Eunice Olumide

Eunice Olumide MBE is a Scottish fashion model and actress.

Early life

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Olumide has dual British and Nigerian nationality. The name "Olumide" means "God has come" or "My Hero has come" in the Yoruba language.

At Glasgow Caledonian University she graduated in Communication and Mass Media with a first-class Bachelor of Arts. Aged 21, she took a postgraduate degree in Film Studies at Queen Mary University of London and an MA in Metaphysics, after getting a scholarship to study at the University of Pennsylvania.

Modelling career

At 15, Olumide was spotted shopping in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, and later scouted by Select models while visiting family in London. At the time she knew nothing about the fashion industry. She took a break from modelling to go to university. Over the years she has been signed with Premier, KOKO, Nemesis, Mega, La Agenica, VIVA, AMQ, Ford and IMM Düsseldorf.

She has done fashion weeks and shoots in Japan, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Poland, Germany, UAE, USA, Africa and the UK.

Olumide appeared in '' Dazed & Confused'', Dry, ''London Fashion Week Daily'', ''Dansk'', ''Tank'', '' I.D.'', ''Grazia'', ''Luire Magazine Japan'', ''Harpers Bazaar'', ''Hunger'', ''Oyster'', '' Papercut'', ''New York'', '' Bahrain Confidential'', ''WAD Magazine'', ''Retro'', ''InStyle'', ''Fabulous'', Italian ''Vogue'' and British ''Vogue''.
She has worked with Zandra Rhodes, Myleen Klass, Gio Pomodoro, Caryn Franklin, NKWO, JJ Noki, and designers including Swarovski, Christopher Kane, Jil Sander, Adidas, Evisu, Kswiss, Henry Holland, Jacob Kimmie, Prada, Georgina Harding, Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, Tom Ford, Alexander Wang and Jacob Birge. Olumide has modelled for Top Shop, Mulberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Ugg, Lee Jeans, Toms, The Body Shop, Alexander Wang, Vivienne Westwood, Bunmi Koko, New Look and Harris Tweed. She is also as an ambassador for Fashion Targets, Adopt an Intern, FAD and worked with Climate Revolution.
In 2018, Olumide's book ''How To Get Into Fashion'', focusing on exploitation in the industry and the impact of Fast fashion was published followed by a promotional appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, interviewed by Elizabeth Payton at The New York Times. As an equal rights campaigner she deliver a speech at the Houses of Commons and contributed to Equity's policy and etiquette to protect models in the work place.

Fashion design

Her debut spring summer collection was inspired by her Afro-Scottish background and ancestry, a balance of European and British style tailoring and traditionally African fabric and patterns. In 2016, she collaborated with Puma, Top Shop and Evisu on selected pieces, and produced her own accessories collection in 2017, consisting of spring summer and autumn winter sunglasses for men and women. In 2018, some of this was included in a temporary exhibition at National Museum of Scotland.

In 2019, Olumide produced an On-Schedule show for the British Fashion Council at London Fashion Week. NGRGFW included question and answer sessions featuring Dennis Calpone, Afuah Hirsch, Emma Dabiri and Nish Kumar as well as a fashion show, commissioned by Lambeth Council at Lambeth Town Hall. Olumide used the event to draw attention to the plight of the Windrush Generation illegally deported from the United Kingdom in 2018, after a mistake by the then Prime Minister Theresa May and Amber Rudd.

Music career

Olumide is also a DJ touring with Grace Jones, Damian Marley and Nas. Venues include The Apollo, Lovebox Festival, The Great Escapes Festival, The Groucho Club, Soho House, Glastonbury and Websterhall NYC with Matt Sorum.

Olumide also played with acts including Skepta, Wiley, Roots Manuva, The Game, Common, Busta Rymes, Wu-Tang, OT Genesis and Jay Z. Between April and June, she toured the United States with The Roots and Mos Def in Orlando, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and Atlanta, and at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, a four-day event in Tennessee in June. She also supported Police Academy's Michael Winslow in the U.S. and UK.

In 2018, Olumide was involved in a charity Christmas song called "Rock With Rudolph", written and produced by Grahame and Jack Corbyn. Recorded by 26 personalities in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital and released digitally on Saga Entertainment on 30 November 2018 under the artist name The Celebs. The song reached number two on the iTunes pop chart.

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Olumide returned to join The Celebs which now included Frank Bruno and X Factor winner Sam Bailey to raise money for both Alzheimer's Society and Action for Children. They recorded a new rendition of "Merry Christmas Everyone" by Shakin' Stevens and it was released digitally on 11 December 2020, on independent record label Saga Entertainment. The music video debuted exclusively on '' Good Morning Britain'' the day before release. The song peaked at number two on the iTunes pop chart.

In 2021, Olumide re-joined The Celebs to record a cover of The Beatles classic "Let It Be", in support of the Mind charity, released on 3rd December 2021. Olumide was part of a choir of celebrities including Georgia Hirst, Anne Hegerty and Ivan Kaye, who were backing EastEnders actress Shona McGarty.

Acting career

Olumide was the second Assistant Director and played a role in BAFTA award winning project called ''Trouble Sleeping. In 2017 she played Rosie in ''After Louise'' Olumide appeared in the short film, ''One Sweet Oblivios Antidote', with Lenny Henry'. Since then she has appeared in ''Star Wars Rogue One'', ''The Last Jedi'' and ''Absolutely Fabulous''. In 2019, she landed a role in ''Noughts and Crosses'' alongside rapper Stormzy, produced by Shawn Corey Carter also known as Jay Z at Roc Nation USA.

Olumide produced and directed a show ''Metamorph'' through Open Art Surgery at the Traverse Theatre and founded the brief existence of ''The Official Youth on the Fringe'' at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and starred in ''The Chicken Trial'' at the Pleasance courtyard. In 2017, she produced and directed ''A Work in Progress'' live at The Stand Comedy club. Stephen K Amos, Katheryn Ryan, Trevor Noah and Dane Baptiste also appeared.

Television and broadcasting career

Olumide has worked on BBC
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