Jennifer Atilemile

Australian model Jennifer Atilémile is challenging the traditional standard of beauty and pushing for greater representation in the media and advertising. After working internationally for over five years, she is more than just a breath taking, talented model and has been growing her own personal brand on social media to reflect her true passions. Atilémile earned a double Masters degree in International Relations and Journalism, and has been using her profile and voice to advocate for body diversity and racial equality.

Atilémile has an Australian mother and her father is from the French island of Réunion – which is rich in both Indian and African heritage, two heritages the young model identifies with. She wanted to be model since she was 15 years old, attracted to the glamour of the industry. After deciding to try out for the second season of Australia’s Next Top Model, she was scouted by a ‘model feeder agency’ and attended a two month course on how to be model, which taught the girls what they should and shouldn’t be eating. Although she was offered contracts by two agencies at the end of the 8 week course after a runway show, both agencies told her she would have to lose at least two dress sizes before they would sign her, even though she was only a US size 2-4 at the time. Atilémile’s mother refused to let her sign the contract, and she returned to college where she began to see curvier models in magazines such as Cosmo and realised she could give modeling another shot.

Now sought-after around the world as a top model, Atilémile is using her space to show who she really is, and what really matters to her – including greater representation for all and the empowerment of women and girls.