African architect's career break leads to unexpected modeling fame in Korea

Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia moved from architecture into full-time modeling after a career break brought her to Seoul. She said street encounters in Korea, where people repeatedly asked if she was a model, prompted her to reconsider modeling. She has since worked on campaigns including Hyundai Genesis and become a brand ambassador for Korean beauty brand HERA. Leïla also described challenges for African models in Korea, including limited hair and makeup support and concerns about agency commissions.

Leïla trained in interior design and 3D visualization in the U.K., Italy and Spain before working as a 3D visualization artist in China in 2019.

After moving to Abidjan, she worked for three years at an architectural studio before taking a break to rest and reset.

A two-day Hyundai Genesis campaign shoot took place on Jeju Island.

In 2025, Leïla was the main face of the Seoul Africa Festival, with her image appearing in social media materials promoting the event.

She advises aspiring models to research agencies, ask signed models about their experiences, and understand commissions, usage fees and representation terms.

Published Oct 23, 2026 4:20 am KST

Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia, a model from Cote d’Ivoire / Courtesy of Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia

For Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia, modeling was the last thing on her mind when she came to Korea, because she was certain about her aspirations of working as an architect. Her professional training in interior design and 3D visualization in the U.K., Italy and Spain cemented her commitment to the field, until a career break in Korea made her rethink her path and eventually become a full-time model.

Born in Cote d’Ivoire to an Ivorian father and Malian mother, Leïla spent her early childhood traveling between countries due to the nature of her parents’ work. Her childhood was filled with memories of the bright streets of Manchester, the antique avenues of Spain and the bustling roads of Italy. From time to time, she would find herself enjoying the flavorful food in Nigeria and exploring the historical and colorful streets of Togo and Senegal. This lifestyle led her to consider herself “un enfant du monde” — a French expression meaning “child of the world.”

After completing her internship in Marbella and Valencia, she took a big leap and moved to China to work as a 3D visualization artist in 2019. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, she once again had to pack her bags and move to Ghana, where her parents were based at the time.

Her next move, to Abidjan in Ivory Coast, came at the right time, just as the world was recovering from the pandemic and she landed a job in the city. The role involved working in a busy architectural studio for three years; due to the nature of the job, she felt fatigued and decided to take a break to recharge and then resume work, but that was never to be.

Reflecting on this pivotal decision, she is quick to point out that she was not ready for the way things eventually turned out.

“The original plan was straightforward: take a year off, rest, reset and eventually return to architecture and design. Instead, that break became the beginning of an entirely different career,” she said.

When she first landed in Seoul, people would randomly stop her in the street and ask if she was a model, which she quickly denied. She recalls being scouted several times growing up, including by a major agency during her time in the U.K. But coming from an African household, modeling was never something she would have considered presenting to her parents as a professional ambition.

“Everywhere I went, people would ask me, ‘Are you a model?’ and every time I answered, ‘No,’ they would look genuinely shocked,” she said. “The question came up so often that eventually I began to reconsider.”

After a while, she decided to sign with a modeling agency and try her hand at modeling. She would, however, later realize that modeling was not as easy as she expected. She said the illusion created by appearing in campaigns, fashion shoots, beauty brands and travel can sometimes be deceiving.

She points out that surviving in the industry requires patience and resilience because of the numerous rejections one receives, especially when starting out.

“Models have to become comfortable with rejection and learn not to interpret every ‘no’ as a judgment of their worth," she said. "You have to be resilient and learn how to hear a thousand no’s without taking it personally.”

Working in the industry in Korea also exposed her to the challenges that come with being a model from Africa. She recalls occasions when she felt overlooked for certain jobs compared with other models from Europe.

However, the challenges of being a model are not limited to casting, especially for models from Africa. Beyond that, dark-skinned models face difficulties with hair and makeup, especially because most beauty brands do not have what they need. In the case of hair, not many hairstylists are experienced with dealing with her hair texture because it requires special treatment.

‘We don’t do this hair’: The growing demand for Afro-textured hair care and salons in Korea

She recalls a situation in one of her earlier shoots, where no foundation matched her skin, an incident that made her feel left out and unprepared for the shoot. Her hair and makeup were not done the way she expected; despite this challenge, she was able to remain professional and complete the shoot.

