SUPRA MODEL RWANDA, a new fashion concept, has come of age, with various players being recognized for their contribution to the development of the fashion industry. The fashion industry has gone through an incredible rise over the past few years but the story would have been different if not for the role of various players in the industry. From the media personalities that have been doing their best to promote fashion, to designers who have been creating new fashion trends that can compete on the international scene despite belonging to a struggling but growing industry, Supra Model came to the scene to give them the credit they deserve. Among other players recognized include fashion journalists, designers, photographers, Best Fashion Entrepreneur, Best Makeup Artist, models agencies and the models who made the difference as per the public opinion and an identified jury. All these were recognized last weekend in a colorful fashion night held at Century Park as the inaugural edition of the fashion awards came to an end leaving Inkanda House awarded the best designer while the best modeling agency went to Rwanda Modeling Academy. The best photographer award went to Serge ‘Marlon’ Muhizi while IGIHE’s Diane Mukahirwa won the best fashion journalist prize. Renowned Paris-based top model Anipha Umufite won the prize for the best model at the international stage while Umurungi Nadia was voted the best makeup artist. The top model has her photos in the Kanye West’s collection published in the upcoming edition of London-based popular fashion and culture magazine Re-edition Magazine, with British top model Naomi Campbell being at the cover of the magazine. Modeling pioneer Franco Kabano was recognized with the SupraModel Achievement Award thanks to his contribution to giving a platform to Rwandan models. So many models have a lot to thank Kabano with a bug number of them now hitting the runway at world’s big fashion events. There was also a modeling contest which ended in favor of Cynthia Semana as she beat stiff competition from first runner-up Annualite Teresa Rudasingwa while Ruth Mutesi was awarded the Face of Africa prize. The Face of Africa prize is handed to the youngest model with promising talent. According to Alphonse Nsengiyumva, the brains behind Supra Model, there is a bright future for the local fashion industry if more platforms are brought on board to support and motivate the industry. Nsengiyumva believes Supra Model will play an instrumental impact in indirectly promoting the fashion industry. “If we recognize those who promote the fashion industry as well as anyone who does their best to fight for this industry, then there is hope that they will be motivated much more to serve it,” he told The New Times. He revealed that Supra Model is there to stay as he is already receiving requests from international stakeholders to join it, a development that came at the time the organizer was considering the first edition as ‘just a test’. “We are already being requested to make it an international concept in order to open doors for more players in the international scene to be part of our concept. We are looking at it and we will communicate to you in due course,” he said.
