Jourdan Dunn
A model who broke a decade-long color barrier at Prada, becoming a defining face of a more inclusive fashion era.
Born 1990 (age 36)·English model and actress·Birthday: August 3·Millennials
Biography
Jourdan Dunn’s story began not in a glossy agency but in a Primark in Hammersmith, where she was spotted at sixteen. Within a year, her striking features and commanding walk were on international runways. Her true cultural moment arrived in February 2008 when she became the first Black model to walk for Prada in over ten years, a seismic event that challenged the industry's monochromatic standards. Dunn leveraged that platform with sharp wit and candor, calling out racism and sizeism while building a formidable career. She became a Victoria's Secret Angel, launched successful clothing collaborations, and transitioned into acting, all while raising her son as a single mother. Her journey from a London chain store to the apex of global fashion is a testament to her resilience and a marker of slow, hard-won change on the catwalk.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jourdan was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jourdan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jourdan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Black model to walk a Prada runway in over a decade in February 2008, a landmark moment for diversity in fashion.
- Named a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2014, joining the elite ranks of the brand's most prominent models.
- Launched a successful collaboration with the high-street retailer Missguided, designing multiple collections.
- Featured on the cover of British Vogue's landmark September 2019 issue, guest-edited by The Duchess of Sussex.
Did You Know?
She was discovered while shopping with friends at a Primark store in Hammersmith, London.
She is a passionate fan of the football club Chelsea F.C.
She has a son, born in 2009, whom she has raised as a single mother.
She has spoken openly about having sickle cell trait.
“I'm not just a model. I'm a businesswoman, I'm a mother, I'm an activist.”
