When Matthieu Blazy made his long-awaited debut as creative director of CHANEL this season, the fashion world held its breath. What arrived was an otherworldly (literally), shape-shifting dream that not only met our expectations, but far exceeded them.
But perhaps no moment was more memorable than the closing look: Awar Odhiang, radiant and unmissable, who twirled down the runway in a skirt cascading in colourful feathers. While, most of the time, models are tasked with keeping a straight face on the runway, for the closing slot, Odhiang broke tradition – smiling, clapping, and perfectly encapsulating the fresh energy Blazy is injecting into the house of CHANEL. As a result, she went from a well-kept industry secret, to burgeoning on supermodel status overnight. If, like us, Odhiang is living rent free in your head, then we've answered everything there is to know about the model-of-the-moment, below.
From a small town, to global runways
Odhiang was born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents, though they immigrated to Canada where she was raised. She grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, telling the Calgary Herald that she didn't see modelling as an obvious path. “Growing up in Moose Jaw, there weren’t very many Black families there or Black people in general. I really felt like an outcast. I didn’t really see myself as beautiful," Odhiang recalled.
Luckily, Odhiang's potential was spotted by the owner Model Models', when she was working at Old Navy. The rest, as they say, is history.
She's already a force to be reckoned with in the industry
Odhiang emerged onto the fashion scene during a pivotal shift in the industry — a time when conversations around representation and inclusion were finally taking root in casting rooms. Around 2020, her career began to gather international momentum, and she’s since appeared on runways for the likes of Bottega Veneta, Schiaparelli, and Victoria's Secret, and in campaigns for designers like Saint Laurent and Alaïa.
She currently sits on Models.com’s Top 50 list and was nominated for their 2024 Model of the Year — recognition that mirrors her growing cultural imprint.
A new CHANEL era
Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection at CHANEL was a cosmic reinterpretation of House codes, through a lens of joyful modernity. And arguably no model delicered this message better than Odhiang, who shimmered down the space-themed runway in a feathered gown. Not only did she close the show – a prestigious honour for any show, let alone one this highly-anticipated – but she spun, clapped, and smiled as she did it.
In a recent interview, the model revealed that the moment was entirely spontaneous. “I was speaking with Matthieu before the show, and I’ve always just been so excited and happy for him, he is an incredible person in and outside of fashion,” she told Vogue. “He had told me, ‘This is your moment, this is a chance for you to just enjoy it, do what you do, and do you. And so that’s exactly what I did.”
