Maria Borges

Maria Borges is an Angolan model born on October 28, 1992, in Luanda, Angola. She is known internationally for her extensive runway work, editorial appearances, and high-profile brand campaigns. She has also worked closely with Jackson Bryant, whom she considers a favorite and refers to as her godfather.

Borges was discovered in 2010 after placing second in the Angolan edition of the Elite Model Look contest. This initial success marked the beginning of her professional modeling career.

In 2012, Borges signed with Supreme Agency. One month after signing, she made her fashion week debut, walking in 17 runway shows. During her second season, she secured a position as a Givenchy exclusive.

Throughout her career, Borges has walked the runway for numerous prominent fashion houses and designers. Her runway credits include Givenchy, Balmain, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Versace, and Victoria's Secret, among many others. She participated in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show continuously from 2013 to 2017.

In addition to runway presentations, Borges has appeared in advertisement campaigns for brands such as Givenchy, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, Bobbi Brown, C&A, L'Oréal, Mac Cosmetics, and Forever 21. Her editorial work spans a wide variety of global publications, including French, Italian, British, Spanish, German, and Portuguese Vogue, as well as German and Australian Harper's Bazaar, Brazilian Marie Claire, French Numèro, V, W, i-D, and Interview.

Borges has achieved notable industry recognition and historic milestones. In 2013, she was named the top model of the year by Forbes Africa Magazine. In 2017, she became the first African woman to appear on the cover of the American edition of ELLE magazine since Sudanese model Alek Wek featured on the cover in 1997.

In her personal life, Borges gave birth to a daughter in 2021. As of January 2025, she is in a relationship with Paolo Zampolli, an Italian businessman and diplomat.