In 2003, one Ajuma Nasenyana arrived at JKIA about to board a plane to Sweden where she was heading with an intention to pursue a career in athletics.
However, today Nasanyena is one of the very few Kenyans to have walked the international runway alongside supermodels Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek.
Lyndsey McIntyre of Surazuri Modeling agency takes credit for convincing the now supermodel to ditch the tracks for the runway.
Nasenyana was born in Lodwar, Turkana county and attended Green Acres and Green Stead International School courtesy of The Women Center, an NGO run by her mother in Lodwar.
While in school, she was described as a "bright, confident tomboy who always excelled in athletics".
After she cleared high school, she went to train for the 200M and 400M track and in 2002, she won the World Junior National Championship trials and came third in the World National Championship trials.
In 2003, she participated in the Miss tourism Beauty Contest and was crowned Miss Nairobi.
Under the watchful eye of McIntyre, Nasenyana soon signed deals in Britain, Austria, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Canada, and Sweden.
She participated in the Newyork Fashion Week for designers such as Baby Phat and Carlos Mienes.
In Europe, she has modeled for fashion houses such as Ungaro during the Italian fashion week and British designer Vivienne Westwood appointed her the lead model in her show.
After the birth of her son in 2010, Nasenyana settled in Nairobi stating that she wanted him to have a ‘Kenyan’ upbringing while she still travels once in a while for contractual jobs abroad.
She has advised the upcoming model to toughen up and be ready to face rejection before ever making it in the industry.
She also revealed that she almost quit modeling to go back to athletics in 2004.
