Born in Minnesota to a Thai-born Chinese mother and a Nigerian father, Adesuwa Aighewi spent half her childhood in Nigeria before moving back to the United States at 13. She enrolled in chemistry at the University of Maryland at 15, skipping grades, and interned at NASA until a scout on campus changed the trajectory entirely.

She partook in a test shoot in 2010 and within years had the attention of Alexander Wang, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, and Dior. Her editorial credits span multiple editions of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Numéro, i-D, CR Fashion Book, AnOther, and Dazed, and in 2019 the British Fashion Council recognised her as one of the leading creatives of the "NEW WAVE." She has since directed short films for LOVE magazine, written on diversity in fashion for The Guardian, and served as Contributing Editor at i-D.

Her Legacy Project, a cross-cultural initiative connecting African artisans with Western fashion designers, reflects her broader mission to preserve and promote African culture on a global scale. As she has put it: "I want to bring everyone together and make a plan and help our continent." In 2024, she fronted the Chanel Watches and Fine Jewellery Holiday campaign and appeared on the cover of Numéro Netherlands, proof