Oluchi Onweagba

[saolisa82]

http://bodylawson.org/db_THISDAY_STYLE3341.jpg

 

[simplylovely]

^ Those are great! Thank you Soalisa82

 

[marlasinger]

I wrote a little bit about this article on my blog and thought I should share it here too:

Supermodel ‘too black’ for SA mags
Poppie Mphuthing and Sashni Pather Published:Mar 11, 2008

BLACKOUT: Oluchi Onweagba, winner of ‘Face of Africa, 1997’, who has been snubbed by Glamour and GQ magazines, whose unwritten policy is to avoid having blacks on their covers OE

Beauty ‘too black’ for mags

There is an unwritten ‘no blacks on our covers’ rule, says former editor

International supermodel Oluchi Onweagba says she has been snubbed by some top South African magazines — because they won’t put blacks on their covers.

The Nigerian-born beauty, who won the first Face of Africa competition in 1997, claims that local editions of Glamour and GQ magazine — which belong to the Condé Nast Independent Magazines stable — refused to have her on their covers because she is black.

Oluchi said: “As a Nigerian and an African I have done so much in my career to represent everything African in Western countries. There is a diverse group of people in South Africa, be it black, white, Asian.

‘‘What baffles me is them saying they can’t put a black person on the cover of the South African edition.”

She said GQ had scheduled an editorial shoot with her in Cape Town but cancelled at the last minute.

A GQ South Africa insider revealed that the magazine has never had a black model on its cover.

GQ editor Craig Tyson said: “I am not responsible for bookings, my creative director is, so I will have to consult him before making a comment.”

Oluchi admitted that though she could not make the date for a Glamour shoot, this was used as an excuse to exclude her, even though she was willing to reschedule.

Pnina Fenster, editor of Glamour magazine, said: “We were desperate to shoot her, but it was most unfortunate that she was not available on certain dates.

‘‘We would be crazy to turn her down, but she was otherwise engaged.”

Fenster added that Glamour had booked a photographer who had previously worked with Oluchi.

The New York-based model has graced the cover of the Italian edition of Vogue, was selected as a Victoria’s Secret “Angel” and has walked the ramp in New York, Paris and Milan for top international designers, including John Galliano, Christian Dior and Giorgio Armani.

Andy Davis, the former editor of SL Magazine, a student publication aimed at 19 to 24- year-olds, said he left the magazine because it was “not representative enough”.

“I am not surprised by Oluchi’s statements. There is an unwritten dogma in the consumer magazines industry that black covers don’t sell.

“The lack of frequency of black covers proves this, unless it’s a magazine like True Love.

In the late 90s, people buying magazines were your white, upper-LSM audience and publishers did not want to lose that market.”

Davis said that, though there were “token [black] covers”, the publishing industry needed to take risks and be proud to be African.

SL Magazine’s current editor, Louise Gamble, admitted that there have been “very few black covers over the past 15 years”.

“I’m going to put my neck on the block here and say that we have not been representative enough in terms of covers, writers and contributors.”

Oluchi said magazine editors should fight for change. She said Brazilian and eastern European models were appearing on the covers of South African magazines and “making it big internationally”.

Oluchi said: “Their careers are given a huge boost. Why can’t the same be done for girls from Africa?

“If you pick up Vogue India everything about it, from the first page to the last, is very Indian.

‘‘I would like to see that in South Africa. They [magazines] need to embrace diversity and show more love.”

Oluchi arrived in Johannesburg last week to model for fashion labels Marianne Fassler, Sun Goddess and Stoned Cherrie at the Johannesburg Fashion Week.

She said: “I’m down here to help the [local] fashion industry the best that I can … it’s nice to support the fashion industry.

“It doesn’t give me joy to pick up a copy of South African GQ and feel like I’m reading American GQ,” Oluchi said.

Source

 

[modelgig]

Oluchi looks really sexy in those photos!

 

[sepia]

Interesting article. Even in Africa, Black women can't get covers. She mentioned Vogue India, but you notice even they have color issues. Their first cover featured Gemma Ward, and they won't use darker-skinned Indians, as that is not the standard of beauty there.

 

[modelgig]

Interesting article. Even in Africa, Black women can't get covers. She mentioned Vogue India, but you notice even they have color issues. Their first cover featured Gemma Ward, and they won't use darker-skinned Indians, as that is not the standard of beauty there.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the case especially in south Africa. A "small minority" have majority of the power and the "majority " are "usually" not represented enough in mainstream magazines.

 

[saolisa82]

Unfortunately, that seems to be the case especially in south Africa. A "small minority" have majority of the power and the "majority " are "usually" not represented enough in mainstream magazines.

She has a good head on her shoulders. She grown up to be very outspoken and educated. Here is her video from SA fashion week

http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/view_video.php?viewkey=35df68d1ce4c704c29a0

 

[saolisa82]

http://bp3.blogger.com/_coeaJr7-WwA/Rn6af1D4tCI/AAAAAAAABIg/btR9kvD4Hmw/s1600/oluchi.jpg

 

[saolisa82]

oluchi with black eyed peas at the thisday nigerian festival http://bp1.blogger.com/_H4G8wf8VqW8/RxySxqYxzRI/AAAAAAAAA1I/YsMUN3josD4/s1600/oluchi3.jpg

 

[saolisa82]

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/79...17706AA75D201206AF46BDDA862E66F12EEA9B6A8E6AF

 

[saolisa82]

http://bp0.blogger.com/_8NOD5iNHqxM/RbmLLwjeN2I/AAAAAAAAAEk/l_7FMBnZphw/s1600/Deola%

 

[simplylovely]

http://www.omodelafrica.com/Model.asp?CardHolderID=49474

other source: Storm London

 

[rubydon]

she's a modern aphrodite.

 

[Jgcmerlotti]

I love her, she's so beautiful, I'm in love! *-*

But I don't know, I miss her

 

[sethii]

Did she really have a VOGUE italia cover? Can someone post it?

 

[American Aries]

^

If you go to her official website, it is posted under the "cover" section:

oluchi.com

Personally, I was never really fond of the cover.

 

[simplylovely]

^ I think Oluchi looks great but the cover's design could have been a whole lot better imo.

 

[MeMe7]

i dont know much about this model i was glancing through this thread but that article p*ssed me off its AFRICA!! and they cant put a black model on the cover. If it cant happen in Africa where else can it. Thats insane

 

[SincerelyJane]

Oluchi is so beautiful! She is exactly what I picture when I think of a mythical goddess.

 

[Couturierdiva]

This picture is absolutely fantastic! I just LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!