WiN Festival Speaker

Thando Hopa

Thando Hopa is a global fashion model, diversity advocate, and cultural leader. Her career spans work as an asexual offence prosecutor at South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, an international model, actress, and activist. She contributed to United Nations policy discussions on albinism in the SADC region and serves as Vice Chairperson of the African Albinism Network. She is also a founding delegate of the Global Albinism Alliance and is pursuing an Executive MBA at Henley Business School. 

Thando has been recognized as one of BBC’s Top 100 Inspirational Women and a Fellow and Cultural Leader at the World Economic Forum’s Narratives Lab. She has featured in campaigns for Audi, The Foschini Group, and Jean Paul Gaultier, and graced the covers of Vogue Portugal, Marie Claire, Glamour, and the Pirelli Calendar. 

She is the Founder and Producer of the African Fashion Legacy Project, launched with Glamour Magazine, Angelique Kidjo, and the World Economic Forum to showcase African textiles and champion under-represented groups. Thando has delivered talks and workshops at platforms including Facebook, Bloomberg LP, MAKERS Conference, H&M Foundation, Ontario Government, and SISTA Summit in Paris. She has also contributed thought leadership for Pirelli, Bizcommunity, Glamour, and Allure Magazine. 

Thando uses her platform to drive inclusive representation, cultural storytelling, and and transformative social narratives.