The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s misfortunes have often eclipsed its good news, with ongoing armed conflicts and most recently an Ebola outbreak. Much of the world knows little of the country’s vibrant arts scene, and last weekend in the capital, Kinshasa, models showed off daring new looks dreamed up by local designers on the catwalk. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)

Participants get ready ahead of a fashion show organized by Daspu, a fashion house founded and run by prostitutes, during the Women of the World (WOW) festival, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil November 18, 2018. (Photo by Pilar Olivares/Reuters)

Models backstage at the Lagos Fashion & Design Week in Nigeria on October 26, 2016. The opening night attracted models, buyers, consumers and the media to view the latest creations by African designers, five of whom were showcasing plus-size collections in the Nigerian city. (Photo by Stefan Heunis/AFP Photo)

A model presents a creation by designer Gaetano during the Malta Fashion Awards, the climax of Malta Fashion Week, in Valletta, Malta on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters)

A model presents a creation by designer Richard Rene as part of his Spring/Summer 2019 women's ready-to-wear collection show for Guy Laroche fashion house during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 26, 2018. (Photo by Stephane Mahe/Reuters)

Model presents a creation from the Amir Slama collection during Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil August 30, 2017. (Photo by Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

A model poses prior the Etam show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

A model presents a creation of YUKIHERO PRO-WRESTLING by designer Yukihiro Teshima from his Autumn/Winter 2018 collection during Fashion Week Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan March 20, 2018. (Photo by Issei Kato/Reuters)