Adut Akech makes Time 100 Next list
Adut Akech is making global headlines again - this time she’s been honoured in Time magazine’s list of rising stars in their own fields.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Adelaide supermodel and refugee advocate Adut Akech has been recognised in the first annual Time 100 Next list.
The honour roll, which is an extension of the magazine’s Time 100 list, features rising stars in their fields.
“Time, through the Time 100 has a unique ability to convene the world’s most influential people across disciplines toward collaboration and action,” editor-in-chief and chief executive Edward Felsenthal said.
Adut, who came here as a child refugee from Africa, is among the lists “Advocates” along with Australian conservationists Bindi and Robert Irwin.
Time chose Adut for her supermodel status and her “concerted efforts to make the fashion industry more inclusive” which the magazine says have included “amplifying the stories of her fellow refugees” and calling out racism.
The latter was, no doubt, in reference to the 19-year-old’s outrage in August when Who magazine published a photo of another South Sudanese-Australian model, Flavia Lazarus, incorrectly identified as Adut which made global headlines.
Adut also attracted international attention in July when she was hand-picked by Meghan Markle to appear on the British Vogue “Forces for Change” September issue cover.
Sharing her Time 100 Next news with her more than 650,000 followers on Instagram, Adut said she was “beyond honoured”.
“I’m still learning to become a good advocate for the numerous issues that confront all of us today, and there is still a long, long journey ahead - but I will do my best to ensure that the voices of those in need, especially @refugees, are always heard,” she wrote.
Bindi said she hoped to educate and inspire others “to create positive change on the planet”.
“I’m especially passionate about encouraging the next generation to make a difference,” she said.
“As young people, we are the next voters, the next decision-makers and generation to be changing the world. We must take a stand for what we believe in.”
Others rising stars recognised include actors Henry Golding and Noah Centineo, and singers Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X.