More black models walked the Fashion Week runways in 2018 than ever before. Almost 40 percent of the models in the Fall 2018 shows were models of colour, almost double the percentage reported in 2015 [1]. Black models are making strides that in years past would have never seemed possible, opening and closing some of the biggest shows, appearing in groundbreaking campaigns, and starring on the covers of some of the biggest magazines. These models are showing what the power of a little melanin and a lot of strength can do for the fashion industry.

There still is a long way to go for inclusion on the runway [2]. It's not often you seen someone who is differently-abled, trans, or any size that's in between small and plus walking the catwalk. But, it is still true that things are changing and shifting in the world of fashion, and it's a cause for celebration. Read ahead for some of the black models that are changing the catwalks one step at a time.

Adut Akech

Born in a refugee camp in South Sudan, Adut Akech has not forgotten her roots as she climbs the ladder to fashion stardom. A few years after being signed at age 16, she walked in Saint Laurent's Spring 2017 show [3], her breakout moment. After this her career skyrocketed, closing shows for Valentino and Alexander McQueen and appearing on the covers of i-D, British Vogue, and many other publications.

Imari Karanja

Having walked her very first show for Marc Jacobs, newcomer Imari Karanja was sure to be a star from the start. Here's the crazy part: Imari is only 16 years old and has already walked for Christian Dior, Tom Ford, Hermes, and Giambattista Valli. She is guaranteed to be seen on all the runways in 2019.

Naomi Chin Wing

Named a face to watch by Harper's Bazaar in 2018, Trinidadian model Naomi Chin Wing has taken her elegant strut across the catwalks of Dior, Givenchy, and Valentino since walking her very first show for Saint Laurent in 2017.

Precious Lee

Georgia native Precious Lee [4] has been shaking up the fashion industry since she entered it. In 2015, she appeared in Lane Bryant's #PlusIsEqual campaign [5], becoming one of the first black plus-sized models to appear in Vogue. In 2016, she became the first black, plus-sized model featured in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Lee is now taking her talents to the runway, walking in multiple Christian Siriano shows.

Anok Yai

Yai was discovered when a photographer posted a photo of her at Howard University's 2017 Homecoming Yardfest on Instagram and she went viral overnight. After that, she signed to Next Models and her career boomed. In 2018, Yai became the first black model to open a Prada show in 20 years, the last of whom was Naomi Campbell [6].

Zoe Thaets

Scouted when she was barely 13 years old, Miu Miu muse Zoe Thaets opened her first show for Schiaparelli in January of 2018. She has been seen across many catwalks since then, including Dior, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors, and is sure to be everywhere in 2019.

Licett Morillo Montero

In Fall of 2018, Licett Morillo Montero became the first woman of colour to close a Prada show. Montero's androgynous and powerful look is what brought her from working in a plastics factory and studying in the Dominican Republic to the catwalks of Valentino and Saint Laurent.

Adesuwa Aighewi

Adesuwa Aighewi was rejected by several agencies for being "too black," but it was her perseverance that led to her be named 'Supermodel in the Making' by Vogue and to win Models.com's industry vote for Second Breakout Star of the Year in 2018. Aighewi wrote an essay for The Guardian [7] in 2017 addressing diversity issues with the industry, claiming "I can be whatever I want to be" and earning her status as one of the models who is changing the industry from the inside out.

Sabah Koj

At age three, Sabah Koj fled war-torn Sudan to settle in Australia where, many years later, she became the first African model in history to open a show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia. Since then she has pushed to grow her career, walking for Armani, Miu Miu, and Balmain. Models.com named her one of the Top Newcomers for Spring/Summer 2019 and she is set to be a big player on the runways this year.

Sabina Karlsson

Instagram sensation and Afro-Swedish model Sabina Karlsson's freckles and wild red hair have caught the eye of Christian Siriano and Michael Kors. Having modelled since she was a child, Karlsson has seen a shift in the industry both for both black and curve models but remains a strong voice for inclusion and change.

Janaye Furman

Janaye Furman went from a drama student in Los Angeles to a in-demand model when she was scouted in 2017 after a class. From that point, she became a fashion favourite, walking for Proenza Schouler, Valentino, and Balmain. Furman went on to become the first black model to open for Louis Vuitton at their Spring 2018 runway show at Paris Fashion Week.

Duckie Thot

Australian model Duckie Thot's modelling career began when she came in third on the eighth season of Australia's Next Top Model. After moving to New York in hopes of finding more opportunities for black models, she quickly rose to fame. Now, she is one of the darkest-skinned models to become a L'Oréal ambassador, is a regularly featured Fenty Beauty model, and has walked for Balmain, Jeremy Scott, and Victoria's Secret.

Maria Borges

It was obvious that Angolan model Maria Borges was going to be a star when she booked 17 shows in her first fashion week season. In 2015 Borges became the first black model to walk in Victoria's Secret's annual show with her natural hair, which sparked a larger conversation in the fashion industry about inclusion on the catwalk.

Saffi Karina

London born Saffi Karina [8] has been defying industry standards since a former manager demanded she lose weight and she refused to do so, leaving that agency and joined IMG Models. Now Karina can be seen in campaigns for L'Oréal and H&M and has walked in a few of Christian Siriano's Fashion Week shows.

Halima Aden

The first Muslim woman to wear a hijab on the international high-fashion catwalk and the first woman to wear a hijab on the cover of of an American fashion or beauty magazine [9], Halima Aden has never played it safe in the modelling world. Aden grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya and now works as a UNICEF ambassador as well as a model, walking for Gucci, Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, and many other top brands.

Blesnya Minher

Angolan model Blesnya Minher catapulted into stardom when she appeared alongside Christy Turlington and Lya Kebede in Valentino's Spring/Summer 2017 campaign. Since then she has proven herself a promising newcomer, walking on the runways of Miu Miu, Kenzo, and Christian Dior.

Indira Scott

New York native Indira Scott may have only recently come on the scene, but she is already making herself known by rocking waist-length beaded box braids at New York Fashion Week in 2018. Scott not only walks for brands like Dior, but she also works as a designer, social activist, and creative consultant.