Originally published on CRFashionbook.com

Last year Azu Nwogu was a student at the University of California, Riverside, double majoring in art and biomedical sciences. Only a few months later—right before graduating magna cum laude—the 20-year-old was scouted, moved to New York City, and walked in her first show: Gucci Resort 2020. Although before then her modeling experience was limited to social media photoshoots, the Nigerian-born model is now ready to take the fashion world by a storm. Nwogu recently stopped by the CR office to chat about what she loves and how fashion plays a role in her life.

Has working in fashion always been your dream job?
"Yes. I actually studied art, because they didn't offer a major in fashion design. That was the closest thing. I even went to Korea for six months to learn fashion design."

How would you describe your own personal style?
"I like to put together different aspects of my life. The traditional aspect of being Nigerian and the ankara [fabric] that we wear. Whenever I'm sketching outfits, I always put those elements in and try to make things that are culturally provocative."

What would you say is your go-to outfit?
"My go-to outfit would definitely be joggers. Anything really comfortable that allows me to dance, because I'm a dancer. If I cannot physically move or dance then I feel like I'm in a cage. Whatever accentuates my body, that's whatever I wear."

What kind of dance do you do?
"I can dance to any hip-hop, any R&B, depending on how I'm feeling. I'm good at West African dance, contemporary, modern."

What's something we wouldn't know about you?
"I speak four languages–and a half. Igbo, English, and the half is French. I don't like speaking it, but I can write and read. Also Korean, Japanese, and Spanish."