Alek Wek

Model

Born in Southern Sudan in 1977, Alek Wek is a Sudanese-British model. In 1991, her family escaped the Sudanese civil war to Britain. She was scouted as a model at an outdoor market in London and first appeared on the catwalks at the age of 18 in 1995.  

Wek was named Model of the Year in 1997 by MTV; that same year, she was the first African model to appear on the cover of Elle. She has featured in advertisements for Issey Miyake, Moschino, Victoria's Secret and make-up company Clinique, as well as modelling in catwalk shows for John Galliano, Chanel, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Jasper Conran, Shiatzy Chen and Ermanno Scervino.

In 2002, Wek became a member of the U.S. Committee for Refugees' Advisory Council. She is also a missionary for World Vision, an organisation which combats AIDS, an ambassador for Doctors Without Borders in Sudan and devotes time to UNICEF.

In 2007, Wek released an autobiography, titled Alek: From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel, documenting her journey from a childhood of poverty in Sudan to the catwalks of Europe. In July 2012, she returned to South Sudan with the UN Refugee Agency to highlight the stories of refugees returning from the north and the massive efforts needed to build and stabilise the country. She also teamed up with Amarula as the face of their campaign African Originals.

In September 2015, Wek walked for Marc Jacobs at S/S 16 New York Fashion Week, later appearing in the label's S/S 16 campaign. In May 2016, she modelled for four special edition covers of Brazilian Elle. At the A/W 20 shows, Wek walked for Lanvin.

Born in Southern Sudan in 1977, Alek Wek is a Sudanese-British model. In 1991, her family escaped the Sudanese civil war to Britain. She was scouted as a model at an outdoor market in London and first appeared on the catwalks at the age of 18 in 1995.  

Wek was named Model of the Year in 1997 by MTV; that same year, she was the first African model to appear on the cover of Elle. She has featured in advertisements for Issey Miyake, Moschino, Victoria's Secret and make-up company Clinique, as well as modelling in catwalk shows for John Galliano, Chanel, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Jasper Conran, Shiatzy Chen and Ermanno Scervino.

In 2002, Wek became a member of the U.S. Committee for Refugees' Advisory Council. She is also a missionary for World Vision, an organisation which combats AIDS, an ambassador for Doctors Without Borders in Sudan and devotes time to UNICEF.

In 2007, Wek released an autobiography, titled Alek: From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel, documenting her journey from a childhood of poverty in Sudan to the catwalks of Europe. In July 2012, she returned to South Sudan with the UN Refugee Agency to highlight the stories of refugees returning from the north and the massive efforts needed to build and stabilise the country. She also teamed up with Amarula as the face of their campaign African Originals.

In September 2015, Wek walked for Marc Jacobs at S/S 16 New York Fashion Week, later appearing in the label's S/S 16 campaign. In May 2016, she modelled for four special edition covers of Brazilian Elle. At the A/W 20 shows, Wek walked for Lanvin.

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