As Lagos Fashion Week 2025 came to a close, the biggest buzz came not just from the collections but from celebrity appearances, runway walks, and standout street-style moments. Throughout the venues, stars didn’t just sit front row-they took over the runway, turning style into statement and identity into spectacle.
American singer Ciara closed the show for Fruche in a dramatic red pleated gown with batwing sleeves and intricate beadwork across the shoulders. The sculptural silhouette brought regal elegance with an avant-garde edge as when she walked out, the audience rose with her-a reminder that Lagos is increasingly a global fashion stage.
Then there was Noble Igwe, a style influencer and entrepreneur who brought cultural pride into sharp focus. He entered the runway for FIA in a white-and-black striped ensemble paired with a red feathered Igbo cap. The look marries contemporary design and heritage, signifying in one outfit a nod to Igbo roots while blending seamlessly into the modern Lagos fashion skyline.
Former Miss Nigeria and reality-TV alumna Beauty Etsanyi Tukura made a triumphant runway return with a bold-pleated dress for LFJ. The deep folds caught the light, the intense colour turned heads, and her confident walk signalled a clear evolution from pageant queen to high-fashion muse.
Celebrity chef and two-time Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci nailed one of the most memorable moments walking for Lush Hair Nigeria in a voluminous pink ball gown paired with gold-toned braids. Her stride, her smile, and the sheer joy she brought made the moment more than a look; it felt like celebration.
Meanwhile, fashion influencer and medical doctor Akin Faminu made a stylish crossover as he walked for LFJ, bringing poised refinement to the runway, which many saw as a move from enthusiast to industry insider. This underlined a sense of fashion in Nigeria that is increasingly fluid and cross-disciplinary.
READ MORE: Five Standout Nigerian Brands Define Lagos Fashion Week 2025 Lagos
Why These Moments Matter
These celebrity looks did more than dazzle: They signalled Lagos Fashion Week’s expanding cultural and global reach. The stars weren’t just endorsing brands-they were embodying identity, heritage, and narrative. Lagos asserted itself as Africa’s fashion capital not just by staging clothes, but by staging stories.
Each moment seemed to reinforce the idea that fashion is no longer just about what you wear but who you are, where you come from, and how you carry that into the world. When a singer like Ciara closes a runway in Lagos or a style influencer honours his heritage on the catwalk, it says: Nigerian and African style is not peripheral; it is central.
Looking Ahead
If fashion week is a precursor to what culture is embracing next, then this year told us: identity matters, stories matter, and cross-industry collaboration matters. Whether it is a chef on the catwalk or an influencer now a runway model, the boundaries are shifting. And Lagos is the stage where that shift is happening in vivid colour.
