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Seeing Dji Dieng, one understands why the 5’11” tall beauty with the longest legs in the fashion industry (123 cms) is known as one of the most electrifying black fashion models of today – it’s not just her height but the smile from her heart that lights up her face.

Dji Dieng knew that her life would change when she went into modelling, “But my personality has not changed,” she laughs revealing a gem-studded tooth. The affable African enjoys her new life, citing travelling, meeting new people and being exposed to new cultures as her favourite part of the job.

Her entry into the field was quite by chance when she was approached on the Champs Elysee by a fashion scout about three years ago. Asked if she would like to model, she replied in the negative. Nevertheless her mother seeing the card accompanied her to the agency and subsequently signed the contract with Haute Couture. “I’m going to do it, I said to myself and before I knew it, I was a model,” Dji laughs.

Within a month, her pictures were everywhere. “It is my height and my good heart,” she says modestly, of her success. Assignments with Coca Cola Light that required of her to be suspended midair like a puppet with invisible wires “that hurt bad”, Alfa Romeo cars, Makeup Forever and campaigns with Vivienne Westwood brought her further success.

Learning about other cultures is one of her chief interests. “I find each of them so unique,” says she. This is perhaps why Dji has learnt to speak French, Italian, Spanish and English fluently.

Dji also designs jewellery and clothes, mostly street wear under the ‘Dji’ label. And she may soon make a name as a singer, a German music producer having signed her up for an album about building bridges to unite people. To be sung in German, English and Wolof (the language of her native Senegal) the album is about peace.

Having spent part of her childhood in Africa and part in Paris, she is aware that all people are not fortunate and is eager to work with UNESCO to preserve culture and support issues related to children and HIV.

Keen on coming to Sri Lanka since the tsunami, she has toured the island these past two weeks visiting temples and monuments and says she is very impressed by the Buddhist way of life.

Now 24, how does she see herself ten years from now? “I’ll be a mama with two kids and perhaps do some designing too,” she laughs.