Rachael Ojuromi Makes Chanel Runway Debut After Viral Lagos Tribute
Nigerian model and creative director Rachael Ojuromi, 22, has made her runway debut for Chanel, walking in the house’s Spring/Summer 2027 show at the Grand Palais in Paris this week. Her path to the show began with a viral video recreating Chanel looks around Lagos with thrifted clothes, according to BellaNaija.
What happened in Paris
BellaNaija reports that Rachael walked in Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2027 presentation, titled La Conversation — Part Three — Different Faces of the Same Coin. The collection is the latest from Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy. Within Nigeria notes that the show comes a year after Blazy began leading the fashion house.
Fashion Times describes the show as the third chapter of Blazy’s “The Conversation”, which retraces Gabrielle Chanel’s life across different eras. Grixmag says Rachael wore a grey-and-yellow tweed look with a yellow midi skirt.
Outlets differ on the date. BellaNaija says Rachael walked on October 6, 2026, while Free Press Journal and Grixmag say October 5. This report treats the exact date as unconfirmed.
Background and timeline
According to BellaNaija, Rachael and her close friend and stylist, Debby Fasingha, recreated looks from Chanel’s Métiers d’Art collection using second-hand pieces sourced around Lagos. The shoots included the Red Line rail overpass in Yaba.
Blazy noticed the video and commented “Everything” beneath it on Instagram. Other outlets, including Grixmag and Hashtag Legend, add that the comment came with a heart emoji. Hashtag Legend says the video ultimately led to an invitation to walk in the show.
Rachael founded The Process Africa, a platform for emerging African talent, BellaNaija says. Her background spans film, writing and communication, and her agency representation now covers New York, Paris and London.
As recently as May, she was working as an operations intern in Lagos while filming thrifted fit-check videos, Fashion Times reports. Her fit-check videos took off this spring, according to Fashion Times, mixing 2000s music-video glamour with classic Nollywood influences.
Timeline:
- Earlier in 2026: Rachael and Debby Fasingha post the Lagos Chanel recreation.
- After the post: Blazy comments “Everything” under the video.
- October 5 or 6, 2026: Rachael walks Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2027 show.
Reactions and the other side
Blazy’s one-word comment remains the clearest public reaction from Chanel in the sources reviewed. Rachael has said she admires how Blazy presents big ideas in simple, easily digestible ways, BellaNaija notes.
Several outlets have framed the moment as a Lagos-to-Paris success story, with Free Press Journal describing her as Nigeria’s “coolest girl”.
No criticism or counter-view appeared in the sources reviewed. Joydey9ja.com has not independently confirmed the casting details with Chanel.
Why it matters and what happens next
The story shows how social media can open doors in fashion, according to Free Press Journal. BellaNaija adds that the Lagos recreation put her work in front of a much wider fashion audience.
The News Chronicle reports that she has not yet announced her next bookings. Any new shows, campaigns or comments from Rachael or Chanel will be added here when confirmed.
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