For Leïla, confidence has become one of the most important tools in her professional kit.

“I’m a very mentally strong and positive person," she said. "I have never allowed that to derail me from being a go-getter here. At the end of the day, the most alluring thing you can wear is confidence. Do not let any unfortunate circumstances break you.”

Ever since that ordeal, she decided to carry her own makeup kit to shoots and always be ready to do her hair.

The other common problem that she soon came to realize is dealing with agencies. Like many models starting out in Korea, she found herself facing the chilling reality that not all agencies care about the welfare of models.

“While agencies can provide valuable access to clients and opportunities, some agencies are more focused on collecting commissions than on developing and supporting their models,” she said.

She pointed to how some agencies would tell their models that limitations on their fees are imposed by the client, when in reality, they come from the agencies themselves, in a bid to make more money from the jobs than the models do.

For aspiring models, Lei'la emphasized the need for contract transparency and thorough research before signing contracts.

“Reach out to models who are already signed with that agency and ask about their experiences. Ask how commissions are calculated, and understand whether the agency is consistently finding work for its models," she said. "And, above all, you should understand your commissions, usage fees and the terms under which you are being represented.”

Given the nature of payments in the modeling industry, she advised that financial planning is an important way of safeguarding oneself from financial uncertainty, especially on days when they are unable to book shoots.

“Be patient with yourself; the early stages can be slow, and income may not always be consistent," she said. "For someone entering the industry, it is particularly important to be careful with spending and to learn how to manage money before the work becomes steady.”

Settling into Korea's modeling industry

Even though she is slowly settling in and building her name in the local modeling scene, Leïla has already had opportunities to work with big brands, which have opened more doors for her.

One of her favorite projects was a campaign for Hyundai Genesis. A two-day shoot on Jeju Island saw her work alongside an amazing team and crew.

Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia models for a Hyundai Genesis campaign. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

Most recently, she became a brand ambassador for Korean beauty brand HERA, working across makeup, skin care and other beauty products. This new role allows her to sample and promote the brand’s range of cosmetic products specifically designed for dark-skinned users from Africa and other parts of the world.

In 2025, Leïla became the main face of the annual Seoul Africa Festival ; her image, alongside other models, appeared in social media materials promoting the event.

“It was such an honor to be the face of the Seoul Africa Festival because I was able to represent my continent while celebrating the beautiful connection and growing relationship between Africa and Korea,” she said.

The festival brought together African and Korean communities, cultures and creative industries, allowing Leïla to take part in something that reflected another part of her identity.

“Seeing the union of the two cultures and being involved in all the work that went into making the event happen was incredibly meaningful to me,” she said.

Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia, right, appears in a poster for Seoul Africa Festival. Courtesy of Africa Insight

For Leïla, modeling is ultimately about more than being in front of a camera; it is also about the people you meet. She encourages new models to build genuine professional relationships with directors, producers, photographers, makeup artists, stylists, other models and everyone else involved in productions.

“Stay professional, stay polite and keep a good spirit, even when things do not go your way. In a highly relationship-driven industry, a positive impression can be just as valuable as a strong portfolio,” she said.

Architecture and design may have been her original professional path, but modeling has given her a new platform from which to explore identity, creativity and the growing relationship between Africa and Korea.

Drawing on her background in architecture, she may be able to shape a path for many aspiring models, not only from her own country but across Africa, who are looking to start and rebuild their lives afresh in Korea.

Nashon Owano is a freelance journalist and content creator based in Korea. He is passionate about sports, culture and human interest stories. Follow @owanohnashon on X and Instagram .

塔诺·阿库巴·莱拉·奥利维亚 (Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia) 在职业生涯中断后来到首尔，从建筑师转型成为全职模特。她说，在韩国街头，人们不断询问她是否是模特，这促使她重新考虑从事模特行业。此后，她参与了包括现代捷恩斯 (Hyundai Genesis) 在内的多个广告活动，并成为韩国美妆品牌赫拉 (HERA) 的品牌大使。莱拉还谈到了非洲模特在韩国面临的挑战，包括缺乏专业的发型和化妆支持，以及对经纪公司佣金的担忧。

