Yemi Fawaz

Florence Ibiyemi 'Yemi' Fawaz was a Nigerian fashion model,[1] best known as the first Nigerian international supermodel with a career spanning over a decade. One of the pioneers of professional modelling in Nigeria, Fawaz was also a fashion designer, beauty promoter/consultant, actress, trade show organiser, chef, restaurateur, and deacon.[2]

Early life and education

Fawaz was born to a Lebanese father and a Nigerian mother, and raised by her grandmother.[3] In 1983, she competed in Miss Universe Nigeria 1984 and placed third.[4] She left Nigeria for US in 1997.[3][5] She came back to Nigeria in 2016 at 61[6] to continue modelling and to coordinate fashion shows.[2][7]

Career

Fawaz is considered the first Nigerian supermodel.[8][7] At a point in her life, she became an ardent Christian and was ordained a Deaconess in her church.[9] She then was addressed as Deaconess Yemi Fawaz.

Achievements

Fawaz opened the first modeling school and professional modeling agency in Nigeria and in West Africa.[2] She initiated and established a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the name Banner of Love which has the goals of providing medicare as well as eradicate poverty among the underprivileged.

Death

Fawaz died at the New York Lenox Hill Hospital in United States of America after battling for colon cancer for years. She was 64 years old.[8]

References
  1. "On Yemi Fawaz: I tell you assuredly, God can change anybody". 23 March 2019.
  2. "Yemi Fawaz, Nigeria's first supermodel dies at 64". Face2Face Africa. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  3. Augoye, Jayne (22 February 2019). "Nigeria's First Supermodel Yemi Fawaz Dies At 64". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  4. Yemi Fawaz: Why I Never Married
  5. "Nigeria's first supermodel, Yemi Fawaz, dies at 64". 21 February 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. ""At Age 61 I Can't Marry A Poor Man And I'm Not A Gold Digger" – Yemi Fawaz". Woman.NG. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. "PAINFUL: Inside last Moment of NIGERIA'S FIRST Super Model, YEMI FAWAZ in America…Her Battle, Pain with Colon Cancer at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital * American Cardiologist, Nephrologist discovered pioneer Nigerian model suffered hole in Heart and Kidney *Leads love international outreach to help less privilege *Challenged Advertising industries in Nigeria for 'having sex with models', paying them peanuts BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU in New York | NaijaStandardNewsPaper". Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. "Yemi Fawaz Dies Of Health Complications At 64". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  9. "YEMI FAWAZ: AT 61, I WON'T MARRY A POOR MAN". The Sun Nigeria. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.