Kofoworola Odozi Ololade Ayelabola, a Nigerian model and University of Lagos (UNILAG) graduate, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records for achieving the longest distance walked on a catwalk by a model.
In October 2024, Ayelabola walked an impressive 125.11 kilometers (77.74 miles) over four days at the UNILAG Indoor Sports Centre, surpassing her initial goal of 120 kilometers.
During her record-breaking attempt, Ayelabola completed 2,058 laps around the sports center, modeling outfits from various Nigerian designers, including collections from the UNILAG Theatre Arts Department. This endeavor showcased the creativity and diversity of Nigerian fashion.
Ayelabola’s inspiration for this challenge stemmed from previous experiences of discrimination in the fashion industry due to her height. After being disqualified from two fashion weeks in the previous year, she decided to break a record in the same industry where she faced setbacks. She stated, “I reminded myself that I was not only walking for myself but for every other person who is facing a barrier. For every single step I took on the catwalk and, on the runway, I was taking a walk against stereotypes and challenges that we face in the modeling fashion industry.”
Celebrating her achievement on Instagram, Ayelabola encouraged her followers to pursue their dreams fearlessly, stating, “Dare to dream and make your dream a reality.”
For a visual recap of her record-breaking walk, you can watch the following video:
