Biography
Who is Adut Akech?
Early life
Adut Akech was born in Sudan on Christmas Day in an area that later became part of South Sudan. She spent her early childhood being raised in Kakuma, Kenya. When she was seven years old, she moved alongside her mother to Adelaide, Australia as a South Sudanese refugee seeking asylum. They joined relatives who were already living there, and she grew up alongside her five siblings. During her school years in Adelaide, teachers found her birth name difficult to pronounce, so she was known by her Christian second name, Mary.
Despite her family introducing her to the fashion industry, and getting scouted multiple times by local modelling agencies at ages thirteen and fourteen, Adut started her professional career at age sixteen. She signed to her mother agency, Chadwick Models, located in Sydney, Australia. Within the professional fashion industry, she prefers to use her birth name, Adut.
Career highlights
Adut's runway debut took place in a local fashion show organized by her aunt. She subsequently walked in Melbourne Fashion Week, which led to digital photographs being taken for a casting by Saint Laurent in Paris. Following that event, her agent confirmed her for the Saint Laurent show, and she flew to Paris to make her major fashion week debut. Since then, she has walked for numerous major fashion houses, including Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Prada, Valentino, Zara, Moschino, Lanvin, Loewe, Miu Miu, Tom Ford, and Versace.
She has also shot editorials for prominent publications such as American Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, and I-D Magazine. Also, she landed magazine covers for 10 Magazine Australia, Portrait, Elle Croatia, and L'Officiel Singapore. She was featured in the Pirelli Calendar shot by Tim Walker and served as the ambassador for Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.
Refugee advocacy
In addition to her modeling work, Adut has engaged in humanitarian efforts. She began working with the United Nations Refugee Agency to support refugees and advocate for their rights. She expressed her perspective publicly by stating that refugees are just like everyone else, and she aims to act as a positive role model for people who share similar backgrounds to her own upbringing. She continued this work by partnering with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to promote global causes.
Personal life
Adut is married to Samuel Elkhier. She confirmed her pregnancy via a photoshoot posted to her Instagram page and subsequently gave birth to their daughter, Kiki. Standing at a height of 178 centimeters, she continues to work in the fashion industry while balancing her personal life and advocacy efforts.
Birthday and age
Adut Akech was born on December 25, 1999, which makes Adut 26 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Adut shares the date with 47 other famous people.
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