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Worldwide Wednesday: The 10 Hottest Senegalese Women
On September 28, 1960, Senegal officially joined the United Nations. Fast-forward 50 years later to September 29, 2010, Senegal formally becomes part of the Complex community. From joining an international network aiming to achieve world peace to being recognized by a wildly popular media network, the African country's come a long way since its days of religious conflicts and resistance movements. To mark this day in history, we're calling for Senegal's most lasting legacy, its statuesque women, to help us re-introduce the lesser known country to our readers and to the world. Now we invite you to click the jump for a hot history of Senegal's sexiest women. Go forth and be proud to have been a part of this historic day.
#10. Rama Yade
Hometown: Ouakam
Claim to fame: In that pantsuit, we'll let you take one guess what she does. If you guessed a French politician or, more specifically, France's Secretary of State for Sports, then you're freakishly correct!
#9. Kewe Mar
Hometown: Dakar
Claim to fame: Clearly, she's a serious runway model, but not that Victoria's Secret stripteasin' kind of runway model; more like the Yves St. Laurent high-fashion, smile-and-you-die kind of model.
#8. Dji Dieng
Hometown: Thies
Claim to fame: Stoic expressions in photos and on the runway perpetuate the stereotype of cold, snobby supermodels. But Dji, a.k.a. "the model with the longest legs," counters that idea with a warm heart. In 2007, the Goodwill Ambassadress was honored with the Leading Ladies Award and the United Nations Volunteer Award for her humanitarian efforts.
#7. Cathy Guetta
Hometown: Dakar
Claim to fame: While her man DJs the parties, his actress-turned-businesswoman wife plans 'em. From parties in Cannes to Ibiza to Marrakech, the couple's events aren't your typical neighborhood game night.
#6. Adama Paris
Hometown: Dakar
Claim to fame: The Senegalese model is making a mark as a designer (with an eponymous line) for the industry in which she originally launched her career. No, it's not high-fashion modeling AGAIN. OK, fine, it is. At this point, we can't associate the country with anything else.
#5. Sadiya Gueye
Hometown: Dakar
Claim to fame: Sadiya is another testament to the fact that models aren't just models in Senegal. Like her ambitious peers, Gueye's interests aren't confined to one profession; she also heads a school for fashion design and serves as a cultural ambassador.
#4. Viviane Ndour
Hometown: Mbour
Claim to fame: Dare we say she's the Beyonce of Senegal? All right, we won't go that far, but the "Queen of Mbalax" (the popular dance music of Senegal) did follow up her stint in an all-girl group with a more successful solo career and, obviously, a name for herself.
#3. Maria Fuema
Hometown: Dakar
Claim to fame: From Thakoon's campaign in 2005 to Oscar De La Renta's in 2009, Maria not only looks the part of an in-demand high-fashion model, she's got the enviable resume to back it up.
#2. Estelle
Hometown: London, England
Claim to fame: The London-born Senegalese singer made her name with a single entitled "American Boy." And the fact that we just used three countries to describe her makes her sex appeal even more otherworldly.
#1. Aissa Maiga
Hometown: Dakar
Claim to fame: What's a five-letter word for someone in entertainment who isn't on a reality show and/or C-list spoof-flick? Class. The Senegal-born French actresses is one of the country's most recognizable leading ladies, and on legitimate grounds too: an extensive filmography.
