The lovely Nadia Girmata from Elite is a Topshop girl – and she can pretty much speak every language and loves nineties music. She’s one clever lady.
Age: 21
Hometown: Rwanda, but I grew up in France.
I was scouted: Over a year ago in Manchester when I was coming home from college. I was studying languages which is something I would still like to do.
Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, shopping and I make sure I keep practising my languages. I speak English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguse, French and my African language. It’s good in the industry as you meet people from so many different places, so it makes it easier for me. I wanted to be a diplomat and I think I still would like to study international business.
Current obsession: My job.
Favourite childhood memory: When my sister and I first arrived in France. I was 5 1/2 years old. We couldn’t speak any French and we had never seen escalators before so we played on them a lot!
Home is: Wherever I travel to becomes it.
Favourite London hang out: I like going for treats and shopping.
Dream destination: The whole of Africa and the chance to travel to as many places as possible. I’m sure there are so many amazing things to discover.
Favourite food: That’s very hard as I love everything! Italian, African , French… I always make rice and put it with everything.
Dream dinner date: Jesus.
Guilty pleasure: I really like Saussisson which is a pork sausage from France.
Dream job: There are so many things I want to do! I would love to do a big campaign like Armani, YSL or H&M and a cosmetic campaign.
Favourite movie: Charlie & The Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp, I love it!
Favourite cartoon: Tom & Jerry.
First gig: Was a Gospel one, it was so good. It was at Christmas time & they did all the famous gospel songs.
Music I like: Nineties music, I think it’s the best. Music is now all so similar it’s boring.
Favourite song: I have lots. I Wacu is an African band , they’re so cool. They make lots of cheesy music videos.
Couldn’t live without: My computer as I love to Skype with my sisters.
Last thing I bought: Shoes for my brother-in-law.
Career highlight: The Topshop campaign was amazing.
Future plans: Continue modelling and see how that goes.
Myself in three words: Nervous, generous and likes to laugh.
Photographer David Adams
Fashion Editor and words Francesca Prudente
Grooming Lara Himpelmann using DERMALOGICA
Hair Kazuki Fujiwara using L’OREAL
Model Nadia Giramata at ELITE
Nadia Giramata wears jumper by HOUSE OF HOLLAND