[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YdeLIqyoc4&w=640&h=390]
SOURCE: THIS IS AFRICA (TUMBLR)
Ajak Deng. A Sudanese born Australian model currently making her mark in the fashion world. Recently seen strutting the catwalk in her first international show season during the 2010 New York Fashion Week, she is a face to watch out for!
Born in December 7, 1989 in Sudan, family fled to a Kenyan refugee camp in 2003 in the midst of the civil war. Deng’s mother unfortunately passed away from malaria when Ajak was 12, leaving eight children behind. Deng took charge and became the mother to her younger siblings. In 2005, her family was given the opportunity move to Australia and they settled down in Melbourne. When Ajak was 16, her father and her stepmother moved back to Sudan, leaving her financially responsible of her 7 siblings. While Ajak was still in high school, she did a short modelling course and made her debut at the 2008 Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. Since then, she has been riding the success trail!
Unfortunately, Deng’s road to success has had it’s downside. In an interview with Vogue.it (above), Deng notes discrimination during some castings in Australia, where they have stated that they ‘we don’t work with black models‘. It’s been said that the black models in Australia have it tough. But Ajak hasn’t let that stop her. In an interview with [frockwriter], she says “For me, I don’t want to think like it is impossible. There’s nothing impossible, as long as you put yourself out there”.
Ajak is now in high demand with Topshop, Mimco and Banana Republic campaigns and fashion shows for the likes of Chloe and John Paul Gautier under her belt.
For someone so young to go through the trauma of a war and death, then to glow on the catwalk for fashion’s big names just to support her seven siblings is truly a remarkable and inspirational person!
SOURCE: NU KYNK
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