Herieth Paul, changing the face of cosmetics

Daughter of Nsia Paul, a diplomat of the Tanzania High Commission Ottawa, Herieth Paul moved from her native Tanzania to Canada when she was 11 with her parents and sister. She did not know a word of English at that time, making the transition from Africa to North America quite difficult. She dreamt of becoming an actress and started going to casting calls.

At the age of 14, she went to a casting call of Angie Models and Talent Agency. She started her professional career in the world of modeling two years later and debuted internationally for Christian Siriano in New York. The 5’11” (1m80) 21-year-old model is a face for Maybelline and recently walked the Victoria's Secret runway in Shanghai. She is only the second model in Victoria’s Secret history to wear her natural hair for a show.

She works tirelessly to ensure continuing diversity within the fashion industry and wants to be an inspiration for other up-and-coming black models. The 11 year-old girl who dreamt of becoming an actress now dreams of changing the face of cosmetics and opening a school in Tanzania for handicapped students. Currently, she volunteers in her mother’s orphanage and gives a portion of her salary to the poorest.

Since her runway appearance, she has received thousands of messages from young black girls who are encouraged by her strength, beauty, drive and representation of African culture.