Joan Okorodudu, a renowned Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, model scout, and former beauty queen, has been recognized with the prestigious US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award, presented on October 7, 2024, celebrates her significant contributions to African culture, fashion, and her humanitarian efforts, particularly her work supporting the Kakuma Refugees camp and empowering young women.
Born in 1958 in Auchi, Nigeria, Okorodudu attended schools in Kogi State and Benin City before earning a scholarship to study political science at Boston University in Massachusetts.
Her early involvement in athletics and political activism set the stage for her later achievements.
She was also politically active in both Nigeria and the United States, where she supported Bill Clinton’s campaign and met President Joe Biden.
Okorodudu’s career in fashion began at an early age, driven by her passion for photography and modeling.
Her big break came in 2007 during a trip to South Africa, where she co-founded Isis Models Africa with Juliet Morgan (now Mrs. Eke).
The agency has since become one of Africa’s leading modeling agencies, showcasing talent on global runways in cities like Paris, Milan, and New York.
In addition to her modeling career, Okorodudu is the founder of Runways to Freedom, an NGO aimed at empowering young African talent, and Nigeria’s Next Super Model, a platform that has helped launch the careers of models in top international fashion events.
Married to retired Air Vice-Marshal Terry Omatsola Okorodudu, the couple has a son, Bidemi Okorodudu.
