Zimbabwean named among 21 most beautiful African women in the world

By Anubhuti Mishra

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African women are renowned for their beauty, gracefulness, and envious figures, often a result of a blend of native African genes and the ever-present colonial genes. From legendary beauties like Nefertiti and Cleopatra to modern celebrities like Lupita Nyong’o and Thandie Newton, Africa has had its fair share of beautiful women who have captivated the world.

This is especially true of African women coming from various countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, etc. With their unique features, grace, and poise, the list of qualities that make African women beautiful is endless. What’s more; African women are not afraid to express their beauty through different trends and styles. So, here we take a look at some of the most beautiful African women the world has ever seen.

1. Ada Osakwe

Birthdate: 2 September 1981

Birthplace: Nigeria

Ada Osakwe is an entrepreneur, economist, and business executive. She is also the founder of a Nigerian-based agribusiness investment company, Agrolay Ventures, which sponsors African agricultural food-related enterprises. Moreover, she has acted as the Senior Investment Adviser to Akinwumi Adesina, who is the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria. From holding a double Master’s degree to winning the Business Woman Award by Forbes Magazine in 2021, Ada has proved that nothing is more beautiful than sheer dedication, thereby attaining a position on this list of the most beautiful African women!

2. Adaora Akubilo

Birthdate: 1987

Birthplace: Windsor, CT

Adaora Akubilo is a Nigerian-American model, who shifted to her father’s hometown in Nigeria when she was 6 years old. She got her first modeling break when she returned to Connecticut in 2003. Then, in 2007, she became one of the twelve finalists in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search. With her captivating slim silhouette, 5’11” height, and charming smile, Adaora has won hearts worldwide, making her land on this list of the most beautiful African women.

3. Arwa Gouda

Birthdate: 27 September 1979

Birthplace: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Arwa Gouda is an Egyptian model and actress, who started her modeling career at the age of thirteen. In 2004, she went on to win the title of Best Model of the World. Arwa then moved into the entertainment industry, where she was highly lauded for her acting and chosen roles. Moreover, her fans also compared her facial features and beauty to Nefertiti, queen of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, gaining her a spot on this list of the most beautiful African women.

4. Cristy Spencer

Birthdate: 1989

Birthplace: Praia, Cape Verde

After completing her studies in Marketing and Publicity, Cristy ventured into modeling and beauty pageants. In 2013, she won the title of Miss Cape Verde and was crowned Miss World Cape Verde in 2015. Moreover, she was also elected as Miss ECOWAS in 2013, winning a cash prize of $6,000 US dollars. Her bouncy curls and sharp facial features make her one of the most prominent entries on this list of the most beautiful African women.

5. Dillish Mathews

Birthdate: 16 September 1990

Birthplace: Windhoek, Namibia

6. Genevieve Nnaji

Birthdate: 3 May 1979

Birthplace: Mbaise, Imo, Nigeria

7. Isabel Dos Santos

Birthdate: 20 April 1973

Birthplace: Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union

8. Joelle Kayembe

Birthdate: 31 May 1983

Birthplace: Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

9. Kandyse McClure

Birthdate: 22 March 1980

Birthplace: Durban, South Africa

10. Leila Lopes

Birthdate: 26 February 1986

Birthplace: Benguela, Angola

11. Lorraine Van Wyk

Birthdate: 24 Sep 1981

Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa

12. Lupita Nyong’o

Birthdate: 1 March 1983

Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico

13. Miriam Chemmoss

Birthdate: 14 April

Birthplace: East-Africa

14. Nadia Buari

Birthdate: 21 November 1982

Birthplace: Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

15. Nâdiya Zighem

Birthdate: 19 June 1973

Birthplace: Tours, France

16. Nonhle Thema

Birthdate: 15 October 1981

Birthplace: South Africa

17. Nyasha Matonhodze

Birthdate: 31 July 1994

Birthplace: Zimbabwe

Nyasha Matonhodze is a Zimbabwean/British fashion model. She started her modeling career at a very young age and went on to win the Elite Model Look UK contest in 2009. Moreover, in her debut year, she signed up and walked for well-known brands, including Balenciaga, LOEWE, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Emmanuel Ungaro, and Michael Kors. In just a short span of her modeling career, Nyasha also ranked on the list of “Top 50 Models” by models.com. With her lean silhouette, tall height, pronounced facial features, and boldness, she is undoubtedly among the most beautiful African women in the world.

18. Rapelang Rabana

Birthdate: 1982

Birthplace: Gaborone, Botswana

Rapelang Rabana is an entrepreneur, a computer scientist, a keynote speaker, and the Founder and Chair of Rekindle Learning. Some of her commendable milestones and achievements include featuring on the cover of Forbes Africa magazine, the World Entrepreneurship Forum naming her Entrepreneur for the World, being selected as a FastCompany Maverick, being listed on Forbes’s 30 under 30 list for best entrepreneurs of Africa, and being selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

19. Salma Rachid

Birthdate: 13 June 1994

Birthplace: Casablanca, Morocco

Salma Rachid is a Moroccan pop singer who primarily covers Raï, Arab Tarab, Moroccan music, Arab pop, Moroccan pop, Arabic music, Khaleeji, and Middle Eastern music genres. She rose to fame as a contestant in the second season of Arab Idol, wherein she was the youngest one and bagged the 5th position. Her charisma, talent, voice, passionate vibe, bubbly face, and slim yet curvy figure altogether make her stand tall on this list of the most beautiful African women.

20. Thandie Newton

Birthdate: 6 November 1972

Birthplace: Westminster, London, England

Melanie Thandiwe Newton is a British actress, who has a mixed heritage of a Zimbabwean mother and an English father. She made her acting debut in 1991 with a coming-of-age comedy-drama movie, Flirting. Since then, Thandie has worked in well-known films, including Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Pursuit of Happyness, Crash, 2012, Line of Duty, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Moreover, her major awards, nominations, and achievements include a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, two Critics’ Choice Awards, two Golden Globe Awards nominations, a Saturn Award nomination, a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress nomination. Besides, in 2019, Thandie was also elected as the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to entertainment and charity. Her gorgeous smile, hazel brown eyes, and slim silhouette make her one of the most beautiful African women.

21. Zozibini Tunzi

Birthdate: 18 September 1993

Birthplace: Tsolo, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Zozibini Tunzi is a South African model, a beauty pageant titleholder, and an actress. She made her modeling debut in 2017 and made it to the top 26 semi-finalists of Miss South Africa 2017. Zozi, then, won Miss South Africa 2019 and Miss Universe 2019, becoming the third woman from South Africa to win the title and the first black woman since Angolan Leila Lopes won Miss Universe in 2011. Interestingly, she was the first ever Miss Universe to walk the ramp with afro-textured hair and win the title. Additionally, she became the longest-reigning Miss Universe titleholder due to the outbreak of Corona, which ended on 16 May 2021. Zozi also made her acting debut in 2022 with the movie The Woman King. Needless to say, this beauty title holder had to be on this list of the most beautiful African women!

Conclusion

African women are known for their beauty, composure, and elegance. They are considered some of the most exquisite women in the world and are renowned for their intricate hairstyles, curves, and unique fashion sense. In addition to their beauty, they are also seen as strong, intelligent, and resilient. Over the centuries, beautiful women from Africa have been portrayed as exotic and romanticized in art, literature, and media. It was only fair to dedicate this article to exploring and celebrating the beauty, charm, and poise of some of the most beautiful African women in the world – be it Leila Lopes or Adaora Akubilo.