Sudanese sensation and supermodel Alek Wek first piqued our interest and stole our hearts with her artsy beauty when she took to the runways in 1995. Discovered at an outside London market by a modeling scout, Alek first gained attention in the music video "Golden Eye" by Tina Turner. She quickly gained supermodel status once she entered the world of high fashion. Going on to sign with Ford Models in 1996, Alek was soon after named "Model of the Year" by MTV in 1997. She has since appeared in ads for Issey Miyake and Victoria's Secret, as well as walked the runways for many top designers like Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, and John Galliano. From the catwalk to the big screen, Alek played the role of a Sudanese princess in the movie
The Four Feathers in 2002.
Alek has not always lived a lavish life. One of nine children born in Wau located in the southern Sudan, her family had fled to Britain to escape civil war between Sudanese Muslims and Christians. Her story is told in her autobiography,
Alek: From Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel. As if that is not enough, she is also a designer of handbags called
Wek 1933, and a member of the U.S. Committee for Refugees'Advisory Council, helping to bring awareness to the dilemma of refugees globally.
