UNILAG Graduate Ololade Ayelabola Makes History With Guinness World Record for Longest Catwalk

photo credit: The guardian

Nigerian model and University of Lagos (UNILAG) graduate, Ololade Ayelabola, has made history by setting a Guinness World Record for the longest distance walked on a catwalk by a model.

The official announcement came on March 10, 2025, confirming that Ayelabola walked an astonishing 125.11 kilometers (77.74 miles) over four days at the UNILAG Indoor Sports Centre in October 2024. Her record-breaking feat saw her complete 2,058 laps around the venue—exceeding her original goal of 120 kilometers.

Throughout the challenge, she showcased stunning outfits from top Nigerian designers, including pieces from the UNILAG Theatre Arts Department, highlighting the richness of Nigerian fashion.

Ayelabola’s journey to breaking this record was deeply personal. She revealed that she was disqualified from two major fashion weeks in 2023 due to her height, an experience that left her heartbroken. Instead of giving up, she decided to prove her worth on a much larger scale.

“I reminded myself that I was not only walking for myself but for every other person facing a barrier. Every step I took was a walk against stereotypes and challenges in the modeling industry,” she shared.

Taking to Instagram to celebrate her achievement, Ayelabola encouraged others to fearlessly pursue their dreams, writing:

“Dare to dream and make your dream a reality.”

Her win is not just a personal victory but a message of resilience and determination for aspiring models and creatives facing industry limitations.

What’s Next for Ayelabola?

No stranger to the spotlight, Ayelabola previously won the Most Beautiful Campus Queen pageant in 2021, an inter-campus beauty contest that celebrates creativity and resilience among young Nigerian women.

Now, she is hinting at contesting for Miss Nigeria, aiming to push even more boundaries in the modeling and pageantry world.

With her record-breaking walk, fashion advocacy, and relentless drive, Ololade Ayelabola is proving that true beauty lies in confidence, courage, and perseverance.