For Leomie Anderson, Rihanna is more than just a global superstar. The British model, presenter and entrepreneur counts the singer and billionaire businesswoman as a mentor who proved to be an invaluable source of support during one of the hardest times in her life.
"Rihanna is definitely someone I look up to," Leomie, 33, tells HELLO!. "When my dad died during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rihanna reached out to me. I will never forget her kindness and will forever appreciate her. She's a very genuine person. That's rare in the industry."
© Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images fTheir friendship stretches back years. Leomie first worked with Rihanna on the singer’s debut River Island collection, which Leomie modelled at London Fashion Week in 2013 – long before Rihanna’s beauty brand, Fenty Beauty, became a phenomenon.
Leomie, who was scouted at the age of 14 in a branch of McDonald's in south London, has built an impressive career, making her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut aged 22 and working with the likes of Marc Jacobs, Burberry and Tom Ford.
She is also host of the BBC show Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star and owns the fashion-meets-fitness clothing label Lapp the Brand.
Leomie is refreshingly candid about what it's taken to get to this point. "I never want a young person to think that I have this glamorous life, when in reality I’ve had to work extremely hard," she says.
"But I would not change a single thing. I wouldn't change where I stayed, or the people I met throughout the industry, or even my negative experiences, because they all shaped me into who I am today."
Making change
© Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty ImaShe says that one of her biggest obstacles was finding her voice. "We [models] start at such a young age – sometimes you're not sure how to speak up or advocate for yourself."
Leomie is passionate about seeing greater diversity behind and in front of the camera. "The industry is changing and there is so much more representation. It makes me feel happy and proud to say that I was a part of that, being vocal about the mistreatment of black models and the lack of black professionals in the industry," she says.
"I’m very happy to see so many girls coming up who are finally being seen in the way they should be. However, we have a long way to go regarding those behind the camera. I’m excited for the day when I feel that the set is as diverse as the imagery that the brands are trying to convey."
Leomie, who is based in south London, is embracing an exciting new chapter in her personal life. The model has been with her boyfriend – the fashion designer Jonathan Coffie, known as Joey Lit – for two years, in a long-distance relationship that spans London and Ghana, where he lives.
"We are definitely going to get married – 100%. He is a keeper. I see him every month, and we travel the world together to make it work."
Leomie is also preparing to launch a new beauty business next year, although she is keeping the details under wraps for now.
For now, she is fronting Clearpay’s Runway Ready campaign, which reveals the latest trends in Brits' airport fashion. With 61% of holidaymakers admitting to having bought a new airport outfit this summer, she believes that comfort should never mean sacrificing style.
"I’m not really a fan of the pyjamas-at-the-airport set-up. You have to glam up, right? Especially if you’re going to any of the lounges, you want to look decent... you could even find a husband there!"
Clearpay, a leader in Buy Now, Pay Later, has partnered with supermodel and presenter Leomie Anderson on its Runway Ready campaign, revealing the latest in Brits' airport fashion trends
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