In this episode, we talk about Design Essentials  a brand that has gone beyond the beauty aisle to become a part of real stories, real dreams, and real purpose.

From their support for Runways to Freedom, helping with meals, transportation, and even making it possible for one of our models to study at Linton College, to their consistent presence in the beauty industry worldwide  this is a story about what true impact looks like.

We also explore how beauty connects deeply with culture and identity how hair is not just a look, but a language, a history, and a form of expression.

Runways to Freedom remains deeply grateful to Design Essentials for their belief, their partnership, and their continued support across industries and creative bodies.

This isn’t just about products.
 It’s about people, passion, and purpose and why the name Design Essentials keeps resonating across runways, salons, and hearts around the world.

In this game-changing episode of Runways to Freedom, we g deep onto the runway not just for fashion... but for liberation.

This is the untold story of how Africa’s modeling movement is transforming the future. From refugee camps in Kenya to the Paris and Milan runways, we’re talking about real people, real dreams, and real elevation. This is where culture, creativity, and community collide.

Meet Joan Okorodudu, the visionary behind Africa’s Next Supermodel and Isis Models, who turned a local dream in Nigeria into a continental platform for youth empowerment, global fashion partnerships, and economic mobility. She didn’t just build a modeling agency — she built a movement.

Hear the voice of Taka, a young model from Nairobi, who went from the shadows to the spotlight — now walking for top designers in Europe. Her story is just one of hundreds. This is fashion with function, storytelling with strategy.

We break down the influence of fashion powerhouses like Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, and the increasing role of China in African fashion production and partnership.