The next Naomi Campbell headed to Cape Town
17-year-old British model Jourdan Dunn is set to strut her stuff at the upcoming Cape Town Fashion Week.
She's young, beautiful and according European fashion houses – she's a match for Naomi Campbell. We'll leave the debate about whether being compared to the temperamental Miss Campbell is a good or bad thing for another day...but just how did these comparisons arise?
Well for starters young Jourdan graces the July cover of the Italian Vogue magazine. American Vogue also shot Jourdan for their July issue. The last time both British and Italian Vogue had a woman of colour on the cover was in 2002, in the British edition being Naomi.
Jourdan was also the first black model to walk Prada this past Fashion Week in Milan since Naomi Campbell did the same back in 1997.
But if her strong views and personality are anything to go by she'll shake off the comparisons in no time and be able to make her mark on the industry. She's become a spokesperson on race quite by accident after she spoke out about it at a media briefing at London Fashion Week in February. 'I don't see a change. It needs to be said because I think about these things and other girls do too.'
It's seems as if the beauty industries' dark secret of racism will soon be a thing of the past. There has been ongoing criticism of the notion that black faces don't sell magazines. Former Face of Africa winner Oluchi Ongweagba had very public spats with South African publications not so long ago.
Jourdan is signed to Storm Modelling Agency, the same people who made Kate Moss a household name. She was discovered while messing about with a friend in the sunglass section of Primark. Primark is a store that sells clothing to a budget market, equivalent to our Pep or Ackermans.
The catwalk princess will be the show stopper for flamboyant designer David Tlale's show during Cape Town fashion week.
The annual showcase has a new sponsor in the form of Virgin Mobile after a four year relationship with Nokia ended last season. It will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 13th and 16th August. The designers showing their wares include Darkie, Black Coffee, Hip Hop and Maya Prass amongst others.
- Women24