Aussie model Adau Mornyang returns to Australia after being released from US detention
Former Miss World Australia finalist Adau Mornyang’s dream trip to further her career in the US turned into a living nightmare, with the beauty queen facing court and then immigration detention, but she’s finally returned home.
Fiona Byrne
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A Melbourne fashion model and former beauty queen has been released after being detained in the US for more than three months.
Adau Mornyang, 25, quietly returned home to Australia last month after being released from an immigration prison in New Jersey.
She had been in custody since September 17 when officers from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency arrested her for being in the US illegally.
Her sister said the arrest was a “surprise ambush” as Mornyang held a valid US visa.
The former Miss World Australia finalist was locked up in a prison in Hackensack to await deportation.
Before her arrest Mornyang had in July been sentenced to 1000 hours of community service and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond after slapping and berating a flight attendant on a flight to Los Angeles earlier that year.
Clearly saddened by the series of traumatic experiences she endured in the past year, Mornyang has taken to Facebook to tell her friends she is finally home. She has lamented how what started as a dream to work in the fashion industry in the US turned into a nightmare.
“Today marks 1 year since I got arrested on a #delta flight to LA. A horrible mistake that now apparently defines me,” Mornyang wrote.
“Today also marks 1 month since my release from I.C.E detention facility in New York after being held for 3 months.
“All in hopes to pursue my modelling career that has now come to an end.”
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed the department had helped Mornyang while she was detained.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided consular assistance to an Australian woman that was detained in the United States. Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment,” the spokesman said.
Her modelling agency confirmed she was back in Melbourne and had been in contact.
Mornyang did not respond to requests for comment.