Katoucha Niane for Christian Lacroix F/W 1992

I’ve been meaning to do a tribute to Katoucha Niane since her death in Paris this February.

Known professionally only as “Katoucha”, she was one of the first African models to achieve top model status and paved the way for the careers of Naomi Campbell and countless other black models. She was the former muse of Yves Saint-Laurent and one of the top model in the 1980’s and through the early 1990’s, walking for Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler.

Katoucha Niane and Christian Lacroix F/W 1994

Born in the African nation of Guinea, Katoucha retired from the runway in 1994 and spent the last few years speaking out against the practice of female genital mutilation in her homeland. In 2007, she wrote a Dans ma chair (In My Flesh), a book that detailed her own female circumcision at the age of nine.

In the book, she categorized her success as a model saying, “I embodied the most arrogant and admired kind of femininity, I who was supposed to be diminished”.

On February 28, 47 year old Katoucha Niane’s body was found in the Seine River. Although there was initially some suspicion of foul play, her death has since been ruled an accident caused by an intoxicated Niane falling into the river as she returned to her houseboat after a party.

Although her life was marked by tragedy, she will always be remembered as the vibrant, elegant and unfailingly beautiful model and activist.

video via WSJ

Jessica Stam bestows some model mojo and teaches a DKNY intern how to walk like a supah model. Her advice: shoulders down, head up and long strides.I think that’s what I do every day, but somehow I don’t get paid for it.

The video also has a little clip of Jourdan Dunn walking in the Oscar de la Renta show.

I haven’t done a model highlight since Wakeema, so I thought it was time and who better to put the spotlight on other than Jourdan Dunn.

Everyone has been giving the head nod to the UK model and they’re calling Fall 2008 Jourdan Dunn’s breakout season. The 17 year old model walked for a number of houses this season, racking up around 31 shows between New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Casting directors and designers all seemed to all fall in love with her simultaneously, sending her down the runways of Gucci, Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, and dozens more.

But you knew she was destined for big things when you saw her strutting down the Prada runway. Jourdan was the only black model to walk the Prada runway, ending a 10 year drought that had lasted since Naomi Campbell strutted for the house in Fall 1997. Yeah, it’s been that long.

Jourdan Dunn for Prada Fall 2008

It’s easy to see why everyone loves Jourdan. The former dancer has a very elegant look that the high-end houses eat up. Her high cheekbones, slightly upturned eyes and long neck combine to give her this other-worldly refined look.

Jourdan was discovered in her hometown of London by Storm Models (who also discovered Kate Moss) and is currently with Women Management in New York.

In a recent interview, Jourdan had these things to say about living the glamorous life of a 17 year old supermodel.

“It’s crazy backstage, with hair and makeup, especially because my hair is different to most other models’, sometimes it’s really difficult for them to do it.”

“They are always putting different products on your hair…and it is always damaged at the end of the season,” said Dunn, who relies on her cousin rather than expensive beauty salons to treat her dark brown mane.

And on the late-night parties that she’s invited to?

“I’m not really into after parties, I am only 17 and I feel like I’ll be with a bunch of people not my age.”

She sounds pretty down to earth, no?

So now that Jourdan is the next big face on the runway, I hope we can expect to see her booking some big print campaigns soon. Is that too much to ask?

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Photo credits: Style.com, Style.it, Elle, Nathalie Paris, Dazed & Confused Magazine

Agyness Deyn tops Tatler’s best dressed list

This year’s It model Agyness Deyn knocked Kate Moss off the top of the Tatler’s best dressed list. The UK publication named the 25 year old new jack heir to the fashionista throne chic and cool style saying,”whether she’s sipping chai at the Russian Tea Rooms in Primrose Hill or kicking back at Henry Holland’s studio, She’s fash-fabulous… Rockin.”

So who’s your fashion favorite? Agyness or Kate?

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The full list of the Tatler’s best dressed below:

Top 10 Best-Dressed

1. Agyness Deyn (model)

2. Kate Moss (model)

3. Natalia Vodianova (Russian model)

4. Keira Knightley (actress)

5. Stella Tennant (model)

6. Anouck Lepere (model)

7. Lynn de Rothschild (banking family socialite)

8. Kirsty Bertarelli (billionaire’s wife and former beauty queen)

9. Samantha Cameron (David Cameron’s wife and creative director of Smythson)

10. Alexa Chung (T4 presenter)