From Lagos traffic to the Chanel runway: Meet Rachel Ojuromi [video]
· The South African
Rachel Ojuromi’s first runway wasn’t in Paris.
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It was a busy Lagos road, where she walked with a tray of plantain on her head and car headlights for spotlights.
The internet couldn’t stop watching.
And this week, she walked for one of the most famous fashion houses in the world.
Rachel Ojuromi, 22, made her professional runway debut at Chanel’s spring/summer 2027 show at the Grand Palais in Paris.
It’s a huge leap for a young woman whose catwalk, until now, was the streets of Lagos.
WHO IS RACHEL OJUROMI?
Ojuromi is a Nigerian content creator from Lagos.
She became known for her fit-check videos: short clips showing off her outfits, filmed on the city’s streets.
According to Leadership, she spent the better part of a year posting these videos, using Lagos itself as her runway.
She didn’t do it alone.
Her best friend, Debby Fasingha, styled her looks. Another friend, Nigerian photographer Odey Ikpä, shot the videos.
THE VIDEO THAT GOT THE INTERNET TALKING
One video in particular took off.
In it, Ojuromi struts down the middle of a busy road in a miniskirt and cropped tank top, balancing a tray of plantain on her head.
Car headlights light her up from behind as she walks.
The comments poured in, with viewers begging fashion brands to sign her. “Get her on a runway NOW,” one wrote.
But it was a different video that caught Chanel’s eye.
According to British Vogue, her viral recreation of a Chanel Métiers d’Art show is what opened the door to the runway.
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WALKING FOR CHANEL IN PARIS
When she got the call, Vogue reported that Ojuromi was calm and collected.
The show was part of Paris Fashion Week, and Chanel’s latest collection under creative director Matthieu Blazy.
Ojuromi wore a grey and yellow tweed shirt and midi skirt.
On the day, the moment caught up with her. According to Briefly, she broke down in tears backstage before the show.
But she composed herself, and stepped out onto one of fashion’s most iconic runways.
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‘NOT AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS’
To the outside world, it might look like Ojuromi went viral and landed in Paris overnight.
She sees it differently.
She described her journey as “a series of compounding events”, not an overnight success.
She’s also not the first unexpected discovery to walk for Chanel recently.
In December 2025, Bhavitha Mandava, a model famously spotted on the New York subway, made history as the first Indian model to open a Chanel show.
I love that Ojuromi didn’t wait for anyone to give her a runway. She made one out of the streets of Lagos.
And she had her friends with her every step of the way.
It’s a reminder that talent can come from anywhere. Even the middle of a busy road, with a tray of plantain on your head.
WHICH AFRICAN CREATOR DO YOU THINK SHOULD WALK A RUNWAY NEXT?
Let us know in the comments below…