From Lagos Streets To Paris: 22-Year-Old Nigerian Model Walks For Chanel
Rachel Ojuromi, a 22-year-old Nigerian model and filmmaker, has gone from staging fashion shoots on the streets of Lagos to making her runway debut for Chanel in Paris.
Ojuromi walked in Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2027 show at the Grand Palais, marking a remarkable breakthrough for the young creative.
Before gaining international recognition, she worked with stylist Debby Fasingha and photographer Odey Ikpa to create fashion videos across Lagos.
Rather than traditional runways, the trio used streets and everyday locations as their backdrop, with Ojuromi modelling elaborate outfits while walking through familiar parts of the city.
Their work gained attention online, eventually leading to a major breakthrough after they recreated Chanel’s 2026 Métiers d’Art show in Lagos.
The project reportedly caught the attention of Chanel designer Matthieu Blazy, who later invited Ojuromi to Paris.
She subsequently made her Chanel runway debut in a grey-and-yellow tweed outfit at the Grand Palais.
Reacting to the milestone, Ojuromi dedicated the moment to the people who helped her build her career, especially her mother, Fasingha and Ikpa.
She described the achievement as a moment for all of them, noting that her mother had sold clothes throughout her life, while Fasingha made garments from second-hand pieces and Ikpa consistently found time to photograph their projects.
Ojuromi, who studied filmmaking, is also passionate about fashion history, creative direction and visual storytelling. She founded The Process Africa, a platform created to showcase young African creatives.
Her story has now taken her from improvised fashion runways in Lagos to one of the world’s biggest luxury fashion stages in Paris.
