Florence Ibiyemi 'Yemi' Fawaz (January 8, 1955 - February 20, 2019) was a Nigerian fashion model,[1] best known as the first Nigerian international supermodel with a career spanning over a decade. One of the pioneers of professional modelling in Nigeria, Fawaz was also a fashion designer, beauty promoter/consultant, actress, trade show organiser, chef, restaurateur, and deacon.[2]

Florence Ibiyemi 'Yemi' Fawaz
Born(1955-01-08)8 January 1955
Died20 February 2019(2019-02-20) (aged 64)
NationalityNigerian
OccupationFashion model
Years active1978-1990

Early life and education

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Fawaz was born to a Lebanese father and a Yoruba Nigerian mother, and raised by her grandmother.[3] In 1983, she competed in Miss Universe Nigeria 1984 and placed third.[4] She left Nigeria for US in 1997.[3][5] She came back to Nigeria in 2016 at 61[6] to continue modelling and to coordinate fashion shows.[2][7]

Career

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Fawaz is considered the first Nigerian supermodel.[8][7] At a point in her life, she became an ardent Christian and was ordained a Deaconess in her church.[9] She then was addressed as Deaconess Yemi Fawaz.

Achievements

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Fawaz opened the first modeling school and professional modeling agency in Nigeria and in West Africa.[2] She initiated and established a non-governmental organization (NGO) with the name Banner of Love which has the goals of providing medicare as well as eradicate poverty among the underprivileged.[citation needed]

Death

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Fawaz died at the New York Lenox Hill Hospital in United States of America after battling for colon cancer for years. She was 64 years old.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "On Yemi Fawaz: I tell you assuredly, God can change anybody". thenationonlineng.net. 23 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Yemi Fawaz, Nigeria's first supermodel dies at 64". Face2Face Africa. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b Augoye, Jayne (22 February 2019). "Nigeria's First Supermodel Yemi Fawaz Dies At 64". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  4. ^ Yemi Fawaz: Why I Never Married
  5. ^ "Nigeria's first supermodel, Yemi Fawaz, dies at 64". 21 February 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. ^ ""At Age 61 I Can't Marry A Poor Man And I'm Not A Gold Digger" – Yemi Fawaz". Woman.NG. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b "PAINFUL: Inside last Moment of NIGERIA'S FIRST Super Model, YEMI FAWAZ in America..." nigeriastandardnewspaper.com. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Yemi Fawaz Dies Of Health Complications At 64". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  9. ^ "YEMI FAWAZ: AT 61, I WON'T MARRY A POOR MAN". The Sun Nigeria. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2020.