Yves Saint Laurent’s Original Black Muse

Before diversity became one of fashion’s biggest conversations, Mounia Orosemane was already changing what high fashion looked like. The Martinique-born model rose to prominence during the 1970s and became one of the era’s most memorable Black faces on the runway.

Discovered by Hubert de Givenchy, Mounia’s career reached new heights through her close relationship with Yves Saint Laurent, who made her one of his most recognisable muses. Her commanding presence and elegance made her a standout in his runway shows and campaigns, while her work with major fashion houses helped prove that Black models belonged at the centre of luxury fashion not simply on the sidelines.

Mounia’s impact went far beyond her own career. At a time when Black representation in high fashion was extremely limited, her visibility helped challenge the industry’s narrow beauty standards and opened doors for future generations of Black models. Seeing a dark-skinned Black woman regularly walking for one of the world’s most influential designers was powerful.

Her success helped create a blueprint for greater representation, proving that beauty, glamour and couture were never limited to one look. Mounia didn’t just model fashion she helped change its face.