Ajuma Scouting for the Next Ford Super Model, 2011

Monday, May 23 2011 |

By ChicaMod.com

In this feature of ChicaMod’s model spotlight,we are delighted to introduce the 5’10’’ tall Turkana girl who a few years ago took, and is still taking the modeling world by storm, suddenly rising to stardom, becoming one of the most sought for cover girl all over the world. Her name is Ajuma Nasenyana.

Since being discovered, Ajuma’s career has significantly grown signing on with the world’s top modeling agencies in New York, London,Paris, Milan, Spain, Tokyo, Dublin, Stockholm, Cape Town, and Copenhagen. Ajuma has worked for designers such as Issey Miyake, Baby Phat, LaCoste, Ungaro and Vivienne Westwood , even being one of the faces of Marc Jacobs to name a few. She is a much loved over the fashion week seasons and makes a dash from Kenya to London to Milan to Paris to New York.

She has shot editorials and covers for several magazines including American Elle, starring in advertising campaigns and gracing the catwalks all over the globe. Ajuma has also won a 6000 Euro prize for being voted Best Model of Spanish Fashion Week. She was also voted amongst the world’s 10 most beautiful women by US magazine ‘Complex’. Her career has expanded to include starring in an art house movie that won an award at the New York Film Festival and has worked alongside Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek.
Ajuma was an athlete training winning the 400 and 800 meters track events in the Kenya Junior Championships when she made her first venture into modeling, participating in the Miss Tourism Kenya competition. She was crowned Miss Nairobi. During the championship she was spotted by Kenyan model scout who sponsored her for the Ford Supermodel of the World Search as the Kenyan representative where she was the fourth runner-up winning. This is the world’s premier modeling competition with over 50 contestants taking part in a high profile show in New York. Ajuma did her country proud by being the first black model ever to win a ($50,000) contract in an international competition that was not aimed solely at promoting black models. She has recently shot campaigns for Motorola and Target.

Ajuma has also been active in giving back to her community she visits Little Rock Early Childhood Centre in Nairobi where she helps children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is hard to believe that Ajuma almost gave up her career in modeling to be an athlete. Talk about talent, beauty and a heart of gold. Ajuma has done a wonderful job raising the banner of her country. We join other Kenyans in celebrating her success.

Ajuma who has since relocated back into the country with her fiancé Gustav and baby Elliot has been appointed the regional scout for this year’s Ford Super Model Search.

Lyndsey McIntyre the Surazuri’s founder who has partnered with Michelle Shepherd of Habari Consulting in organizing the scouting event, launched the search. Grace Makosewe of Nairobi VIP Parties joins them as well.
If you are a Kenyan female with the dream of being a super model, ages of 14 years - 21 years with a minimum height of 5’8’ and a maximum hip size is 37, make an appointment with the casting team.

On May 23 the semi finals will take place at the Silver Bird Cinemas, Westgate, where 25 girls will be selected to compete in the semi finals competition. The finale will be on May 28 at the Silver Bird Cinemas where the finalists ,12 girls will compete for the Ford Super Model title. Many of the Kenya finalists for this competition have had successful modeling careers in Kenya like Farida Diba , Gift Opar and Diana Nekoye.

See pictures of this exquisite beauty.