Aamito Lagum

Aamito Lagum
Lagum in 2016
Born
Aamito Stacie Lagum

(1992-12-03) 3 December 1992 (age 32)
Kampala, Uganda
Occupation
  • Model
Years active2013–present
Modelling information
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourBrown
AgencyHeroes Model Management (New York)
Women Management (Milan)

Aamito Stacie Lagum (born 3 December 1992)[1] is a Ugandan actress and fashion model, best known for being the winner of the first cycle of Africa's Next Top Model.[2]

Early life

Lagum was raised by a single mother, Sidonia Ayaa, in Kampala. After losing her job, her mother relocated to Kitgum to move in with her grandparents. Later Lagum moved back to Kampala to continue her schooling at St. Jude Primary School, Katikamu Seventh Day Adventist Senior Secondary School and St. Lawrence High School.[1][3]

At the age of sixteen, Lagum began to pursue modelling as a career. Her first job was in Ugandan Fashion Week, where she walked for Gloria Wavamunno’s GW Collection. In 2012, Lagum met designer Adele Dejak, who took her to Kenya for a photo shoot.[1][4]

Africa's Next Top Model

In 2013, Lagum took part in a casting call for Africa's Next Top Model taking a 16-hour bus ride from Kampala to Nairobi. She was later called by host Oluchi Onweagba and was chosen to fly to Cape Town as one of the twelve finalists for the show.[5][6]

Lagum quickly gained notice from the judges and guests of the show, winning several best photos along with the opportunity to appear in an editorial spread for South African Elle for having received best picture in week 9.[7] Lagum made it to the finale on the tenth week of the competition, having made no appearances in the bottom two. After a casting session with DNA Models, she was crowned as the winner of the show.

As part of her prizes Lagum received a 1-year modelling contract with DNA Model Management, product endorsement deals with P&G, Etisalat, Snapp and Verve International, a 1-year contract as an ambassador for South African Tourism and a cash prize of $50,000 USD.[8][9]

Post-show career

After winning Africa's Next Top Model, Lagum signed with Boss Model Management in South Africa and was featured in an editorial for Marie Claire South Africa in August 2014. She later signed with DNA Model Management and moved to New York City.[10] Lagum debuted in the F/W 2015 season, walking for the likes of Lacoste, Marc by Marc Jacobs, J. Mendel, Rag & Bone, Giles, Jonathan Saunders, Paul Smith, and Bottega Veneta. She then went on to open Balenciaga in Paris, making her the first model of colour to open the show under Alexander Wang. Subsequently, she modeled for Lanvin, Dries van Noten, H&M, Giambattista Valli and Hermès.[11][12]

At the end of the season, she was listed as one of the Top Newcomers by both models.com and style.com.[13][14] Since then, she has appeared in various magazines, including i-D, Interview, Love, W, V, American Harper's Bazaar, Italian and South African Elle, L'Officiel, Italian, Ukrainian, British, German, Mexican, and Spanish Vogue, Teen Vogue, and Italian Vanity Fair. In April 2017, she was featured on the cover of American Allure magazine. She was featured on the cover of British Elle in August later that year. Lagum has also appeared in Lookbooks for Hugo Boss, Area, Narciso Rodriguez, Kenzo, Acne Studios, Guerlain, Nordstrom, Barneys New York, Sonia Rykiel, Saks Fifth Avenue,[10][15][16] as well as advertorials for Kenzo[17][18] and advertising campaigns for Marc Jacobs, shot by David Sims.[19][20][21]

In October 2015, Lagum was ranked by Cosmopolitan as one of the most successful contestants of the Top Model franchise.[22]

Lagum played the role of Queen of Sheba in the fantasy romantic drama film Three Thousand Years of Longing directed by George Miller which had its theatrical release in 2022.[23]

Filmography

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Odeke, Steven (22 January 2014). "Stacy Aamito: From bushes to riches". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Uganda's Aamito Wins Africa's Next Top Model". Ugandaonline.net. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  3. ^ Odeke, Steven (22 January 2014). "I want everything I touch to turn into gold". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  4. ^ Ninsiima, Racheal (26 April 2012). "Uganda: Up Close With Africa's Next Top Model Winner Aamito Lagum". The Observer Uganda. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Africa's Next Top Model With Oluchi Debuts. Meet The Finalists!". TW Magazine Africa. Archived from the original on 24 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  6. ^ Obiuwevbi, Jennifer (5 March 2015). ""I Felt Like a Black Swan" – Aamito Stacie Lagum talks Beauty Stereotypes in Uganda, her Mum's Disapproval & More". Bella Naija. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Editorials. Aamito Stacie Lagum. Elle South Africa. by Lee Moami". Superselected - Black Fashion Magazine Black Models Black Contemporary Artists Art Black Musicians -. Superselected. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  8. ^ Baranga, Samson (20 January 2014). "Aamito returns in style". The Observer Uganda. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Stacie Aamito Lagum at Entebbe Airport". ugandaonline.net. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Aamito Stacie Lagum - Editorials". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Aamito Lagum - Work by Year, shows". models.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Aamito Stacie Lagum - Shows". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  13. ^ "TOP NEWCOMERS F/W 2015". Models.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  14. ^ "The Top 10 New Models of the Season". Style.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Aamito Lagum - Work by Year, editorial". models.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  16. ^ "The Shining: Vogue UK September 2015". WE ARE SO DROEE. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Kenzo Transparence". models.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  18. ^ "ANTM's Aamito Stacie Lagum Poses for Kenzo in New Campaign Images". Bella Naija. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Aamito Stacie Lagum, 5 more models join the raved campaign. Marc Jacobs unveils six new models for Fall/Winter 2015 campaign". Pulse.ng. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Marc Jacobs : 7 nouveaux mannequins pour sa campagne automne-hiver 2015". Elle.fr. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Marc Jacobs F/W 15". models.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  22. ^ Rees, Alex (20 October 2015). "12 times "Top Model" actually found, you know, a top model". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  23. ^ Chhibber, Mini Anthikad (2022-08-27). "'Three Thousand Years of Longing' movie review: Djinn and tonic". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-09-14.