Fashion today is more global, more digital, and—thankfully—more inclusive than ever. Walking the world’s runways and starring in headline campaigns are Black women who have turned their creative talent into serious earning power. Below is a conversational look at ten of the industry’s highest-paid Black female models. You’ll find a quick snapshot of how each star built her fortune, the brands that keep signing her, and why her success matters to the business of style.
1. Naomi Campbell
Decades into her career, Naomi remains a fixture on luxury billboards and red carpets. Marie Claire puts her net worth around USD 80 million, and past reports say her annual earnings have peaked near USD 49 million thanks to long-term beauty and fashion deals.
Beyond cash figures, she now lands multi-year contracts—BMW, PrettyLittleThing, and Boss among them—and curates museum exhibitions of her own archive. Those projects illustrate the added value veteran supermodels can command: licensing fees, profit-sharing, and creative-director roles that stack on top of traditional modeling day rates.
2. Joan Smalls
Puerto Rico’s most famous runway export is estimated at USD 26 million in personal wealth, a total built on Estée Lauder, Calvin Klein, and dozens of luxury campaigns. Forbes has repeatedly ranked her among the world’s top-earning models, and she continues to diversify: music-video cameos, fragrance collaborations, even a lingerie capsule.
3. Jourdan Dunn
London-born Jourdan was the first Black British model to enter Forbes’ rich list, earning more than USD 3 million in a single year at her peak and amassing an estimated USD 13 million net worth. She stays bankable by mixing high fashion—Burberry, Balmain—with mass-appeal partners like Maybelline. Add a popular YouTube cooking show and size-inclusive clothing line, and you see how diversifying revenue streams sustains long-term income.
4. Adut Akech
The South-Sudanese-Australian star is one of Models.com’s “Money Girls,” a category reserved for top earners with repeat luxury clients. Conservative estimates put her wealth at about USD 1 million, but analysts note rapid growth: Valentino, Balenciaga, and Valentino Beauty fragrance deals add multiple six-figure sums each season. Her story—from refugee camp to Vogue covers—makes her especially valuable to brands prioritizing authentic storytelling.
5. Imaan Hammam
Dutch, Moroccan, and Egyptian heritage gives Imaan cross-market appeal, and that shows on the balance sheet. Public estimates range up to USD 13 million in assets; Models.com tracks a steady pipeline of Fendi, Ralph Lauren, and Armani campaigns through 2025. She also designs capsule collections and fronts sustainability initiatives, earning creative-consulting fees alongside modeling income.
6. Precious Lee
A pioneer for curve models on high-fashion catwalks, Precious is one of Vogue’s “most famous and highest-paid” plus-size talents. Versace, Moschino, and YSL Beauty keep her in the seven-figure range, while acting and writing projects expand her runway earnings. Body-positivity advocacy further boosts her brand value, showing that representation can translate directly into commercial success.
7. Aya Jones
Paris-raised Aya commands big-ticket rates for campaigns with Prada, Mango, and Miu Miu. Industry sources list her among the top-earning Black models thanks to steady high-fashion bookings and fragrance contracts. After recovering from a much-publicized accident, she leveraged her comeback story into even larger endorsement deals, proving resilience can be monetized in a narrative-driven market.
8. Assa Baradji
Known for a striking runway look and frequent magazine covers—from Numéro to Vogue Italia—Assa has parlayed exclusives with Coperni and Balmain into six-figure season fees, landing her on Debonair Afrik’s highest-paid list. She also benefits from Europe’s surge in demand for Mali-born talent, signing regional beauty endorsements that supplement global fashion income.
9. Blesnya Minher
The Angolan model closed Victoria’s Secret’s 2024 show and fronts Calvin Klein’s eyewear campaigns—milestones that push her earnings well into high six-figure territory each year. Frequent fragrance deals and steady editorial bookings keep her on Models.com’s money list, reflecting how consistent mid-tier contracts can rival headline supermodel paychecks.
10. Mayowa Nicholas
Nigeria’s first face of Calvin Klein has reportedly reached about USD 1 million in net worth and holds a coveted spot on Models.com’s “Money Girls” roster. Regular Victoria’s Secret appearances, plus campaigns with Saint Laurent and Prada, illustrate how emerging-market icons can rapidly climb global earning charts when backed by powerhouse agencies.
Closing Thoughts
From Naomi’s multimillion-dollar legacy to Mayowa’s fast-rise fortunes, these ten women prove that talent and tenacity—combined with smart contract choices—translate into significant wealth. Their presence reshapes beauty standards, opens doors for fresh faces, and reminds brands that inclusion isn’t only ethical; it’s profitable. As the industry keeps evolving, expect their paychecks—and influence—to grow right along with it.
