Ajak Deng – Model Spotlight

Originally from the Sudan, Ajak Deng, at age 12, had to flee with her family to a Kenyan refugee camp. There, her mother died of malaria, leaving Ajak to care for her seven siblings. A few years after, Ajak and her family immigrated to Australia, under refugee status, where she, against the odds,  still completed school while modeling internationally for United Colors of Benetton.  Since the age of 16, Ajak Deng has been financially responsible for her siblings.

 

Ajak’s Fashion Career Highlights

2001– Becomes a refugee and moves to northern Kenya

2009– Signs with Chic Management in Australia, and begins to model locally

             Signs with IMG in New York

March 2009–  Models for Australia Fashion Week

March 22, 2009– The Age features Ajak’s life story

September 2009– Debuts at the spring Michael Angel show in New York; also walks for

                                      Arise African, Brian Reyes, Dennis Basso, and Sophie Theallet

2010– Becomes one of the faces of Benetton

February 2010– Walks the fall Reed Krakoff, Naeem Khan, Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Roy, and

                                 Marc by Marc Jacobs shows in New York

March 2010 (The Breakthrough)- Walks the fall Maison Martin Margiela, Givenchy,

                                                                       Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin, and Chloé shows in Paris

May 2010- Appears in Interview editorial, photographed by Mikael Jansson

July 2010– Walks the fall Valentino couture show in Paris

September 2010– Opens and closes the spring Matthew Ames show in New York; also closes

                                     for Lanvin

November 2010– Walks the Lanvin For H&M show in New York

2011– Featured on the pre-spring cover and in editorial of i-D, photographed by Emma

             Summerton

            Appears in the spring issue of Love, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

            Featured on the fall cover of French Revue de Modes, photographed by Thierry Le Goues

February 2011– Closes the fall Topshop show in London

                                 Appears in an all-black editorial for Italian Vogue, photographed by Emma

                                       Summerton

March 2011– Appears in Vogue editorial, photographed by Norman Jean Roy

2012- Models for the Kenzo spring ad campaign