Leïla 曾在英国、意大利和西班牙接受室内设计和 3D 可视化方面的培训，之后于 2019 年在中国担任 3D 可视化艺术家。

搬到阿比让后，她在一家建筑事务所工作了三年，然后休息调整了一段时间。

现代Genesis汽车在济州岛进行了为期两天的广告拍摄。

2025年，Leïla成为首尔非洲节的主要形象代言人，她的形象出现在宣传该活动的社交媒体材料中。

她建议有志成为模特的女孩们研究模特经纪公司，向签约模特询问她们的经验，并了解佣金、使用费和经纪条款。

发布于2026年10月23日凌晨4:20（韩国标准时间）

Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia，来自科特迪瓦的模特 / 由 Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia 提供

对于塔诺·阿库巴·莱拉·奥利维亚来说，刚到韩国时，模特是她最不曾想过的事情，因为她当时一心想成为一名建筑师。她曾在英国、意大利和西班牙接受过室内设计和3D可视化方面的专业培训，这更加坚定了她对这个领域的决心。然而，在韩国的一次职业中断让她重新思考了自己的人生方向，最终成为了一名全职模特。

莱拉出生于科特迪瓦，父亲是科特迪瓦人，母亲是马里人。由于父母工作性质，她的童年时光在各国间辗转。曼彻斯特灯火辉煌的街道、西班牙古老的林荫大道和意大利熙熙攘攘的大街小巷，都深深地印在了她的记忆中。她也时常会去尼日利亚品尝美味佳肴，探索多哥和塞内加尔充满历史韵味和缤纷色彩的街巷。这样的生活方式让她自诩为“世界之子”（un enfant du monde）。

在马贝拉和瓦伦西亚完成实习后，她于 2019 年大胆地前往中国，担任 3D 可视化艺术家。新冠疫情爆发后，她不得不再次收拾行囊，前往加纳，当时她的父母在那里生活。

她接下来的行程，前往科特迪瓦的阿比让，时机恰到好处。当时世界正从疫情中逐渐恢复，她也在那里找到了一份工作。这份工作是在一家繁忙的建筑事务所工作三年；由于工作性质，她感到疲惫不堪，于是决定休息一段时间，恢复精力后再重返工作岗位，但这最终未能实现。

回想起这个关键的决定，她很快指出，她并没有预料到事情最终会发展成这样。

“最初的计划很简单：休息一年，调整状态，最终重返建筑设计领域。然而，这段休息时间却开启了我截然不同的职业生涯，”她说道。

她刚到首尔时，经常有人在街上拦住她问是不是模特，她总是连忙否认。她回忆说，小时候曾多次被星探发掘，包括在英国时被一家大型经纪公司相中。但由于她来自非洲家庭，所以从未想过要以模特为职业目标告诉父母。

“无论我走到哪里，人们都会问我，‘你是模特吗？’每次我回答‘不是’，他们都会露出非常惊讶的表情，”她说。“这个问题被问得太多，最终我开始重新考虑。”

过了一段时间，她决定签约一家模特经纪公司，尝试做模特。然而，她后来意识到，模特行业并不像她想象的那么容易。她说，出现在广告宣传、时装拍摄、美妆品牌代言和旅行中营造出的假象有时会具有欺骗性。

她指出，在这个行业生存需要耐心和韧性，因为会受到无数次的拒绝，尤其是在刚入行的时候。

“模特必须学会坦然面对拒绝，不要把每一次‘不’都解读为对自身价值的否定，”她说。“你必须要有韧性，学会接受一千次‘不’而不放在心上。”

在韩国的模特行业工作也让她体会到了作为一名非洲模特所面临的挑战。她回忆说，有时与来自欧洲的其他模特相比，她会感到自己在某些工作机会上被忽视。

然而，成为模特的挑战不仅限于选角，尤其对于来自非洲的模特而言更是如此。除此之外，肤色较深的模特在发型和化妆方面也面临诸多困难，特别是因为大多数美妆品牌无法提供她们所需的产品。就发型而言，由于她们的发质需要特殊护理，因此很少有发型师具备处理此类发质的经验。

“我们不做这种发型”：韩国对非洲裔发质护理和美发沙龙的需求日益增长

她回忆起早前的一次拍摄经历，当时没有找到适合她肤色的粉底，这让她感到被冷落，也让她对拍摄准备不足。她的发型和妆容也与预期不符；尽管面临这些挑战，她依然保持专业精神，顺利完成了拍摄。

