From Afrobeats to Fashion Royalty: Ayra Starr & Tems Make the BOF 500

Two of Nigeria’s most music stars, Ayra Starr and Tems have been inducted into the prestigious BOF 500 list, which recognizes the 500 most powerful figures shaping the global fashion industry.

Far from being newcomers, these women are now defining the intersection of music and style. Their inclusion marks a milestone not just for African representation, but for the growing cultural dominance of Afrobeats and its architects, particularly its women on the global stage.

This recognition marks much more than a nod to their style — it heralds a shift in how we understand influence, representation, and cultural power: Nigerian women in Afrobeats are now being celebrated not only for their music but for their voices in fashion.

What Is the BOF 500 — And Why It Matters

The BOF 500 is an annual list compiled by The Business of Fashion that spotlights 500 individuals who influence, shape, or lead worldwide fashion and beauty industries, from designers, creatives, models, business executives, to cultural figures.

Making the list signals that you’re more than a celebrity. You’re a tastemaker, trend-shifter, and stakeholder in the global fashion conversation.

This year’s list is especially notable for its increased representation from the Global South, reflecting a shift in where cultural power is emerging.

How Ayra Starr Earned Her Place

Long known in Nigeria’s alté and fashion-conscious scenes, Ayra Starr’s aesthetic blends Y2K flair, bold colors, and rooted cultural references. Her fashion resume includes campaigns for big names like Maybelline New York, New Balance, Pepsi, and L’Avyanna Skin. She’s graced covers of Dazed and Teen Vogue, and made a show-stopping entrance at the 2025 Met Gala, wearing Ozwald Boateng.

Her social media influence with nearly 14 million combined followers on Instagram and TikTok also amplifies her power.

All of this culminates in BOF recognizing her as “a deeply melodic, culturally resonant voice that bridges continents and generations.”

Tems: From Alt-R&B Icon to Fashion Tastemaker

Tems has already carved a singular path in Afrobeats and R&B. Her accolades include multiple Grammys, with 2025 marking the first time a Nigerian artist won two Grammys in one night, one for Best African Music Performance.

Her streaming numbers are staggering, over 3.6 billion Spotify streams across her catalog. Her collaborations read like a who’s-who: Drake, Future, J. Cole, Justin Bieber, and more.

Tems’ style evolution has been deliberate. She appeared in a Tommy Jeans campaign in Lagos in 2022, and her global fashion rise accelerated with accolades like Elle’s Trailblazer Award, and high-profile magazine covers (Elle UK, GQ, Interview, Billboard, Glamour, Dazed).

In 2025, she walked the Met Gala in a custom Ozwald Boateng ensemble, bringing African fashion voices to the forefront of one of the globe’s most watched style nights. She’s also been spotted front row at shows like Christian Dior’s Fall-Winter 2025, showing her growing cred in elite fashion circles.

For Tems, fashion isn’t just adornment, it’s part of her cultural messaging and identity.

Why This Recognition Matters — Beyond the Glam

The inclusion of Ayra Starr and Tems on the BOF 500 is more than symbolic. It signals that in 2025, music, fashion, and digital influence are inseparable,  especially for African creatives.  Historically, fashion gatekeeping skewed Western: runways, editorial choices, and industry recognition were often centered in Europe and North America. But now, Nigerian and African voices are reshaping not just how style is worn, but how it’s produced, valued, and narrated.

Nigeria’s dominance in music has long been evident; now its artists are claiming space in fashion, beauty, and culture at large. Past examples,  Burna Boy walking Chanel runways, Wizkid on global covers, Tiwa Savage in high fashion campaigns showed the early crossover. But Ayra Starr and Tems lead a generation of young women saying: “We define style.”

With their BOF 500 recognition, they become official participants in fashion’s conversations, not just interpreters of it.