Noella Coursaris: The Congolese model giving back to her community in style

Model-turned-philanthropist Noella Coursaris Musunka is a force to be reckoned with. Starting out as a determined student with a passion for women and the larger community, she has grown to become one of the most well-recognized names in fashion today. But for me, it is her ability to both recognize gaps and inequalities and find ways to change them, that I find inspiring. As an advocate for youth education, Musunka has always been passionate about bringing awareness to the power of education in Africa and beyond. And it is this same passion for change-making that has led to her forming partnerships both in and out of the fashion industry over the years, with the goal of positively affecting the lives of younger generations to come.

For her latest venture, she teamed up with fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic to create a 17-piece capsule collection, with a percentage of proceeds going to Musunka’s Malaika Foundation. The organization aims to empower young girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo through education and health programs, against the backdrop of a country that does not favor them. The average Congolese girl stays in school only until age nine. Through The Malaika Foundation, Musunka has been able to enroll over 200 girls in a school with modern facilities free of charge.

Noella models the tiered cotton-poplin midi dress

THE OUTNET X ROKSANDA FOR FOUNDATION MALAIKA

My discovery of this collaboration initially started as some admiration for Roksanda’s elegant and architecturally inspired pieces on social media. The pieces, which cater to the bold sophisticated woman, have been worn by the likes of Michelle Obama, Samantha Cameron, and The Duchess of Cambridge. As I continued to cyber-stalk the Serbian designer, I stumbled upon a picture of Noella wearing a piece from the collection, which features some of the designer’s famous archive shapes and fabrics. The picture was accompanied by Roksanda’s announcement of the collaboration. She also expressed her passion for sustainability and her desire for a circular economy, which she contributes to by using old fabrics in new and imaginative ways.

Noella models the jacquard midi dress with exaggerated sleeves

After reading the announcement, I quickly found myself on a mission to discover everything I could about Musunka and the project. In doing so, I found out that the collaboration actually started off with Noella being a fan of Ilincic’s clothing just like I was. She was hosting an event at The Avenue in Congo with Princess Caroline of Hanover, and after receiving so many compliments on her dress, she sought out the Serbian designer. The two bonded over their shared love of fashion and their desire to empower women, and that organic friendship inspired a collection boasting elegant fluid-like fabric and sculptural silhouettes to illustrate how “empowerment can be shown in both strength and vulnerability”. And with both parties’ vested interest in the success and development of young girls, they thought it necessary that the girls at the Malaika Foundation benefit from the collaboration as well.

Noella models the plum crepe peplum top

The women then took things a step further, looking to create a more hands-on experience for the girls of the foundation. The students of the school funded by Malaika were asked to create and color shapes, which would act as the backdrop for the campaign while Musunka models the designs from the collection in the forefront.

Noella models the lilac gathered crepe blouse and plum midi skirt

The cause of the foundation is one very dear to Musunka’s heart. Being from the DRC herself, she had firsthand experience of the lack of opportunity, especially for women. She was born into poverty, and after her father’s death, an infant Musunka was shipped off to live with relatives in Europe (Belgium and Switzerland) because her mother had not acquired an adequate enough education to create the means to take care of her child. It has always been Congolese custom to prioritize male education in the household and in society. Musunka returned to Congo after spending many years of her childhood apart from her mother, and she took a look at her community and decided she wanted to do something. Founding the Malaika Foundation in 2007 her main goal was to break the cycle of inequality and ensure that every child knows education to be an intrinsic right. The organization’s cause is especially pertinent today when women continue to break barriers and create opportunities for themselves in ways that we were previously told we couldn’t. I continue to be  inspired by the Malaika Foundation’s objective of leveling the playing field in order for women to be able to live up to their full potential.

Noella models the fluted crepe midi dress

This collection was launched earlier this year and is sold exclusively by online retailer The Outnet. Some of my personal favorites from the collection include anything satin, two-toned, or endowed with exaggerated sleeves-which pretty much means everything! Any item from this collection is guaranteed to spruce up your spring-summer wardrobe.