin and hair wise.
October 7, 2011 2:48 pm
I definitely noticed all of the new faces, and I was so happy to see them! Hopefully, there will continue to be more colorful runways to come. Lais is gorgeous & Nyasha has been rocking it! Go girls!!!
October 7, 2011 2:49 pm
Great Post!!! Love the old and new girls. BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL and BLACK GIRLS ROCK!
October 7, 2011 4:06 pm
They are all beautiful!!! Love to see us strutting in the flyest of fly!
October 7, 2011 4:27 pm
I love it that black models really did their thing this time around!!!!!!
October 7, 2011 4:30 pm
This is a great post! They are all working it!!!
October 7, 2011 5:29 pm
Werk Joan, werk Joan, werk! (my gay co-worker lives and dies for that woman) I love me some Jourdan Dunn, she’s outspoken like Naomi, with just a leetle less attitude. That’s my girl though!
October 7, 2011 8:03 pm
Thanks for this post! I spent an hour last week trying to find out the name of the first model when I saw her photo here last week, with no success! Jasmine Tookes is STUNNING!
October 7, 2011 10:21 pm
All the women are gorgeous, it is great to see more diversity on the runway
October 7, 2011 10:39 pm
These women are truly gorgeous with all the hate black women face this makes me proud to be a black girl!
October 8, 2011 1:01 am
YESSSS!!! They are all gorgeous
October 8, 2011 5:40 am
Good morning.
They are all beautiful, but not all have the talent to become top models.
Jourdan Dunn, Roberta Narciso and Nyasha Matonhodze have a real presence on the track they know how to give life to clothes.
Joan Smalls is sensual, but not elegant.
October 8, 2011 5:45 am
B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !
October 8, 2011 10:52 am
love this post…but bummed chanel iman hasnt had alot of work
October 8, 2011 2:29 pm
Lais Ribiero, Nyasha, and Jasmine are my faves. Great post.
October 9, 2011 3:59 am
GREAT POST! These girls are gorgeous! And the fact that they all walked for major houses make me SO proud! That darn Joan and Jourdan better WORK honey! Lovez it!
October 12, 2011 11:30 am
Did anyone else notice Chanel Iman was nowhere to be found during NYFW! Nyasha is def one of my new favorites.
October 12, 2011 3:54 pm
I really love that first pic of Jasmine Tookes! It’s my desktop background.
Sidenote: Anyone notice that pretty much none of these women are African-American, as in families- here- for- hundreds- of- years African- American? Why does the fashion industry seem to overlook AA’s here, but readily cast Black women from other parts of the world, notably the Carribbean? Just wondering why the disparity.
That doesn’t change the fact that I love this! ♥
October 17, 2011 7:15 pm
[...] as I think they are her stand out features. I first discovered Nyasha on one of my favorite blogs, The Fashion Bomb. I must admit, it’s awesome to see a young model of color doing so many amazing things so [...]
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