Who is Alek Wek?

There can’t be a conversation about iconic fashion models without mentioning Alek Wek. In 1977, she was born in Southern Sudan. Her family's lives, like the lives of millions of other Sudanese, were turned into a nightmare in 1982 when a civil war broke out. Shortly after the continuing war began, she lost her father due to a hip repair that created significant health issues. At the age of 14, Wek relocated to Britain as a refugee with her family. Alek enrolled in the London College of Fashion's business program when she was 18. She was scouted by a modeling agency and signed with "Ford Models" in 1996. That same year, she made her debut in Tina Turner's music video for "Golden Eye". Wek's modeling career began in 1997. For her first fashion show season, Alek was made the star of Ralph Lauren’s Spring African-inspired collection. She was also the first African model to be featured on the cover of Elle, which was a very big deal at this time because it was believed that covers of black women didn’t sell. The success of this cover completely dismissed that assumption and went on to sell an outstanding amount of copies and gained a lot of positive feedback. Wek collected 2 awards in 1997 named "Model of the Year" by MTV and i-D magazine's Model of The Decade. She drew people in right away, and the demand for Alek Wek only increased from there.  

Wek's career kicked into high gear. She has graced the runway for several well-known fashion houses. She became the first black model to play the role of Chanel Bride in 2004 as the closing look in the couture shows. She’s also walked for John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Alexander McQueen. She served as the opening act for Yves Saint Lauren, Christian Lacroix, and Valentino shows. Alek was extremely sought after by magazines, and many photographers and designers adored her. She made a memorable impact. The best of the best began to admire and desire to collaborate with her at that point. She participated in numerous campaigns for brands including Fendi, Christian Dior, Armani, and Moschino.

Alek Wek is a model who's most known for being one of the first mainstream dark-skinned African models to feature on fashion magazine front covers and work in advertisements and runway shows in the late 1990s. Some of her best moments in front of the camera include her fully nude shot in The 1999 Pirelli Calendar photographed by Herb Rittes. Alek’s most viral appearance on the runway was her removing her blond wing and throwing it during Betsey Johnson's Fall/Winter 1998 rebelling against European beauty standards for women. While Wek was not the first African model to be welcomed into the fashion world, she was one of only a few dark-skinned models to gain recognition during that particular period. The "accepted" appearance of that time was white. People were so familiar with a specific image that some at Alek’s own agency were unsure if she would work commercially. She was pivotal in helping redefine beauty and was uplifted and celebrated by black women all over the world. "if Alek had been on the cover of a magazine when I was growing up, I would have had a different concept of who I was.", said by Oprah Winfrey when Alek Wek was featured on her talk show in 1998. Supermodel Alek Wek achieved a remarkable level of worldwide success. She was seen as the face of Coach's campaign for their Japanese store opening. Also appeared in editorials and covers of magazines such as American and British Vogue, Brazilian Elle, Forbes Magazine Africa, and Ebony. Wek made her debut on the big screen in 2002, “The Four Feathers”, portraying a Sudanese princess along with Heath Ledger, extending her talent off the runway.

 Alek has made sure she uses her platform for more than just posing in beautiful clothes. She’s not only been a designer herself, but also a refugee advocate, and public speaker. In her free time, she loves painting, therefore it was only a matter of time before she expressed her creativity through selling her products. Wek made her design debut in 2005, with a collection of handbags, which are now discontinued, called Alek Wek 1933, named after the year her father was born. Her inspiration for the designs originated from her dad's brass-clasp briefcase. “I’ve always really enjoyed my art, and I’ve always wanted to have a platform where I can share that because it’s personal,” said Wek. Alek was selected as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2013. She also has served as an advisor to the United States Committee for Refugees Advisory Council since 2002, helping spread awareness about the crisis in Sudan and the dire state of refugees worldwide. As someone who has had to flee her own country and still identifies as a refugee, Wek continues to keep placing herself in positions to continue assisting people in need and being a part of a solution to a very large problem.

I think what makes Alek so impactful is her extraordinary beauty and her inspiring life story. She rose from a horrific situation that most people do not survive, and she used her successful outcome to uplift and open doors for her people. Wek arrived and defied beauty norms, becoming an inspiration for aspiring models and a symbol of diversity and inclusiveness. Her impact is felt all across the world, and she will continue to be a blueprint for aspiring models or creatives for future generations.