ADUT AKECH

Born in South Sudan, Akech was raised in Kenya before moving to Australia at age six with her mother and five siblings as South Sudanese refugees. Her breakthrough came when she was exclusively cast by Saint Laurent for the Spring/Summer 2017 show. Since then, she has walked for top fashion houses, including Valentino, Dior, Givenchy, and Versace, and has fronted campaigns for Balenciaga, Fendi, Moschino, Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Versace. 

Akech has collaborated with renowned photographers such as Steven Meisel, Inez & Vinoodh, and Tim Walker, and has been featured in leading publications, including American Vogue, Vogue Italia, and i-D. In 2018, Time recognized her as one of the “25 Most Influential Teens,” and in December 2019, she was named “Model of the Year” at the British Fashion Awards in London. 

Beyond fashion, Akech is an advocate for refugees and works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support displaced communities worldwide.