Isn’t it weird how in 2017 Black people are still becoming “the firsts” in certain industries?
Supermodel Maria Borges just made history by becoming the first African model to grace the cover of ELLE magazine this century!
24-year-old Borges is one of six stars who appear on covers for ELLE‘s May 2017 swimsuit issue. The last time an African model was on the cover of the fashion magazine, was in 1997 when Alek Wek was the publication’s first Black cover girl.
Borges’ star has steady been on the rise with multiple appearances at Fashion Week and wearing her natural hair during last year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
A native of Angola, Borges tweeted about her monumental moment, saying, “Honored to be the First African Woman of the Century to be on the cover of @elleusa. Thank you everyone for your support. #AFRICAxELLEUSA”
Honored to be the First African Woman of the Century to be on the cover of @elleusa. Thank you everyone for your support. #AFRICAxELLEUSA pic.twitter.com/n3z7hHd3vM
— Maria Borges (@IamMariaBorges) April 11, 2017
During her interview, Borges spoke about the need for representation in the fashion industry.
“The fashion industry is here for everyone, [regardless] of color or race. When I was growing up, I never saw someone like me, and now the other girls can see someone like them. It’s all about inspiration.”
Along with becoming the first African model this century to be on the cover of ELLE, Borges was named by CNN as one of the African models breaking barriers. In February, she also became the face of L’Oreal Paris.
We can’t wait to see what else Borges does in the future.
