Victor Ndigwe is 19 years old, and he’s neither gay nor effeminate. He’s a male model and ‘there ain’t nothing wrong with that’.
Not too long ago, he was like any other aspiring model in Nigeria, hustling for jobs and trying to get into good modelling agencies.
Victor, who isn’t the only model in his family, had heard about the Aquafina Elite Model Look competition in Nigeria in 2012, and had decided to sign up with his sister. Unfortunately, he didn’t get his chance until 2014 when he registered along with thousands of other hopefuls, except his sister who was unable to participate because she had exams.
As luck, or maybe his excellent performance would have it, he was selected as one of the 13 finalists who got a chance to strut their stuff in front of the Elite Model Look international judges. At the end of the competition, Victor with a female winner, Mayowa Nicholas, became the winners of the competition.
Here’s why Victor is special.
After winning the competition, he made his debut in Milan, gracing the runways of Ermenegildo Zegna and Missoni, and became the first ever Nigerian male model to do so. He then went on to Paris, where he made runway appearances for brands including Hermès, Balmain, Kenzo and Haider Ackermann.
Victor’s success has gained him international attention – an interview with Vogue Italy. Yay!
In addition to being an international model, courtesy the Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria contest, Victor is still in school, studying to become an Applied Mathematician.
Victor Ndigwe wants to serve as an inspiration for all future models – “I want to inspire other models that have dreams the same way I had them. I just want to be a good example”, he said.