Anna Vlach looks back at rise of tenacious Adelaide supermodel Adut Akech
AT only 18, Adut Akech is an international supermodel. But her rise to stardom is a story of her strength of character — from a refugee child in Adelaide, to staring down racist social media attacks in Australia.
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SOUTH Sudanese South Australian model Adut Akech proved to be the headline model at David Jones’s season launch — almost 12 months to the day when she and the luxury retailer made the news.
In mid-August last year, David Jones offered a “we are very sorry you feel this way” apology to a customer complaining she couldn’t “relate” to beauty catalogue cover girl Adut who “could have been used on the back page”.
The social media exchange caused outrage and David Jones released a statement saying they “are not and will never apologise for representing the diverse make-up of the Australian community in our marketing material”.
Adut, then 17, handled the episode with grace and diplomacy, saying “although the initial generic response from DJs was not ideal, I’m confident David Jones have since addressed the issue with the sensitivity it deserves”.
In an interview with The Advertiser in the lead-up to this week’s David Jones runway at Sydney’s Fox Studios, where she was a standout, Adut, now 18, said it was a one-off incident.
She was “super excited” to be walking in the show, in which her model boyfriend Anei Dut also appeared, the couple walking hand-in-hand into the after-party.
Adut was born on Christmas Day, 1999, as her family made their way from war-torn South Sudan to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.
She came to Australia as a six-year-old, settling in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Six years later, she made her modelling debut when her aunt, who owned a boutique, asked her to be in a parade.
In early 2016, while visiting relatives in Melbourne, Adut walked into Chadwick Models.
The girl with the gap-toothed smile and long legs was snapped up. Recognising Adut would also need a representative in SA, Chadwick’s Joseph Tenni contacted Finesse Models Australia. The Adelaide agency signed her on the spot, director Brigette Mitchell taking the then-16-year-old under her wing and getting her catwalk ready.
The next month, Adut was in Sydney walking in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. where she appeared in 16 parades. “Adut was booked for more shows than any other girl, which was outrageous considering it was her first season,” Mr Tenni said.
“Adut has real star quality.
“She has a charm and charisma that can’t be faked. Everything looks great on her, as well.”
Within six months, Adut made her international debut walking for Saint Laurent at Paris Fashion Week and has been in demand ever since.
“Everything I’ve done so far is incredible … out of this world,” Adut said. “I can’t believe how much I’ve done in such a short amount of time.” Her achievements include being chosen by the legendary Karl Lagerfeld to be the Chanel bride in the French fashion house’s couture show in Paris.
“He actually asked me if I wanted to be the bride and I didn’t know whether he was being serious or not at first,” Adut said. “It felt like a dream and still does to be honest. It was such an amazing experience.”
The casting made global headlines. Adut is the second black model to be a Chanel bride, the first being one of her childhood idols, Alek Wek, in 2004.
Adut is also the face of the latest Chanel campaign, which was photographed by Lagerfeld, who gave her a pet name.
“That was my first proper one-on-one time with him and he was really, really nice … calling me after his famous cat,” Adut said, referring to Choupette Lagerfeld.
There was also a big cat photoshoot for a Valentino campaign. “It was actually a real, live panther — it was incredible. I was very scared at first, but towards the end it was so much fun … I got to pat it … amazing,” she said.
Other highlights include attending this year’s Met Gala, where she was dressed by Valentino, and playing the Queen of Diamonds in Pirelli’s all-black Alice In Wonderland 2018 calendar, in the company of Naomi Campbell, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Whoopi Goldberg and Aussie model Duckie Thot.
“I’m very pleased with the way things are going,” Adut said. “I’m very appreciative and grateful to everyone who’s helping me, supporting me and just believing in me.”
Her supporters include Campbell, who is “like a second mum to me out there in New York”. Based in the Big Apple since late last year, Adut was determined to finish Year 12 at St Columba College. She also wanted to attend her formal, like any other Adelaide schoolgirl, in a dress from popular hire boutique ONS.
Catching the eye of Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann, Adut is about to do a photoshoot for the magazine in Adelaide, showcasing couture from the world’s top fashion houses.
The location, Salisbury, was suggested by Adut, who was raised by her mother Mary — “my father’s not in the picture” — and wants readers to know her backstory.
Rolling her ankle while posing for the cameras the day before the David Jones parade, Adut was low-maintenance, insisting she was fine and that the photoshoot must go on.
“I’m always talking to my mum and my family,” Adut said, when asked about her down-to-earth demeanour.
“I feel like they keep me grounded but the biggest thing is just remembering where I came from and where I started and what I’ve achieved.”
Adut is also keen to use her profile to draw attention to the plight of refugees.
On World Refugee Day, she shared a UN Refugee Agency post with her more than 150,000 followers on Instagram.
She has also recently signed on to become an ambassador.
“I’m supporting refugees and the refugee camp that I’m supporting is the one that I come from in Kenya … that’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.
“I’m currently working on becoming an ambassador and I’m just supporting in any way I can, whether it’s social media support or attending events.”
Originally planning to travel to Kenya this month, Adut will now go in December.
It will be her first visit since leaving for Australia 12 years ago.
“I’m going to go to the camp and meet up with the school kids and the kids that are into fashion and single mothers … because I have a single mum too,” Adut said. “I would just love to hear their stories and for them to hear my story too.”
It’s a story that will undoubtedly have many more chapters.
“I have been thinking of opening a school and a hospital back home in South Sudan — so I want to save up all my money and go back home and do something for my people,” Adut said. “I would also like to open up a modelling agency back home — there are a few things I am going to be working towards.”
ADUT’S RISE TO GLOBAL STARDOM
APRIL 2016: Adut Akech walks into Melbourne’s Chadwick Models, who sign the 16-year-old, left, on the spot.
MAY 2016: Appears in 16 shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia.
AUGUST 2016: Opens a show at SAHMRI for the campaign launch of the Adelaide Fashion Festival.
SEPTEMBER 2016: International debut on Saint Laurent runway at Paris Fashion Week.
MAY 2017: Features in Vogue Australia for the first time in a seven-page denim fashion editorial.
JULY 2017: Stars in the photoshoot for Pirelli’s all-black calendar.
October 2017: Moves to New York to further her career, returning for her Year 12 formal and a photo with her mother Mary, far right.
APRIL 2018: British Vogue unveils its May “New Frontiers” issue featuring Adut on the cover.
JULY 2018: Stars as the bride, left, in the Chanel show at Paris Fashion Week.
AUGUST 2018: Adut is a headline model for David Jones, right, also announcing she is becoming a UN ambassador.