Sudan has a thriving local beauty and fashion industry, but due to its conservative culture and Islamic values, the modelling industry has not developed as significantly as in other countries.
However, with social media platforms such as Instagram, Sudanese models in Sudan and across the world have been able to gain visibility, connect with international audiences, and even be signed by agencies. The use of social media has provided a platform for Sudanese talent to showcase their beauty, style and potential, breaking down some of the barriers that previously existed in the traditional modelling industry. This has opened doors for many models to find work regionally and internationally, despite the challenges posed by Sudan’s conservative societal norms.
Here are some male and female Sudanese models you should know about:
Ahmed Mohamed
Ahmed Mohamed is a Sudanese model represented by LimeLight Models in Dubai, the UAE. He has modeled in various countries around the world, including the UAE, Oman, Lebanon, the KSA, and more. He has walked for internationally recognised fashion brands such as Dior, Splash, Magrabi and more, and on critically acclaimed stages such as Dubai Fashion Walk. He has also recently stepped into acting in the film Al Fadhel.
Social media: Instagram @a7medlarry
Ayah Elobaid
Ayah Elobaid is a Sudanese content creator based in Doha, Qatar with more than 72,000 followers on Instagram, more than 62,400 followers on X (Twitter) and more than 50,600 followers on TikTok. She is an engineer and teacher by profession, but also dabbles in modeling in beauty and fashion, especially modest fashion. She has worked with many brands on promotional social media campaigns including Gold Apple, Huda Beauty, Hadia Ghaleb, Tagreed Omer and more. In addition, she is an ambassador for Gold Apple Middle East and an influencer for Snoonu, a Qatar food delivery brand and app.
Social media: Instagram @ayeralobaid; X (Twitter) @ayeralobaid; TikTok @ayeralobaid
Bunna Khalid
Bunna Khalid is a Sudanese actress and model based in Cairo, Egypt with more than 24,500 Instagram followers. She is managed by MAD Solutions, an independent studio with fully integrative marketing and creative consultancy for the entertainment industry in the Pan-Arab region. Although she is known for acting in the 2019 award-winning Sudanese film, ‘You Will Die at 20’, by the award-winning Sudanese film director and screenwriter Amjad Abu Alala. She also models for various fashion, beauty and jewellery brands and has appeared in various platforms, including commercial ads for TV. Born and raised in Khartoum, Khalid studied at Al-Khansaa School, then joined National Ribat University, where she studied Public Relations.
Social media: Instagram @bunna_khalid, Facebook facebook.com/BunnaKhalid
Dana K
Dana K is a Russian-Sudanese model based in Abu Dhabi/Dubai, the UAE. She models for various beauty and fashion brands in the UAE, as well as makeup artists, and beauty and fashion photographers. She is also a foodie and an avid cook, and shares her cooking and baking videos and recipes on Instagram.
Social media: Instagram @danakld
Esra Ahmed
Esra Ahmed is a Sudanese fashion and beauty model and content creator based between Dubai, the UAE and Doha, Qatar with more than 81,000 followers on Instagram. She models for various fashion and beauty brands in the region, such as Huda Beauty, Loreal, NK Jewellery and more, promoting their clothing and other products.
Social media: Instagram @_.eso
Contact: [email protected]
Kandaka Dua
Dua Abdalla, better known as Kandaka Dua, is a Sudanese model and marketer based in Bali, Indonesia. She has modeled for various brands in Indonesia, Poland and more. She also hosts Kandaka Talks, bringing guests from around the world to discuss breaking societal norms as well as other various topics such as entrepreneurship, culture, travel and more.
Social media: Instagram @kandaka_dua, website kandaka-dua.com
Lamiess Awad
Lamiess Awad is a Sudanese fashion model and influencer based in Dubai, the UAE. She is one of the few Sudanese hijabi models, modeling for various beauty and fashion brands in the UAE. She can be found on the Dubai Models Database, an online fashion and entertainment industry directory site. She is also the founder of the modest fashion brand, Lami Collections.
Social media: Instagram @lamiess_awad
Mazin Basheer
Mazin Basheer is a Sudanese model who was born and raised in the KSA, currently based in Manila, Philippines. He models for various fashion brands in the Philippines, from TV to international brands to directing streetwear projects. In addition to modeling, he is a creative who dabbles in product development, graphic design, process optimisation, market research, and marketing strategies.
Social media: Instagram @mazinbasheeer; TikTok @mazinbasheeer, Facebook facebook.com/mazinbasheeer
Nour Yaha
Nour Yahya is a Sudanese fashion and beauty model based in Dubai, the UAE with more than 7,900 followers on Instagram. She models mostly on Instagram for various fashion and beauty brands in the region, promoting their clothing and other products. She has recently adding acting to her resume after being casted as a lead actor in an Arabic film, ‘Scholarship’, from Saudi Arabia.
Social media: Instagram @nwara_yahya
Salam Abdalla
Salam Abdalla Abbas is a model, singer and dancer based in Dubai, the UAE. She has modeled for various fashion and beauty brands in Sudan, Egypt and the UAE. In addition to modeling, she released her song Sinister Mr in 2023 and has danced in various music videos by artists such as Niile, Dj Teddy Jam and more.
Social media: Instagram @badgyalpeaceofficial, X (Twitter) @salamabbas5, Threads @badgyalpeaceofficial
Suzan Salah Idris
Suzan Salah Idris is a Sudanese-Egyptian model who was born in Switzerland, raised Cairo, Egypt and currently based in Toronto, Canada. She has modeled for various fashion brands in Egypt, Canada and other countries. She has recently moved away from social media and modeling and is in healthcare in Ontario, Toronto and a CPA Ontario candidate.
Social media: Instagram @suzansalahidris, Facebook facebook.com/SuzanSalahIdris, X (Twitter) @shudbkushin
Honourable mentions:
• Dodeeto: dubaimodelsdatabase.com
• Obay Jamal: Instagram @obay_jamal)
• Sarah Saad: TikTok @sarah.a.a.saad, Instagram @niggeroia, dubaimodelsdatabase.com
• Visionary Moe: Instagram @visionarymoe
