Oluchi Onweagba

Oluchi Onweagba Biography / Profile

Oluchi Patricia Onweagba-Orlandi was born in Lagos, Nigeria on August 1st, 1982 to a civil servant and a nurse from Anambra state. She is a super model and entrepreneur.

Oluchi Onweagba Age

Oluchi Onweagba is 44 years old.

Oluchi Onweagba Early Life

Oluchi was raised in the suburbs of Lagos with with her two brothers and sisters. Her father named her "Oluchi" meaning "God's Work" in the Igbo language of Nigeria.She struggled with her self-image throughout her youth as she was too thin. At the age of 17 her friend convinced her to give modeling a try. She tried out for the "Nokia Face of Africa" competition and won. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor's degree in management.

Oluchi Onweagba Career

After moving to New York City, Oluchi made her way onto the covers of Surface, Pop, ELLE, iD, Untold, and Italian Vogue, Marie Claire, Allure, Nylon, as well as other national editions of Vogue around the world. She became the face of campaigns for Gianfranco Ferre, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor, as well as working for Victoria's Secret in print walking for seven consecutive years in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Winning the "Nokia Face of Africa" competition in 1998 launched her modeling career. Part of the prize was a modeling contract with Elite Model Management. She made her debut on the runway in 1998 which was for designer Marc Bouwer. In 1998, she was selected as the cover girl of Nars Cosmetics and in August 1998, she was photographed by Steven Meisel for the Italian cover of Vogue. September of 1998 was the end to a great year for her. She walked the runways in Paris, Milan, and New York for world-class brands like Gucci, Chanel, and Christian Dior. She became the face of the new Gap campaign in 1999. She also did another Vogue shoot with Steven Meisel. She didn't slow down at the turn of the century. She graced the cover of the British magazine Surface. She kept it going in 2001 with a runway appearance for Christian Dior in Paris. In February 2002, she walked for the Victoria's Secret fashion show. This was her first of seven consecutive years walking in the show.

As a business woman her ventures show that there is more to Oluchi than meets the eye, a creative and ambitious mind is the driving force behind her brand. As a model she is an established figure - and as an icon this is just the beginning. Her love for her mother country of Nigeria has led Oluchi to encourage growth across the African continent while providing opportunities for others to follow in her footsteps. In 2013 Oluchi executive produced and hosted the immensely successful reality television show "Africa’s Next Top Model" (ANTM). ANTM grants an opportunity for African women to compete for a chance to start their career in the modeling industry. Oluchi is single-handedly taking the African modeling and fashion game to the next level.

Today,she is an international fashion Icon. As an entrepreneur, business woman and visionary - Oluchi embodies what it means to combine passion, talent and innate beauty. She is an inspiration to the youth and a figurehead in her industry. She continues to be a pioneer in the African fashion world who stands among the greats of the international community. She is the Host and Executive Producer of Africa’s Next Top Model.