Onweagba grew up in the suburbs of Lagos, Nigeria where she was urged by a family friend to enter into the M-Net “Face of Africa” preliminary screening at the M-Net office in Victoria Island, Lagos. The agency groomed her to be one of Nigeria’s entrants for the 1998 competition (now called the Nokia Face of Africa). She won the competition.She was just seventeen years old. Elite Model Management awarded Onweagba a three-year modeling contract. Beyond modeling, she tries to serve as a role model for other aspiring talents in Nigeria, especially young girls.She volunteers her time and her image for suchNGOs as LEAP Africa (an entrepreneurship incubator) and NIPRO.
After her three-year contract with Elite expired, she signed with DNA Model Management. A highlight of her career was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue four times, from 2005 to 2008. In 2008, she launched a modeling agency in South Africa, OModel Africa, with offices in Johannesburg and recently in Cape Town. She is currently the host and head judge of Africa’s Next Top Model.
“I think I reflect a lot of African beauty. I am African. And I am beautiful.” – Oluchi
Oluchi as host of Africa’ Next Top Model:
Career Highlights
1 AUG, 1980
Born in Lagos, Nigeria
1998
Wins the M-NET (an African television station) Face of Africa competition and a $150,000 contract with Elite Model Management
1998
Debuts on the runway for Marc Bouwer
1998
Selected as the new face of Nars Cosmetics by Francoise Nars
1998
Returns to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the second season of M-NET’s Face of Africa
AUG 1998
Featured on the cover of Italian Vogue, photographed by Steven Meisel
SEP 1998
Walks the runways for Chanel, Christian Dior, Gucci, and Tommy Hilfiger in Paris, Milan, and New York
1999
Lands a contract with Gap, appearing in print ads and billboards
1999
Steven Meisel photographs Onweagba for a Vogue spread
2000
Appears on the fall cover of British Surface
JAN 2001
Walks the fall Christian Dior couture show in Paris
1 AUG, 2001
Celebrates her 21st birthday at New York’s Bungalow 8 with model friends including Carmen Kass and Frederique van der Waal
FEB 2002
Walks in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
AUG 2003
Returns to South Africa to walk in Cape Town’s first official Fashion Week
2004
Signs cosmetics contract with CoverGirl
MAR 2004
Walks the fall John Galliano show in Paris
2004
Models for Bergdorf Goodman catalog
2004
Models for Victoria’s Secret catalog
SEP 2004
Walks the fall Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger shows in New York
2004
Appears in print ads for Lancôme
12 NOV, 2004
Plays the girlfriend of a thug in the film After the Sunset
AUG 2005
Marries designer Luca Orlandi (of Luca Luca) in St. Barts
"...I have one of those VERY LOUD, stupid laughs. If I ever sat behind myself in a movie I'd probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up." - Author, JD Salinger
