Bright ebony complexion, graphic boyish cut and smile to fall: under his tunes of Grace Jones, Adut Akech hides, from the top of his frail 18 years, a detonating resume. Because if she took her first steps in modeling at the age of 12 on behalf of her aunt, a modest designer of clothing, it is in Melbourne, at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia , that the slender silhouette of the young woman sparks, parading for no fewer than 16 shows during the event.

What to be noticed by the agency Elite France which positions (almost) immediately with Anthony Vaccarello then young new at Saint Laurent . "I have participated in almost every campaign since Anthony [ Vaccarello ] became the artistic director, I grew up close to him and the team. They are like my family, "she told ID magazine.

A family of 5 stars who open the doors of all other houses, multiplying campaigns and appearances on catwalks. During the last Fashion Week, we saw it on all fronts. In New York, Adut Akech was able to shine at Tom Ford, Bottega Veneta and Calvin Klein. In London, it's on the podiums of JW Anderson, Simone Rocha or Burberry that this great fan of Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek, his models, has made himself stand out. In Milan ? She has combined Versace, Fendi and Prada.

A success all the more bluffing that nothing predestined the young woman to play the models. Far from the frivolity of Fashion Week , it was in war-torn southern Sudan in 1999 that Adut came into the world. After a visit to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, her family arrives in Australia, in Adelaide. The future top was then only 6 years old and refugee status in a country where teachers can not even pronounce his name correctly. She is called "Mary". "It was much easier at school. But after signing an international contract with a modeling agency, I knew I wanted to resume " Adut ". I've never met another model with this name. "She explained to Vogue.

An identity singularity in the image of his career, but also his projects, the new New York is not content to scroll for the greatest. With dreams of entrepreneurship and charity work, Adut Akech continues, with seriousness and discipline, his studies in parallel with his career. "While they did my hair and my makeup, I 'm responsible for my homework. I have a school that supports me which I am very grateful. They make the whole process easier, "she tells Broadsheet . Or when the whole world is at the feet of an irresistible rising star.