Muticultural model Mona Tougaard was born in Denmark and is of Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian descent. With a solid portfolio behind her, Tougaard joins Mirthe Dijk and Victoria Fawole in the Alaïa F/W 2022.23 ad campaign, shot by Willy Vanderperre.

Tougaard, now a 20-year-old model who has walked the runway for Chanel, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more, was scouted at the very young age 12 — a trend that has all but stopped among top brands and media, who won’t work with such young girls. She actually began modeling at age 15.

The youngest of three children, Mona was just 9 years old when her mother died, and she was raised by her father in Aarhus, Denmark. “We are so supportive and we are also really connected. We wish only good on each other because we want to see the Black community rise and be better and do better,” Tougaard told WSJ Magazine in December 2020 about Selena Forrest.

She participated in the 2017 Elite Model World Look competition, known for boosting the careers of Cindy Crawford and Gisele Bündchen. Next stop was the Prada fall 2019 runway show, where she met Adut Akech, Cara Delevigne, Gigi Hadid and Kaia Gerber.

Mona Tougaard was photographed by Luis Alberto Rodriguez in the Fall 2021 issue of i-D, wearing all-Alaïa from new creative design director Pieter Mulier’s first collection, after the death of the beloved Tunisian founder Azzedine Alaïa.

Luis Alberto Rodriguez again lensed Tougaard, this time with Ugbad for the cover of Vogue France August 2022.

AOC includes links to that stunning fashion story along with Mona Tougaard’s recent fashion work. Follow the model’s daily adventures on her IG.

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