NAF Model Casting took place last night with a good turnout of talented models
BY WIIIWALK
May 12, 2025
The long-awaited NAF MODEL CASTING finally took place last night, with a large number of models showing up on time and in impressive numbers. This event highlighted how far fashion in Rwanda has come, firmly establishing its roots in the hearts of many across the country. There was an abundance of talent on display, which is why the casting was organized in several different stages.
Both male and female models participated equally, with no significant disparity between the two categories. Although the official statement released by NAF MODEL EMPIRE on April 24 indicated that only models not under any other agency management were eligible to attend, that didn’t stop many professional models from turning up — many of whom made strong impressions as they walked the red carpet.
As previously announced, the judges’ panel featured top designer Mr. Lii, renowned model Jean Tekno—whose successful career continues to inspire countless aspiring models—and Feza Model, adding further prestige and expertise to the panel. We covered both of these judges in detail in our previous article when the casting was announced. They had a tough job at the casting event, especially given the large turnout. In the first round, 50 models participated; from that group, 31 were eliminated, leaving 19 who were called back for a second round. Out of those 19, NAF MODEL EMPIRE aimed to select 15 models.
However, according to NAF MODEL EMPIRE’s leadership, this casting was not the official launch of the agency. A separate date has been scheduled for the official launch, where the full team of selected models will be formally introduced. For now, the next focus is on nurturing the talent selected during this casting.
Before the casting officially began, all participating models took part in a warm-up session led by one of the judges, Jean Tekno. As seasoned professionals in the fashion industry, the judges also took time to speak to the models, offering advice on how to advance in their modeling careers.
They emphasized, “Not being selected here shouldn’t make you feel like you’re not talented or give up. It only means that you didn’t meet the specific criteria NAF MODEL EMPIRE was looking for at this time. You could easily walk into another casting and be selected.”
Although the exact date of the official launch has not yet been announced, NAF MODEL EMPIRE made it clear that, while only 15 models were being chosen from this casting, the agency will not be limited to just those 15. This means the door remains open for other aspiring models to join. Interested individuals can connect with NAF MODEL EMPIRE through their social media platforms and potentially collaborate in the future.We hope they make this next step soon — and when they do, we’ll be the first to report on it.
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