Mariama Gaye
{{Short description|Gambian-Swedish fashion model}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox model
| name = Mariama Gaye
| image =
| alma_mater =
| birth_place = Gambia
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|12|3|df=y}}
| nationality = Swedish
| height = {{height|m=1.73}}
| hair_color = Black
| eye_color = Brown
| occupation = Fashion Model
| years_active = 2020–present
| agency =
}}
Mariama Gaye (born 3 December 1993) is a Gambian-Swedish model known for her work in high fashion. She is a descendant of the royal Mali Empire and is an African princess. Gaye has worked with several prominent designers and brands and has appeared in numerous magazines including Vogue, Forbes, and Elle as well as her work with designer Zamina Scillasdotter.{{Cite web |title=Zamina Scillasdotter |url=https://zaminascillasdotter.com/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Zamina Scillasdotter}}
She is the first Gambian woman to be featured on Vogue Scandinavia.
Early life and education
Gaye was born in The Gambia, but moved to Sweden at the age of 6 to be reunited with her mother. She completed her high school education in social studies and media from Lundellska school in 2012. Currently, she is enrolled in the law program at Uppsala University.
Modelling career
Gaye started her modelling career at the age of 25 after being encouraged by her cousin to apply to modelling agencies. She was rejected by two agencies before finally being accepted by a smaller agency. After a year, she was featured in Elle, Vogue and Forbes.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Roxanne |title=Sustainable In Sweden: Stockholm Fashion Week Returns With A Focus On The Future |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/roxannerobinson/2021/09/06/sustainable-in-sweden-stockholm-fashion-week-returns-with-a-focus-on-the-future/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Despite her success, she faced bullying from other models and a couple of designers which caused her to consider taking a break from modelling. However, she persevered and joined MIKAs,{{Cite web |last=Gaye |first=Mariama |title=MIKAs Mariama G |url=https://mikas.se/models/mariama-g-36100/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=MIKAs |language=en-US}} the biggest agency in Sweden. She has since walked in several fashion shows, including Stockholm Fashion Week{{Cite web |last=Mariama |first=Gaye |title=Zamina Scillasdotter SS22 — stockholmfashionweek |url=https://stockholmfashionweek.se/Zamina-Scillasdotter-SS22 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=stockholmfashionweek.se |language=en}} in August 2021, where she did two different shows and one was also shown on London Fashion Week. She has also been featured in multiple Vogue shoots,{{Cite web |date=2022-03-31 |title=Helmstedt Copenhagen Fall 2022 Collection |url=https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/copenhagen-fall-2022/helmstedt |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} including a shoot in Denmark in March 2022. In April 2022, she walked the runway at the Elle{{Cite web |last=Lannerhjelm |first=Michelle |date=2021-09-01 |title=Hållbart och kraftfullt – så ser våren ut hos Zamina Scillasdotter |url=https://www.elle.se/mode/zamina-scillasdotter-ss22/7821871 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=www.elle.se |language=sv-SE}} gala in Sweden.