“I am African. And I am beautiful.”

Oluchi Onweagba’s first name in her native Igbo language means “God’s Work,” and whatever your religious leanings might be, it’s hard not to agree. Born August 1, 1980, in Nigeria, Oluchi grew up with her siblings in Surulere, an area in the sprawling city of Lagos. Their father was a civil servant and their mother was a nurse. Oluchi spent her high school years as a good student, and enjoyed playing tennis and Ping-Pong.

A family friend persuaded Oluchi to enter M-Net’s Face of Africa competition, the first-ever continent-wide modeling competition in Africa (as opposed to a beauty pageant). It was organized by the South African subscription television channel M-Net, in collaboration with Elite Model Management. With her slim, tall figure and natural beauty, Oluchi captivated the judges and easily won the competition at just 17 years old. Elite awarded her a three-year, $150,000 modeling contract, and a whirlwind life as a highly sought-after model ensued.

“I never thought I would be on a plane. I had no idea I would leave my mum, leave Lagos,”  Oluchi says.

A sensual face, perfect figure, and infinitely long legs have helped Oluchi reach the top of the fashion league, modeling for everyone from Gianfranco Ferré to Gap. She moved to New York, where she currently lives. Oluchi has graced the covers of Italian Vogue, i-D, Elle, Untold, and Surface, and she has been featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and other national editions of Vogue around the world. She became the face of campaigns for Gianfranco Ferré, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor. Oluchi’s runway experience has included shows for John Galliano, Christian Dior, Costume National, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani, among others, in London, Milan, Tokyo, and Paris. She has worked with photographers such as Steven Meisel, Nick Knight, and Patrick Demarchelier. She also has been featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition four times, from 2005 to 2008, and walked in the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show five times, in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

In addition to being an incredibly busy model, Oluchi is studying for her associate’s degree in business organization and management at New York University. She also found time to take a small part in the 2004 movie “After the Sunset” with Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek.

In August 2005, Oluchi married her longtime companion, Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi, and in April 2007, their son Ugochukwu was born. “I worked till I was in my sixth month. But by my last trimester I had gained so much weight, and even more weight after delivery. My mother was so shocked when she came visiting. She could not believe that in my lifetime, I could be that big.”

Oluchi has since launched her own agency, O-Model Management, in Johannesburg, with a second office in Cape Town. Oluchi describes herself as an “entrepreneur at heart” and plans to expand her agency throughout Africa. She shares her passion with African teenagers: “I wanted to do more than the usual charity. I wanted to empower young adult women to make a living at an early age, so they can have a voice of their own even if they do not make it to the Western countries like I did. That is why I created O-Model Africa.”

Oluchi is very vocal about the need for more black models on the catwalks and in magazines. Speaking about her agency in South Africa, she says, “I have an agency that represents mostly black models. If black models and black celebrities cannot be acknowledged on the continent of Africa, then we have a problem that needs to be addressed. I understand that South Africa is made of up diverse races, and they have all certainly come a long way. But, for me, in terms of fashion, I am sick and tired of picking up a magazine in South Africa and [feeling] like I am reading American magazines. All I am just saying is that I would like the editors to embrace the diversity in which the country is made up of. I am very proud of Vogue India, and I would like to see the same in African magazines.”

As her career has taken off, Oluchi has never forgotten her roots and constantly gives back to society. As one of the most high-profile international models of Nigerian origin, she serves as a role model for other aspiring young girls in the West African country. She has volunteered her time and lent her image to NGOs such as LEAP Africa (an entrepreneurship incubator) and NIPRO. “I don’t necessarily have projects per se. I consider myself a global individual with a local heart for Africa. I was born and grew up in Nigeria for 17 years. Whatever I have to contribute to this world [will] only be for Africa.”