Kenya: The Kenyan Wears Prada

                       

           

Malaika Firth

19 year old Kenyan born Malaika Firth is the new face of Prada Autumn/Winter 2013. Why is this huge? You may ask. This is very huge considering the fashion house prefers to book white models. Malaika is the second black model ever to front a campaign for Prada. The only other black model to book such a campaign was Naomi Campbell back in 1994.
Malaika has previously walked for Prada shows in Milan and is currently signed up with Premier Model Managementin London the same agency that discovered Naomi Campbell when she was 16. Malaika was photographed  for the autumn/winter 2013 Prada campaign alongside supermodel Christy Turlington.
This new campaign can only mean that she should be prepared  for the next level of modelling fame.

interview

                                 

Just three years into her modelling career, 20-year-old Malaika Firth is being hailed as "the new Naomi Campbell" -- and for good reason. The Brit's starring role in the Vogue 2014 April Issue, donning Prada's fall campaign Celine, Emporio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo and more, marked the first black model to be featured in the house's ads since Miss Campbell in 1994. While Firth, who was born in Kenya, describes the honour as "amazing," she might prefer a different claim to fame. Malaika Firth is currently the English model face of Prada, Valentino and Burberry Prorsum Spring 2014. Our fashion correspondent ELIJAH CHEMOBO recently spoke exclusively to the top model.
What made you pursue modelling?
Basically, I watched the programme 'The Model Agency' on Channel 4. And I'm very fond of Premier models and I really wanted to join the agency, so my mom called up. I was 17 then.
Has your mom always been supportive?
Yes. My mom took me to all my castings. She would still take me to them now, but I told her, "It's enough, mom."
Is it hard to be away from your family?
It is, because with such a strong family, we're really bonded together. For me to go away the first time to New York by myself, I was so nervous. After a couple of weeks, I found it easier.
Where were you when you first saw your Prada campaign?
I was in IKEA. I was buying a sofa and I heard my phone ring. My agency was like, "The pictures are out." I was so excited. I screamed in IKEA. I couldn't help it.
You are the first black model to be featured in a Prada campaign since Naomi Campbell in 1994. How does that feel?
I'm proud that I'm the second black model, but also, I'm mixed. I'm biracial. I find it really good that I'm not white and I'm not black. It's amazing. Naomi Campbell is so big, so for me to be compared with her is wow.
Who do you look up to as role models within the industry?
I look up to Jourdan Dunn and Joan Smalls. I met Jourdan in Oxford Circus two years ago when I just started modelling. She was super-sweet. I thought she was going to be a diva, but she was so friendly.
After you did the campaign, you walked in the Prada men's show. How did that come about?
I just got a call from my agency saying I'm doing the men's show. I didn't believe it. I was like, "Really? I just did the campaign and now I have to do the men's show. Wow!" It was my first show.
Were you nervous to work with so many male models?
Actually, I wasn't. All the guys were very nice. I found it quite exciting and less stressful because you're not wearing heels and the main focus is for the guys, not the girls.
How does it feel to be booking these major jobs so early in your career?
It didn't just happen like that. I've worked so hard for myself. I've done a lot of editorial shoots to get this Prada job and stuff. I feel like I've worked so hard to be where I am right now.