In 1998, Jan Malan of Umzingeli Productions, was travelling the continent scouting thousands of teenage girls in his search for that year's Face of Africa. It was in Lagos that he discovered a striking, statuesque 17-year old whose name, Oluchi, meant 'Work of God' in Ibo. Oluchi's unique look and perfect proportions would not only win her that year's title, but also go on to forge the most dazzling and successful modelling career in the contest's history.   Within a year, Oluchi achieved what few African models ever do. She moved to New York, where world-renowned photographer, Steven Meisel, captured her image for the covers of Elle and Vogue, "...culminating in an exciting new collaboration with Umzingeli and The Shine Group, and the launch of Africa's most exciting, new modeling agency, OmodelAfrica." and before long, the young, slender, Nigerian beauty was gracing the international catwalks for the likes of John Galliano, Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani. Lucrative contracts for L'Oreal, Victoria's Secret, GAP, H&M, Lancome and Clinique soon followed.   Throughout this intense rise to supermodeldom, Oluchi studied business, with her eyes set on creating similar possibilities for teenage girls throughout the Mother Continent, culminating in an exciting new collaboration with Umzingeli and The Shine Group, and the launch of Africa's most exciting, new'modeling agency, OmodelAfrica.   The synergy was perfect. As Africa's hottest and most progressive production agency, Umzingeli has persistently driven a creative vision to stake Africa's claim in the global fashion arena, producing key shows in twelve countries worldwide, including the finals of the Ford Supermodel of the World in the Dominican Republic and Anglo Gold's African Showcase at New York Fashion Week.   Jan Malan was also recently appointed Official Producer for the UN Catwalk for Food Project, as well as Creative Director for Positive, Africa's largest and most spectacular Aids fundraiser. M-Net's Face of Africa, now in its eleventh year, remains the continent's premier model search. While producing shows for all South Africa's fashion weeks, Malan also conceptualised ground- breaking projects such as the Nederburg Rare Fashion Finds Contest and Cape Town's Design Indaba Expo.   As the entrepreneurs behind The Shine Group, Paul Diamond and Megan Kruger have launched an impressive portfolio of boutique style fashion businesses including ownership or controlling shares in Heads Models, G3 Models, Shine Models, Shine Photographers, Shine Creative (make-up, hair and styling), Shine People (characters), Shine Academy (the school), Shine Glam (make-overs), and their "With the launch of OmodelAfrica, the complementary creative forces of these three, prestigious African fashion brands are ideally aligned to revolutionise the continent's modelling industry." newest venture, Shine Studio’s in Johannesburg - 4 000 sqm of fully equipped, state of the art, sound-proofed television and photographic studios with offices, editing suites and large scale catering facilities, and Shine Studio's in Cape Town - 350 sqm of fully equipped photographic studio and office space with infinity curve, make up, hair and styling facilities. The Shine Group plays a key developmental role in the South African and Pan African fashion industries.   With the launch of OmodelAfrica, the complementary creative forces of these three, prestigious African fashion brands are ideally aligned to revolutionise the continent's modelling industry. The proudly Pan-African agency focuses on discovering, developing and delivering a select portfolio of African models to our South African and international clients for catwalk shows, TV commercials, editorials, advertising, feature films and below the line work. Our bookers strive to rocket our models into the limelight through key media exposure in interviews, TV appearances and special appearances at events throughout Africa, and through constant contact with clients around the continent.