After months of regional heats which saw over 4,500 models apply for the competition, the TMC competition saw over 30 models from around the UK being flown to The Gambia taking the modelling competition into the African continent for the first time ever.
TMC is known as being one of the UK’s leading modelling competitions for models of colour hoping to enter the competitive modelling industry, made even more so by the lack of models of colour on the international runways during fashion week and other big fashion shows that take place around the world.
Models from across the UK including London, Birmingham and Manchester flew into The Gambia for the show. In addition the contestants were honoured with a state house visit and meeting with the President of The Gambia: Yahya AJJ Jammeh and photo shoots in choice locations around The Gambia.
The finale was hosted by award winning UK comedienne Eddie Kadi & top Gambian TV Presenter Fatou Ndure and entertainment was provided by D3, Sing-a- Teh and top Gambian singer Mam Mbala and throughout the night the music was supplied by Homediggy.
The evening culminated with Emmanuel Ogunjinmi and Paula Okunzuwa walk away with the titles of Top Male and Female models of colour (2nd place Evita Dossou-Yovo, 3rd place Charlene Ashong, 4th place Pristyle Loko & 5th place Rachael Naome Nambozo. In second place for the men Emeka Okakpu & 3rd place Timothy Akinyemi). After having been judged on a range of abilities including runway walk, physique and understanding of the modelling industry. Industry experts on the judging panel included Arise editor Helen Jennings, leading British fashion entrepreneur Samata Angel and Yemi Adegite, CEO of Glasgow Fashion Week.
Judges for the different heats of the competition, which ran for months up to the finale in the Gambia had included international makeup artist Eryca Freemantle, Afua Acheampong, the acting editor of Black Hair Magazine, who both joined the troupe travelling to The Gambia and top Nigerian model Ibukun Jegede. The winners secured a contract with Mahogany Models which is sure to provide a launch pad for their respective careers within the modelling world.
The competition also saw both commercial models and high fashion models given the opportunity to compete on an equal footing, assessing their potential within respective industries. Sola Oyebade, the founder of Mahogany Models and the Top Model of Colour competition is an influential figure within the British modelling industry and has worked tirelessly to secure a place for models of colour within the modelling industry.
The Top Model of Colour (TMC) Competition are providing models with exposure to the modelling industry as well as giving them the chance to find out from professionals, their true potential to becoming a professional model.
TMC runs every year and is opened to female and male models of Asian, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, Oriental, and Mix Heritage decent aged between 18 – 30 years of age and a minimum height of 5.1”. This year over 4500 models entered the competition, 575 made it through to the regional heats and 32 competed at the grand finale.
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