Episode Overview

Podcast: The Business of Fashion Podcast
Episode Title: Awar Odhiang on Joy, Inclusion and Her Viral Chanel Moment
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Imran Amed (Founder and CEO, The Business of Fashion)
Guest: Awar Odhiang (Model, Chanel show-closer, inclusion advocate)

This episode features a candid, emotional conversation with Awar Odhiang, one of the modeling world’s rising stars. From her beginnings as a refugee from South Sudan to her unexpected break into modeling, Awar discusses identity, inclusion, the hidden realities behind fashion’s public embrace of diversity, and her now iconic, joy-filled moment closing Chanel’s most talked-about show of the season.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Awar’s Journey: From Refugee to Runway Star

• Family Background and Early Life
  • Awar was born in a refugee camp in Pinyuro, Ethiopia, to South Sudanese parents fleeing war.
  • Sponsored by Victory Church, her family resettled in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada in 2002.

    "I was actually born in a refugee camp in Pinyuro, Ethiopia. My family is South Sudanese, but they were fleeing the war at this time, before I was born, while my mom was pregnant with me." (Awar, 02:26)

  • Described Moose Jaw as a small, largely homogenous community, where she was often the only Black student in her class.

    "In my classroom, I was always the tallest and darkest person in the room... But we still had the diversity in our community." (Awar, 04:04)

• Adapting in Canada
  • Moved to Calgary at 14, navigating multiple identities: South Sudanese, Canadian, and eventually, aspiring student.
  • Education and making her family proud were paramount until modeling unexpectedly entered her life.

Scouted Into Fashion and First Impressions

• Discovery Story
  • Scouted while working at Old Navy in Calgary by agent Kelly Straight:

    "I was working at Old Navy... and I see a man... he told me, 'I think you're beautiful, and I think I could change your life.' ...He believed in me before I even believed in myself." (Awar, 06:11, 06:15)

• No Early Fashion Ambitions
  • Initially aspired to a career in medicine, with fashion not on her radar until she was scouted in university.

    "Fashion is something... very different from my reality and different from my dreams as a person. I actually wanted to go into medicine." (Awar, 08:17)

• Rapid Ascension and Industry Differences
  • Describes the leap from Canadian modeling to the intensity of European (Milan) runways, the ambition of peers, and her shock at the work behind fashion.

    "My first impression... I was very shocked to see...the ambition...and how much work really goes behind creating a single thing that the typical person wouldn't really appreciate." (Awar, 09:13)

Modeling: The Reality Behind the Glamour

• First International Catwalk
  • Debuted at Jil Sander, cast by Luke and Lucie Meier. Initially extremely nervous but empowered by the designers' support.

    "They gave me a little smile right before I took on the runway, and that really just brought me a lot of confidence." (Awar, 10:29)

• Rigors of the Job
  • 65+ shows per season; days start as early as 5:30 am, often no time to rest or eat, days end past midnight.

    "I can do up to five shows in a day... my call times maybe around 5:30, 5am... Fashion Week is a very fast paced moment for models." (Awar, 13:11)

On Inclusion, Diversity, and Performing for the Camera

• Continued Barriers for Models of Color
  • Despite being in demand, Awar still feels the gap between being celebrated publicly and truly understood privately:

    "There's a big gap... between being welcomed publicly and being understood privately...a lot of it comes from performatism of inclusivity..." (Awar, 16:28)

  • Specific challenges for minority models, including differential treatment, are persistent:

    "I've seen that...girls of a certain minority...not being treated fairly on set...this is something that...continues on to this day." (Awar, 17:19)

• Message for Decision-Makers
  • Advocates real change in three areas:
    1. Decision-Making Power: Diversity must exist behind the camera and in the boardroom, not just in front of it.
    2. Consistency: Inclusion should not be a fleeting trend tied to cultural moments or trends.
    3. Valuing Lived Experience: Stop repetitive, performative storytelling—real change means acting on shared experiences.

    "Brands really need to stop asking the same people to share the same stories without really changing the system..." (Awar, 18:08)

The Viral Chanel Moment: Joy, Empowerment, and Representation

• The Moment Itself
  • Closing Chanel’s highly anticipated show at the Grand Palais, Awar performed a signature spin, exuding pure joy and breaking the runway's typically rigid tone.

    "Matthew...looked me in the eyes and he said, 'Awar, like, this is your moment. I want you to do what, whatever you feel is right for you in this moment. Show your emotion. Do you.'" (Awar, 21:22)

  • Attributes her confidence and sense of freedom to the designer’s support and to feeling surrounded by genuine camaraderie.

    "I was just filled with so much excitement...I just felt so, so free, so confident, so beautiful." (Awar, 21:22)

  • Her walk made her only the third Black woman to close a Chanel show.
• Emotional Impact
  • The backstage atmosphere was tearful—tears of happiness.

    "We're full of smiles... But then when we come back, we're all in tears. We're all crying and tears of happiness, tears of joy." (Awar, 23:21)

• Public Response and Newfound Visibility
  • Overwhelmed by the global response—coverage in Canadian national news, inspiration for people beyond fashion.

    "I was not expecting as much feedback as there was internationally... that moment genuinely inspired so many people. It brought hope and it brought joy to them." (Awar, 24:47)

Maintaining Joy and Setting Boundaries in a Demanding Industry

• How She Protects Her Joy
  • Emphasizes the importance of boundaries, honest relationships, and not letting the fashion industry’s pace dictate her own.

    "By continuing to set boundaries...not allowing the pace of the industry to impact the pace of me as a human. I think that joy can be cultivated in this way." (Awar, 25:37)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On being scouted:
  "He believed in me before I even believed in myself." (Awar, 06:15)

• On inclusion:
  "For me, inclusion is being able to be in a room and not have to translate yourself...being in a room where you’re not the only person who looks like you, where you’re not the only person who's expected to speak on certain matters." (Awar, 15:15)

• On the Chanel closing moment:
  "Matthew...looked me in the eyes and he said, 'Awar, like, this is your moment. I want you to do what, whatever you feel is right for you in this moment. Show your emotion. Do you.' ...I felt so, so free, so confident, so beautiful. It really is all to Matthieu, because he creates clothing for women and for women to feel beautiful." (Awar, 21:22)

• On maintaining joy:
  "By continuing to set boundaries...not allowing the pace of the industry to impact the pace of me as a human." (Awar, 25:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Awar’s early life and immigration background: 02:26 – 04:46
• Being scouted, discovery story: 06:11 – 07:53
• First impressions of fashion industry: 08:17 – 10:14
• First runway at Jil Sander, building confidence: 10:25 – 11:44
• Fashion week realities (schedules, workload): 12:06 – 13:11
• Diversity and inclusion struggles: 15:15 – 17:59
• Message to fashion decision-makers: 18:08 – 20:13
• Behind the scenes of the viral Chanel closing: 21:22 – 23:06
• Emotional impact backstage, Chanel show: 23:21 – 24:24
• Handling newfound recognition: 24:47 – 25:17
• Protecting her wellbeing as her career grows: 25:37

Summary

This moving episode offers both inspiration and a call to action. Awar Odhiang’s journey illustrates the complexities of representation—how public celebrations often mask private struggles for belonging and respect. Her joyful Chanel moment, now viral, was carefully fostered by a supportive team, but she reminds listeners that true inclusivity requires deeper, systemic change behind the camera. With grace, gratitude, and unyielding honesty, Awar sets a standard for modeling not just with style, but with substance.