For the first time since Naomi Campbell featured in an advertising campaign in 1994, Prada is using a BME model as a major face.
Malaika Firth will feature prominently in Prada’s autumn/winter 2013 campaign. The 19-year-old, who was born in Mombasa, Kenya is half Kenyan and half British and grew up in the UK. Her Kenyan mother introduced her to the idea of modelling after becoming inspired by a TV reality show.
Malaika takes her own inspiration from fellow British BME model Jourdan Dunn, who walked for Prada in a 2008 fashion show.
“[Jourdan] has inspired me the most, just because of how down to earth she is as a person. I love her drive and passion for modelling as well,” Malaika told reporters.
Along with Firth, the Prada campaign will also feature supermodel Christy Turlington, Danish model Freja Beha Erichsen, Australian model Catherine McNeil, Chinese model Fei Fei Sun, American model Amanda Murphy and French model Caroline de Maigret.
Malaika told The Telegraph: “The shoot was great. Unfortunately I didn’t get to speak to Christy as she was busy with hair and makeup but she looked beautiful and also looks like a really lovely person.”
