Ivorian design professional finds a new career in modeling in Seoul

Tanoé Akouba Leïla Olivia came to Seoul for a break from architecture and design but became a full-time model after repeated scouting approaches, according to The Korea Times. Her work has included a Hyundai Genesis campaign and a brand ambassador role with Korean beauty brand HERA.

Her account pairs opportunities in Korean advertising and beauty with difficulties she said she faces as a dark-skinned model. Those include disadvantages in casting compared with European models and inadequate makeup and hairstyling support.

Born in Cote d’Ivoire to an Ivorian father and a Malian mother, Leïla trained in interior design and 3D visualization in the U.K., Italy and Spain, The Korea Times reported. Her earlier career took her through design and architectural work before she entered modeling.

She moved to China in 2019 for work as a 3D visualization artist, then relocated to Ghana as the COVID-19 pandemic began. She later spent three years at an architectural studio in Abidjan.

Fatigue from that work prompted her to plan a one-year break before returning to her profession. In Seoul, repeated questions about whether she was a model led her to reconsider that plan and sign with an agency, according to the newspaper.

Her modeling projects include a Hyundai Genesis campaign shot over two days on Jeju Island. The Korea Times also reported that she recently became a HERA brand ambassador and was the main face of the Seoul Africa Festival in 2025.

Alongside those assignments, Leïla described casting disadvantages relative to European models and problems finding suitable makeup and hairstyling at shoots. She began bringing her own makeup kit and preparing to style her own hair, the newspaper reported.

For aspiring models, Leïla recommended researching agencies and speaking with models already represented by them, according to The Korea Times. She also advised understanding commissions, usage fees and representation terms before committing.