对莱拉来说，自信已成为她职业生涯中最重要的工具之一。

“我是一个心理素质很强、心态积极的人，”她说。“我从未让这些阻碍我在这里积极进取。说到底，最迷人的装扮莫过于自信。不要让任何不幸的境遇击垮你。”

自从那次磨难之后，她决定每次拍摄都自带化妆包，并且随时准备好做头发。

她很快意识到的另一个常见问题是与经纪公司打交道。和许多在韩国刚入行的模特一样，她发现自己不得不面对一个残酷的现实：并非所有经纪公司都关心模特的福祉。

“虽然经纪公司可以提供接触客户和获得机会的宝贵途径，但有些经纪公司更注重收取佣金，而不是发展和支持他们的模特，”她说。

她指出，有些经纪公司会告诉模特，对模特酬劳的限制是客户设定的，而实际上，这些限制是经纪公司自己设定的，目的是为了从工作中赚取比模特更多的钱。

对于有志成为模特的女孩们，Lei'la 强调了合同透明度和签署合同前进行彻底调查的重要性。

“联系那些已经签约该经纪公司的模特，询问她们的经历。问问佣金是如何计算的，了解这家经纪公司是否能持续为旗下模特安排工作，”她说道。“最重要的是，你应该了解你的佣金、使用费以及你签约的条款。”

鉴于模特行业的报酬性质，她建议，财务规划是保护自己免受财务不确定性影响的重要方法，尤其是在无法安排拍摄的日子里。

“要对自己有耐心；初期阶段可能会比较缓慢，收入也可能不稳定，”她说。“对于刚入行的人来说，在工作稳定之前，谨慎消费并学会理财尤为重要。”

融入韩国模特行业

尽管莱拉正在慢慢适应并逐渐在当地模特界建立起自己的名声，但她已经有机会与一些大品牌合作，这为她打开了更多的大门。

她最喜欢的项目之一是为现代Genesis汽车拍摄广告。在济州岛为期两天的拍摄中，她与一支优秀的团队和工作人员并肩工作。

塔诺埃·阿库巴和莱拉·奥利维亚为现代捷恩斯汽车拍摄广告大片。图片由现代汽车集团提供。

最近，她成为韩国美妆品牌HERA的品牌大使，负责彩妆、护肤及其他美妆产品的推广工作。这份新工作让她有机会试用并推广该品牌专为非洲及世界其他地区深色皮肤用户设计的系列化妆品。

2025年，Leïla成为首尔非洲节的主要代言人；她的照片与其他模特一起出现在宣传该活动的社交媒体材料中。

“能够成为首尔非洲节的形象大使，我感到非常荣幸，因为我既能代表我的非洲大陆，又能庆祝非洲和韩国之间美好的联系和日益发展的关系，”她说。

该节日将非洲和韩国的社区、文化和创意产业聚集在一起，让莱拉有机会参与到反映她身份另一部分的活动中。

“看到两种文化的融合，并参与到促成此次活动的所有工作中，对我来说意义非凡，”她说。

塔诺埃·阿库巴·莱拉·奥利维亚（右）出现在首尔非洲节的海报上。图片由非洲洞察提供。

对莱拉来说，模特工作的意义远不止于镜头前，更重要的是结识形形色色的人。她鼓励新模特与导演、制片人、摄影师、化妆师、造型师、其他模特以及所有参与制作的人员建立真诚的专业关系。

“即使事情不如意，也要保持专业、礼貌和积极的心态。在这个高度依赖人际关系的行业，良好的印象与出色的作品集同样重要，”她说道。

建筑和设计或许是她最初的职业道路，但模特工作为她提供了一个新的平台，让她得以探索身份认同、创造力以及非洲和韩国之间日益增长的关系。

凭借其建筑学背景，她或许能够为许多有抱负的模特铺平道路，这些模特不仅来自她的祖国，也来自整个非洲，她们都希望在韩国重新开始和重建自己的生活。

纳雄·奥瓦诺是一位居住在韩国的自由撰稿人和内容创作者。他热爱体育、文化和人物故事。请在Xbox和Instagram上关注@owanohnashon。