Nigerian model Rachel Ojuromi goes from Lagos streets to Chanel runway

Nigerian model Rachel Ojuromi has gone from creating fashion content on the streets of Lagos to walking the runway for Chanel at Paris Fashion Week.

The 22-year-old began attracting attention online after spending six months turning everyday streets in Lagos into the backdrop for creative fashion videos.

Working with her best friend and stylist, Debby Fasingha, and photographer Odey Ikpä, Ojuromi produced a series of videos that gained traction on social media.

In one of her widely shared videos, she walked along a busy road while balancing a tray of plantains on her head. In another, she recreated Chanel’s Métiers d’Art collection using second-hand clothes sourced from local markets.

The attention eventually opened doors in the international modelling industry. Ojuromi signed with several agencies, including No Smoking NYC, Safe Management Paris, SUPA Model Management London and Next Models Canada.

She was later selected to walk for Chanel in Paris.

Ojuromi said she initially remained calm after receiving the news, but broke down in tears while waiting in the pre-show lineup as the reality of the opportunity sank in.

Her journey has since drawn attention from social media users who had followed her work from her early days creating fashion content in Lagos.

Modelling, however, was not Ojuromi’s original career plan.

In a recent interview, she said she initially wanted to become a neurosurgeon before switching her focus to film studies.

She also admitted that she once viewed modelling as a superficial profession, but her perspective changed as she became more involved in the creative industry.

Ojuromi now sees models as storytellers who help translate the vision of designers, photographers, stylists and other creatives to audiences around the world.