Alek Wek
Alek Wek is a supermodel from Sudan who now lives in New York City. She is known for her charity work as well as being an activist for the Refugees Advisory Council, actress and writer. Besides modeling in a variety of runway shows during her career, Alek is passionate about music. According to a quote she played the drums, then the piano and enjoys the guitar. Alex wrote her biography. In the biography she did admit there were some racial undertones in the modelling industry, but her career certainly proved she could rise up the ranks to reach top status as a model.
Alek and her family escaped the Sudanese civil war in 1991 moving to England.
Unfortunately her father was killed that same year leaving her mother and her eight siblings. Fast forward four years and Alek Wek was scouted by Model 1’s Fiona Ellis while Alek was at a party. She quickly became a popular model even appearing in the Goldeneye music video that Tina Turner sang for.
A year later Alex was signed with Ford Models and appearing in Got ‘Til It’s Gone, a music video for Janet Jackson. There was nowhere for Alek Wek to go but up in her career with such honors as being named the model of the year in 1997 by MTV as well as the model of the decade by i-D for that same year.
Personal Details
- Birth Date: April 16, 1977
- Nationality: Sudanese
- Height: 5’ 11”
- Bust: 34
- Waist: 23
- Hips: 34
- Shoes: 8 (American)
- Hair and Eye Color: Dark brown hair and brown eyes
Agencies
Alek has worked for Model 1, Ford Models, and IMG with numerous appearances for top designers.
Work History by Year
With too many appearances to name all in one document here are some of the highlights Alek Wek debuted as a runway model for Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, and Ralph Lauren in both Paris and New York, February 1997.
Also during this year she did the Fall Fashion Week show in Paris for Dries Van Noten, Chanel, Lagerfeld, and Vivienne Westwood. She also appeared on the cover of Elle in November 1997.
She has appeared on a number of covers during her long career including I-D, Vogue and Essence. Alex Wek was featured in the Pirelli Calendar in 1999 and named one of People’s magazine’s top 50 for most beautiful people.
Not only has she appeared on the cover of magazines and received numerous awards during her career she has opened and closed shows for Yves Saint Laurent, valentine, Christian Lacroix, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Oscar de la Renta.
In 2002 she took a little time from the runways to appear in The Four Feathers, where she played a Sudanese princess named Aquol.
Throughout the 2000s she appeared on runways for several top designers as well as on the covers of magazines like Ebony. She was named the third best dressed of the week while wearing a Diane von Fustenburg dress.
In more recent years Alex Wek appeared in Dazed and Confused editorial, August 2010.