Female models from South Sudan have always captured the attention of big agencies in the United States. One of the things that make them stand out is their exceptional height and dark skin color. The Dinka tribe has produced numerous models who are global icons in the industry. In this article, we’ll look at some of the Dinka models you should know.
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Alek Wek
Alek Wek was born on 16 April 1977 in South Sudan. She lived there with her family until the war broke out. Alek arrived in London, England, at 14 and studied Fashion Business and Technology. A model scout took note of her at a market. Shortly after, Alek appeared in a Tina Turner music video and in 1996, signed with Ford Models.
She was named the Model of the Year and appeared on Elle. This made her the first African woman to grace the magazine cover. Alek is now one of the most recognisable models in the world. She’s appeared in magazines like Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Ebony and Forbes Magazine. Alek has also walked in the New York Fashion Week.
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Aheu Deng
She’s considered one of the tallest models to have taken part in beauty pageants. Aheu is from the Dinka tribe and is one of its models that has dazzled the world. Although she had a tough upbringing as a refugee living at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, Aheu has accomplished great things.
Aheu was Miss Earth South Sudan in 2009. She didn’t take up the opportunity to represent South Sudan at the global pageant. In 2011, Aheu started her foundation to give voice to women’s issues.
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Ataui Deng
Ataui Deng is the niece to Alek Wek. She left her birth country South Sudan for the United States during the second civil war. Ataui began her professional modelling career at the Trump Modelling Agency. In 2012, she made her debut 2008 in several shows in New York.
Ajak Deng
Ajak Deng immigrated to Australia due to the civil war in South Sudan. She was granted citizenship after the death of her mother. Ajak got her chance and began her modelling career with several high-profile jobs.
These included the United Colors of Benetton, the fashion shows like Valentino, Givenchy and Lanvin, among others. Ajak Deng is part of the model lineup for Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty.
Mari Malek
Like many other Dinka models on the list, Mari Malek fled her home country South Sudan for greener pastures in the United States. They headed to Egypt and were granted refugee status, after which they moved to New Jersey and relocated to San Diego.
Today, she’s a model, deejay and actress. Some of the shows Mari has modelled on include Vogue and Lanvin. She’s also in Lady Gaga and Kanye West music videos.
These models are some of the best in the world. Despite coming from a harsh background, they’ve sacrificed a lot to build their lives over. Do you want to have an amazing collection of clothes? Check out Amazon.
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