UNILAG student’s quest to break 41-year-old catwalk record
Ololade Ayelabola
A final-year student of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Lagos, Ololade Ayelabola, is not holding back on her desire to break the world record for the longest distance walked on a catwalk by a model.
Her attempt comes 41 years after the current record was set by Roberta Brown and Lorraine McCourt, who covered a distance of 114.4 km (71.1 miles) at Parke’s Hotel, Dublin, Ireland, from September 19 to 21, 1983.
Ayelabola’s challenge, an over 96-hours walk, is scheduled to be held from September 29 to October 3 at the UNILAG Sports Centre.
The ex-beauty queen said her inspiration stemmed from the discrimination and disqualification that models face during auditions, despite their talent.
“What prompted me to attempt this is the stereotyping I’ve noticed in the fashion industry. In modelling, there’s this idea that if you’re not a certain height or don’t look a certain way, you can’t succeed. I have seen many talented models sidelined because of these biases,” she said.
Recounting a personal experience when she auditioned for a fashion show, she noted that she was praised for her walk but was rejected for being ‘too short’.
“That’s when I decided to create a platform to inspire people; not just in fashion but in every area of life, to break free from stereotypes,” she added.
The walk centres on inclusivity and diversity, and will feature models who are albino, have vitiligo, freckles, tribal marks, or are plus-sized.
“I plan to walk with 100 models. We are going to storm the runway and inspire everyone to believe that, with passion and hard work, you can be whoever you want to be,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude for the support she had received from the university community, particularly the Vice Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
