Adwoa Aboah is a Model for Girls around the World

Adwoa Aboah’s striking features have made her a force within the world of fashion. Since the age of 16, she has dominated runways and campaigns from Calvin Klein to Fendi and has appeared on Vogue magazines across the globe—but it’s her activism and commitment to uplifting young women that has brought her respect, admiration and honors worldwide.

Aboah just earned a spot on the 2019 OkayAfrica 100 Women list, got her very own Barbie doll that showed her in a “full representation of who I am,” including freckles, tattoos and all. Now Aboah has inspired the activist brand BeBold to help launch its first fashion item – a line of workwear shoes made in a female-run factory in Portugal. A portion of the proceeds will go to nonprofits Educate Girls Globally, Young Women’s Trust and Junior Achievement Africa. The $250 shoes have insoles to help keep women on their feet comfortably.

Having founded an online community for young women called Gurls Talk in 2015, Aboah is steadfast in her commitment to providing a safe space for youth to discuss a range of issues from mental health to sexuality.

“I started Gurls Talk off the back of my own experiences and struggles as a girl, and then a woman. It became apparent to me that I’d lacked the confidence to share and speak out about the issues affecting me,” says Aboah. “Gurls Talk has created a safe space for young women and girls to talk about issues which society may deem taboo, such as sexuality, mental health and female physical health. Not only do we have our podcast, website and social platforms, but we have hosted incredible events around the world for our community. At Gurls Talk, we talk about a lot of hard issues, so sometimes I have to share or discuss some really raw experiences, but that is exactly why we are here, and I feel that community support instantly. I can’t imagine anything more important than our youth. I know from my own experience working alongside my community and peers that young people are so much more powerful than people give them credit for. We are rallying together to make positive change in the world, and combat issues affecting us, head on.”

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Photo Credit: Bruno Arena Fotografie / Shutterstock.com