MODELS: Commercial, Beauty, Runway, Fitness, Film & Pageant Models
Meet Congolese faces representing us fiercely in the modeling industry.
Joelle Kayembe: Super Model
Joëlle Kayembe was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. In 1994, Joëlle moved with her family to South Africa where they have lived since.
She started her modeling and acting career at the age of 19 when she was discovered. Joëlle is best Known for her role as Zina in 2013 film Zulu by Jérôme Salle.
The actress featured as Zina in the Jérôme Salle crime-thriller film, Zulu, released in 2013. She also played queen alongside American rapper, Ludacris on his video shot in Durban for the ‘Pimpin’ All Over The World’ song featuring Bobby Valentino.
Meeting Ludacris was such an eye opener because there he was, the most famous person I’ve ever met in my life and I’m shooting with him, playing the character of a queen.
I expected him to be everything typical of rappers and what the media portrayed him to be. But he was such a gentleman, he referred to me as ma’am.
She says , the principle of impossibility kept her going and pushing for more because as a rebel, impossible is exactly what she wanted to go for. Adding that these days, what really keeps her marching forward is messages from young girls wanting to be models looking up to her.
(IMBd - GQ)
Cindy Bruna: Super Model
Cindy Bruna (born 27 September 1994) is a French fashion model now based in New York - Her father is Italian and her mother from the Congo. She first began to gain success in 2013 modeling on the runway for brands like Vivienne Westwood and Zuhair Murad.
Bruna was discovered at age 16 by scout Dominique Savri and signed with Metropolitan Management, her mother agency, and Wilhelmina Models.Her first modeling jobs were for Alaïa and Elie Saab. She also landed on the cover of Vogue Italia's December 2013 and September 2014 issues.
She has also appeared in editorials within American Vogue, Vogue Arabia, Vogue Japan, Vogue Spain, Vogue Ukraine, Vogue Portugal, W Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Elle UK, Wonderland, etc.
She walked the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for the first time and has appeared in every subsequent show. She has starred in campaigns for Prada, Burberry, Chanel, Michael Kors, L'Oreal, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, H&M, etc.
In the S/S 2014 season, she walked for opened for Roland Mouret and Temperley London; she also walked for designers like Bottega Veneta, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Balmain, Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi, Armani, Moschino, Philipp Plein, Anthony Vaccarello, and Zuhair Murad.
Bénie Mayele - Aspiring Photography Model
Bénie is a professional photography & commercial model based in Kinshsa , DRC.
She started focusing on her modeling aspirations a little over a year ago. She says the journey have not been easy but through courage, hard work and support she keeps on striving to become the best as she can possibly be.
Asked what sets her aside from every other aspiring models in Kinshasa presently, Bénie states « not to compare but as an upcoming model my elegance, hard work and quality of my work are a force to be reckoned with »