Nigerian Model Rachel Ojuromi Makes Chanel Runway Debut After Going Viral in Lagos

What started as a fashion dream on the streets of Lagos has now taken Nigerian model and creative Rachel Ojuromi all the way to Paris. The 22-year-old has made her Chanel runway debut, just months after her creative fashion videos went viral online. Before the international modelling opportunity came, Ojuromi was already turning everyday places in Lagos into her own personal runway, confidently walking through markets, streets and busy Lagos scenes in bold outfits that caught the attention of fashion lovers around the world.

Ojuromi’s biggest achievement so far is walking for Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, marking her official runway debut for the luxury fashion house. Her appearance placed her alongside professional models on one of fashion’s biggest stages and turned what once looked like an ambitious dream into reality. The moment was especially significant because Chanel’s creative director, Matthieu Blazy, had previously become aware of Ojuromi through the fashion content she created in Lagos.

The Chanel show took place on October 5, 2026, at the Grand Palais in Paris during Paris Fashion Week. Ojuromi walked the runway wearing a grey-and-yellow Chanel look as Blazy presented his Spring/Summer 2027 collection. The show attracted major international attention, with celebrities and fashion figures gathering at the Grand Palais to see the latest collection from the historic French fashion house.

Ojuromi’s story is significant because her path to one of the world’s most recognisable fashion runways did not begin with a traditional modelling breakthrough. Instead, she created her own visibility from Lagos. Her videos presented the city as a vibrant fashion backdrop rather than simply a setting, showing that creativity can come from anywhere. Her journey also puts a spotlight on the talent coming out of Nigeria’s growing creative scene and shows how social media can create unexpected opportunities for young African creatives.

So, how did she get there? Ojuromi had a background in film and had been interested in creative expression before seriously pursuing modelling. Working with her best friend, stylist and designer Debby Fasingha, she began creating elaborate fit-check videos around Lagos, using thrifted and existing pieces to recreate or reinterpret fashion looks. One of her biggest moments came when she recreated Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 collection on the streets of Lagos. The videos gained widespread attention and eventually reached Blazy himself. Her content was not simply about copying luxury fashion; she reimagined the looks using what was available to her while placing them in distinctly Nigerian settings. That creativity helped turn her social-media presence into an international opportunity.

From creating her own runway in Lagos to walking for Chanel in Paris, Rachel Ojuromi’s journey is a reminder that sometimes the runway you are waiting for is one you have to create yourself. What began with thrifted clothes, a camera and the streets of Lagos has now placed a young Nigerian creative on one of fashion’s biggest stages and her Chanel debut may only be the beginning.