ABOUT YINKA MODELING AGENCY
Our mission at Yinka’s Modeling Agency (YMA) is to inspire youth and adults through modeling, mentoring, and etiquette classes.
We believe that by impacting the African American community, we are inspiring minorities to follow their dreams through modeling despite life circumstances.
YMA seeks to boost confidence, encourage others, and to increase self-love in our community.
ATINUKE BADA
AKA YINKA
Atinuke Bada aka Yinka, brings 27 years of experience in the fashion industry to her agency. She not only models and designs fashion inspired by her Nigerian heritage, she also is a trained educator.
She founded YMA in 2019 and now teaches youth and adults how to model with confidence on the runway and in photoshoots.
Yinka was born in Lagos, Nigeria on July 1, 1977 and came to America at the age of 9 years old with her father, mother, and older brother.
She started modeling at the age of 18 at Northern Illinois University with Present Perfect Modeling Organization in 1997.
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Yinka took a break from modeling to pursue a full-time career as a teacher teaching high
school math in Chicago, IL.
In addition to running YMA, Yinka now works for the Indiana Department of Child
Services.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1997 - Modeled for Present Perfect Modeling Organization
2012 - Began walking for designers in New York Fashion Week, Houston Fashion Week, and Chicago Fashion Week
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- Collaborated with designers throughout her time in the industry.
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- Explored different avenues in modeling, including Hair shows, The Black Women's Expo in Chicago, and hosting fashion shows.
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2022 - Organized Coming To America fashion show