From South Sudan to Saint Laurent, via Adelaide
Adut Akech has become one of Australia’s most successful international models after scoring her big break at 16, at first working exclusively with Saint Laurent. Since then, the 19-year-old has walked for Valentino, Moschino, Burberry, Chanel and Fendi.
The South Sudanese-born, Adelaide-raised teenager, who arrived in Australia as a refugee aged eight with her mother Mary and two older sisters, never thought she’d count Karl Lagerfeld, Naomi Campbell and Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli among her friends in the business.
Now based in New York, Adut returns to Australia as the face of Melbourne Fashion Week.
Adut Akech has become one of Australia’s most successful international models after scoring her big break at 16, at first working exclusively with Saint Laurent. Since then, the 19-year-old has walked for Valentino, Moschino, Burberry, Chanel and Fendi.
The South Sudanese-born, Adelaide-raised teenager, who arrived in Australia as a refugee aged eight with her mother Mary and two older sisters, never thought she’d count Karl Lagerfeld, Naomi Campbell and Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli among her friends in the business.
Now based in New York, Adut returns to Australia as the face of Melbourne Fashion Week.
Adut Akech has become one of Australia’s most successful international models after scoring her big break at 16, at first working exclusively with Saint Laurent. Since then, the 19-year-old has walked for Valentino, Moschino, Burberry, Chanel and Fendi.
The South Sudanese-born, Adelaide-raised teenager, who arrived in Australia as a refugee aged eight with her mother Mary and two older sisters, never thought she’d count Karl Lagerfeld, Naomi Campbell and Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli among her friends in the business.
Now based in New York, Adut returns to Australia as the face of Melbourne Fashion Week.
How did your relationship with Saint Laurent get started?
I had just finished participating in Fashion Week in Australia when I got the call from my agent. I remember it was a Wednesday night. I was sitting at home in my school uniform trying to catch up after being away for a few weeks. Mum was in Africa at the time. By Friday I was on a plane to Paris for the first time. I went alone.
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What are your memories of that trip?
I arrived with a swollen foot. Nobody told me to wear compression stockings on the flight, so I slept the entire trip and woke with a humongous foot and couldn’t wear any shoes. I was stressing out. I went to hospital for eight hours, all thanks to a piece of glass they found in my foot, which got infected and made things worse. During rehearsal at Saint Laurent I collapsed and started crying. The casting director ran up to me and picked me up off the floor. I told him I couldn’t walk in any of the shoes they wanted me to wear. I thought I had blown my chances. In the end, they put me in a pair of men’s tuxedo shoes to wear with my dress.
You’re the face of Valentino’s Born in Roma fragrance for the 2019 spring/summer campaign, alongside Anwar Hadid.
Valentino holds a special spot in my heart. Designer Pierpaolo looks beyond physical beauty, he accepts people for who they are. The fact he chose me to represent this fragrance is another pinch-me career moment: I am the first black female to be the face of a Valentino fragrance. I hope this opens up doors for other models of colour. It’s a huge statement and I’m proud to be part of it.
When did you first meet the late Karl Lagerfeld?
I met Karl in February 2018 at my fitting for Fendi, during Milan Fashion Week. He was sitting in his chair and told me I was gorgeous. I was like, “Is he serious? This is crazy.” I was trying to remain calm and professional but all I wanted to do was run out of the room and ring my mum to tell her what he said. Then he started asking why no one had brought me to him before: “Why haven’t I seen her at Chanel?” The room went silent. It was awkward.
From that moment I felt a connection with him. I did a Fendi show, then my first Chanel after that, and we spent hours one-on-one in his studio. He also liked to call me Choupette – just like his cat. It’s so sweet. That’s also when he asked if I wanted to be his Chanel couture bride. I was like, “Yes, of course.”
You’re only the second black bride to close a Chanel haute couture show.
Australian model Adut Akech is doubly in Vogue
When I came to Australia, I promised my mum that I would finish school, buy her a house and car and make something of myself. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get to this but at the age of 19 I have been able to do it. I have been saving money for her and I am happy my career has allowed that to happen.
She’s a single mum raising seven children. My dad died, so isn’t in the picture, and she has been doing it all by herself. She’s a superwoman who gave up her chance at education and career to raise her family. I am forever grateful.
What do you think of when you walk down the runway?
GALLERY
Let there be bright
I used to stress myself out thinking about walking straight, keep tall. Now all I think about is what I’m going to eat after the show and getting some sleep. That’s my secret, and what works for me.
Melbourne Fashion Week runs from August 28 to September 5.
This article appears in
Sunday Life magazine within the
Sun-Herald and the
Sunday Age on sale August 4.
