Precious Kevin, 20, grew up in Nigeria and, since being street-scouted in Lagos, has walked in some of fashion month’s biggest shows - JW Anderson, Prada, Saint Laurent and Valentino back in February and March - and just landed her first magazine cover with Grazia. Here, she shares her story.
What was your journey into modelling?
I had a dream of being a model ever since I was a child, but as time went by I had to push it to the back of my mind. I'm from a family of five and I’m the first born. I knew I had a lot of responsibility so I decided to focus on my siblings. I was not born with a silver spoon. I'm from a very poor family, living in a very poor environment, and [was] sometimes bullied.
I was scouted on the street of Chisco Lekki in Lagos on my way home from church, crying on the road because I was disappointed by someone I work with. I had no money to go home so I had to walk for a long distance. Then I met my mother agent, Miss Aishat Bello, who saw me on the street and asked if I would like to be a model. I told her, ‘Not yet’, because I knew I had to give all my time and I knew I had to provide for my younger ones. She gave me her card to call her when I was ready. I got home that day and told my mum about it and she told me it was time to focus on my dreams because time waits for no man. I called her and she signed me.
Simone Rocha’s show, at London Fashion Week in February 2020, was your first. How did it feel?
I was so excited. It was a day I'll never forget because I knew my dreams were coming true and I thank the Lord for making everything happen. I knew it was a big step and I would make my family proud and be able to support and send my siblings back to school.
You walked in some major shows last season. What do you think about when you’re on the catwalk?
All I could think was, ‘Lord, thank you,’ because this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Him and, secondly, I had my family on my mind and was thinking, ‘Mum, we made it.’
How would you describe your style?
Tomboy, funky and modern.
Grazia is your very first cover! How does it feel seeing yourself on a magazine?
Oh my God! I was so excited. I can't even express how excited I was. I called my mum and said, ‘Mum, we did it.’ I thank the Lord God for everything and I want to thank [the] Grazia team; they were so amazing and loving. A big thank you to my amazing mother agent and to my Titanium Management family for making it happen.
SEE: What Did The World's Most Famous Models Look Like At The Start Of Their Careers?
SEE: The World's Most Famous Supermodels' First Polaroids
1 of 20Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
The Insta #throwback Rosie shared of her first ever modelling Polaroids taken back in 2003 in London, when she was 16 years old and in the process of signing to Profile Model Management.
2 of 20Karlie Kloss
Proof Karlie has always been this cute. Here she is aged 15 in 2007, two years after she was spotted walking at a mall charity fashion show.
3 of 20Cara Delevingne
A very blonde Cara's first model card at Storm, aged 15 - five years after her first shoot for Vogue Italia aged just 10.
4 of 20Kendall Jenner
A baby-faced Kendall, 6 years ago when she was just 18, at an early casting.
5 of 20Lara Stone
A fresh-faced Lara Stone, aged 20 – five years after she signed to Elite and an unbelievable eight years after she was first scouted aged 12 in Paris, while on holiday with her family.
6 of 20Jourdan Dunn
British Super, Jourdan, was famously scouted in Primark aged 16 and went on to walk international catwalks within a year. Here she is in 2006, having recently signed to Storm.
7 of 20Kaia Gerber
Kaia was destined to be model material, being the daughter of original supermodel, Cindy Crawford, and began early, with a Young Versace gig at just 10 years old. Here she is in her late teens at a casting.
8 of 20Gisele Bundchen
Brazilian goddess, Gisele, aged 16, after being signed by Elite. She moved to NYC aged 17 in 1997 and rapidly became the world's highest paid supermodel, after being paid $25 million to join Victoria's Secret in 2000.
9 of 20Natalia Vodianova
Russian Natalia, aged 20 in 2002, three years after she moved to Paris and signed to Viva Models. Natalia aka 'Supernova' (for her meteoric rise) is now a mother of 5 and still modelling.
10 of 20Miranda Kerr
The first ever Australian Victoria's Secret 'Angel' won her first modelling competition aged 13, was flown to Sydney aged 14 and signed on the spot.
11 of 20Irina Shayk
Russian Irina, seen here in 2005, started her modelling career at a relatively late 20, when she was scouted locally and persuaded to move to Paris. Her break came two years later when she relocated from Paris to Barcelona.
12 of 20Hailey Baldwin Bieber
Hailey signed with Ford Models in 2014 and made her debut a year later, modelling for French Connection when she was 19.
13 of 20Coco Rocha Model Test shots polaroids digitals
Coco (born Mikhaila) back in 2004 aged 16, a year after she was scouted during an Irish dancing competition in Vancouver.
14 of 20Taylor Hill
Colorado-born Taylor was instantly signed and placed in the New Faces Division of Ford, after being scouted at aged 14 in 2011.
15 of 20Doutzen Kroe
18 year old Doutzen needed some extra cash so sent some photos of herself to Amsterdam-based agency, Paparazzi and was unsurprisingly signed on the spot.
16 of 20Stella Maxwell
Bilingual (she speaks fluent French and English) Stella was signed to agency, Ali McD, in 2008, aged 18, after being scouted whilst out shopping in New Zealand. She signed to US agency The Lions soon after – as seen here.
17 of 20Adriana Lima
Brazillian-born Adriana entered her first modelling competition aged 13 in 1994. After coming second in the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest aged 15, she was immediately signed and never looked back.
18 of 20Liu Wen
Back in 2005, a 17 year old Liu Wen entered a modelling competition in her native China. She didn't win, but enjoyed the experience so much she carried on modelling. Here she is three years later, aged 20 at an early casting call.
19 of 20Natasha Poly
Natasha began modelling aged 15, in her local Russian town. By age 19 she had made her runway debut for Emanuel Ungaro, and walked her first VS show a year later.
20 of 20Candice Swanepoel
South African Candice was scouted aged 15 in a local flea market. Here she is aged 17 in an early agency Polaroid, shortly after she had moved to Europe to pursue her career.