Alek Wek is a fashion model best known for being one of the first mainstream dark-skinned African models to appear on fashion magazine covers and work both campaigns and fashion shows in mid 1990's. Wek appeared on the covers or been featured in many international fashion magazines including Elle, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Vogue among others. She has been in campaigns for Victoria Secret, Clinique, Chanel, Calvin Klein Givenchy, Fendi, Armani, Christian Dior and Moschino among others. She also appeared in the high profile 2001 Victoria's Secret Fashion show. She was born In April 16, 1977 in Wau, South Sudan to Akuol and Athian Wek. Wek's Dinka ethnic heritage put her family at risk in the ongoing civil war in Sudan. She fled to Britain at age fourteen with her family in 1991 to escape ethnic genocide in Sudan. Wek was attending London's College of Fashion when was discovered at age eighteen at an outdoor market in Crystal Palace, London, England by as model scout. She made her debut that same year in Tina Turner's "GoldenEye" music video for the theme song for the namesake 1995 James Bond film.
Appears in the 1999 and 2000 Pirelli calendars.
Spokesperson for World Vision and U.S. Committee for Refugees.
Model.
She is from the Dinka tribe of southern Sudan, and fled to England with her family seeking political asylum. After leaving school she took up studies in fashion technology in London and was discovered by Models One scout Fiona Ellis while attending a party.
One of the worlds top fashion models.
Was ranked #14 in Channel 5s "Worlds Greatest Supermodel".
Represented by Storm Models agency.
Seventh of nine children.
I still have dreams in which someone is coming to the door.
Going back to South Sudan after the independence took place was deeply emotional for me because I had gone through the civil war with my family just before going to seek refuge in London.
The beauty of reading is that it lets you travel in a way you could never know.
I like to accept it all, the negative and the positive.
True beauty is born through our actions and aspirations and in the kindness we offer to others.
Beauty is subjective and should not be limited to only what we see on the outside.
I meet and talk to women from every corner of this planet, and I can find beauty in each and every one of them.
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