Nobby Ochieng’, popularly known by his stage name The Vintage King, has steadily carved out a name for himself in Kenya’s modelling and youth empowerment space, building a career that mainly focuses on fashion, mentorship and community development.
His journey into modelling began in 2019 while living in Mombasa, where his interest in vintage fashion and creative styling first took shape.
He says this early exposure to fashion was informal but influential, as he often styled friends for events and social gatherings, gradually developing an eye for aesthetics, presentation and stage presence.
What began as a passion project soon evolved into competitive modelling.
His breakthrough came in 2020 when he was named 1st Runner-Up in the Mr. Likoni competition, a recognition that introduced him to the structured world of pageantry and modelling contests.
He followed this with another strong performance in 2021, when he won the Mr. Changamwe title, further cementing his rising profile in the coastal fashion scene.
Later that same year in July 2021, Nobby relocated to Nairobi, a move he has described as necessary for expanding his opportunities and accessing larger platforms within Kenya’s growing creative industry.
The capital city exposed him to a more competitive modelling environment, where he continued to build his portfolio and network.
In 2022, he participated in the Mr. and Miss Kasarani competition, finishing as 2nd Runner-Up Mr. Kasarani. The placement added to his growing list of accolades and confirmed his consistency as a performer in Kenya’s modelling circuit.
Beyond personal success on the runway, Nobby channelled his experience into mentorship.
He later founded Uni Creatives Modeling Academy, an initiative aimed at nurturing upcoming models and empowering young people through fashion, creativity and confidence building.
The academy initially operated in Nairobi’s central business district before relocating in 2023 to Makongeni Estate along Jogoo Road, where it found a more stable base for growth and community engagement.
The establishment of Uni Creatives marked a turning point in his career, shifting him from participant to organiser and mentor.
The academy’s first major milestone came in 2023 with the hosting of Mr. and Miss Uni Creatives, an event designed to showcase emerging talent and provide young models with exposure and experience.
Despite operational challenges typical of grassroots creative initiatives, the institution continued to grow.
Later in 2023, Uni Creatives organised its second major showcase, Mr. and Miss Face of Shujaa, held at Makongeni Primary School.
The event attracted a growing number of young participants and helped strengthen the academy’s presence within the local creative community.
Nobby’s personal modelling career also continued to progress in parallel. In 2023, he won the title of Mr. Makadara, a significant achievement that added to his portfolio of regional titles and reinforced his standing within Nairobi’s modelling scene.
In 2024, Uni Creatives expanded its reach by hosting the third edition of Mr. and Miss Face of Shujaa at Siron Hotel in Rongai, demonstrating its growing organisational capacity and appeal beyond its original base.
The following year, in 2025, the fourth edition of the same event was held at Jericho Social Hall, further cementing the academy’s reputation as a consistent platform for youth talent development.
Today, he continues to position himself not only as a model but also as a mentor and creative leader.
Through Uni Creatives Modeling Academy, he remains focused on building opportunities for young people in Kenya’s fashion and modelling industry, using his journey from Mombasa’s local styling scene to Nairobi’s competitive runway circuits as a blueprint for aspiring creatives.