‘Beyond blessed’: Australian supermodel Adut Akech announces pregnancy

After months of speculation, one of Australia’s most successful supermodels has announced she’s expecting her first baby.

Aussie supermodel Adut Akech has announced she’s pregnant with her first child.

After months of speculation prompted by the 24-year-old’s appearance at the Met Gala in May, she confirmed she and fiance Samuel Elkhier were expecting with a series of photos shared to Instagram overnight.

“Beyond blessed and CANNOT wait to meet our bundle of joy!!!” Akech captioned the post.

Akech, one of our most successful fashion exports – serving as muse to the late Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel and Pierpaolo Piccioli during his tenure as creative director at Valentino -was swiftly inundated with congratulations from the likes of Naomi Campbell, Adwoa Aboah, Jessica Alba and Winnie Harlow.

Akech, who was born in South Sudan and moved to Adelaide from a Kenyan refugee camp when she was eight, opened about her pregnancy in a candid interview with Vogue, describing the experience thus far as “a mental and physical rollercoaster”.

“I’m good. I’m excited. I can’t wait. I’m like – can they just come already? I’m kind of over it and I’m just halfway (along),” she said.

While pregnancy has been a “beautiful feeling … nothing really ever prepares you for it”, Akech added, joking: “Why does it feel like there’s a brick sitting on the top of my vagina? I’m so sorry for my language.”

Pregnancy rumours began after Akech’s appearance at this year’s Met Gala. Picture: Aliah Anderson/Getty Images

The South Sudanese-Australian supermodel with Naomi Campbell in 2019. Picture: Darren Gerrish/Getty Images

With less than three months until her due date, Akech said she’s now “just waddling around like, ‘What the f**k is this? What is this?’”

“Women … we’re built different, honestly. I don’t think men could ever,” she said.

Despite the discomfort, she told Vogue, she’d like to have at least five kids – though would settle for four or even six – and is unperturbed by the fact she’s still in her early 20s.

“I always said I wanted to be a young mum because I love the idea of growing up with your kids,” Akech, whose own mother had her when she was 20 years old, said.

“The age difference plays a huge role in how close we are.”