Angolan Model Maria Borges: ‘I believe in the beauty of diversity’

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Angolan model, Maria Broges was recently announced as the new face of L’Oréal Paris. Borges made headlines back in 2015 for being the first model to ever walk the VS show with an afro and has also modeled for Chanel, Balmain, and Givenchy.

She has been modeling since 2010, when she won the Elite Model Angola search. On top of starring in campaigns for L’Oréal Paint and Hydra Genius, part of her new gig allowed Borges to select one model to make her runway debut at Paris Fashion Week, Olamide Ogundele from Nigeria.

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“This means the world to me,” Borges said in a press release from the brand. “I believe in the beauty of diversity and the empowering message that a girl who started from the bottom can become an international beauty symbol. And be living proof that our dreams are valid and the future ahead of us is bright. Thank you L’Oréal Paris, we’re all worth it.”

The model has also posed for editorials in publications like Italian Vogue, W magazine, Harper’s Bazaar and Numero.

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Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin,” Borges captioned a recent Instagram from the set of a new campaign.

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Consumers will soon see her face in ads for their line of Matte Obsession products as Borges joins other L’Oréal faces Eva Longoria, Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, Doutzen Kroes, and Liya Kebede.

For upcoming models, here is a word for you from Maria Broges “Remember, the difference between the impossible and the possible lies within you”.

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Keep your head high, your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling. Life isn’t easy but it’s a beautiful thing.

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