Adut Akech Wins 'Model of the Year 2019' at British Fashion Awards in London

Adut Akech winning Model of the Year, getting a big hug from Naomi Campbell at Monday night’s British Fashion Awards 2019. © Darren Gerrish via British Vogue

In the words of British Vogue, “Adut Akech brought down the house”, winning Model Of The Year at Monday night’s British Fashion Awards celebration in London. Adut wore a voluminous Valentino gown that featured a ruffled midriff and a thigh-high split. Of course Adut used her speech to highlight the need for the fashion industry to continue its high-gear march towards far greater diversity.

The South Sudanese model is at the vanguard among the huge wave of creatives of color across the fashion industry, a trend that impacts photographers, stylists and countless other categories of vibrant talent virtually ignored by fashion industry leaders.

Adut Akech also brought her voice and status as a refugee born in then Sudan, now South Sudan, whose family migrated to Adelaide, Australia in an effort to remake their lives.

“It is important for all of us to remember that someone like me winning this award is a rarity,” she pointed out after expressing her gratitude for the statuette. “This is for the young women and men who found representation and validation in my work. I want them to never be afraid of dreaming big like I once did. To them, I say this: Whatever it is you want to do, whether it’s modelling or acting or medicine, you should never doubt yourself. Don’t let the world convince you that it is not possible.”

Akech appeared on the prestigious September 2019 covers of British Vogue, Vogue Germany and Vogue Japan. The British Vogue issue was guest edited by Her Royal Highness Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and featured women who are ‘Voices of Change’.

At a time when ‘refugee models’ are making their marks across the fashion and luxury market industry, Adut stands high on the list of beautiful young women enjoying their own mercurial success in an industry that has long shunned them.

The Aussie beauty’s activism and seizure of every limelight moment to discuss issues that matter to her is unrelenting, and in her own words: “I Will Always Be a Refugee”. As the model reminded us in her article ‘Refugees Are Just Like Everybody Else’ for British Vogue’s September 2019 issue:

“You don’t wake up thinking, I’m going to be a refugee. The only difference between a refugee and someone who grew up in the Western world is that we were forced out of our own country, out of our homes, because of fear – not out of choice.”

TIME Magazine honored Adut Akech on their 2019 TIME 100 Next list. Follow Adut Akech’s archives @ AOC.

Adut Akech’s September 2019 Vogue Covers

Kerolyn Soares + Kesewa Aboah by Tim Walker for British Vogue December 2019

Kerolyn Soares + Kesewa Aboah by Tim Walker for British Vogue December 2019

Rising models Kerolyn Soares and Kesewa Aboah are styled by Kate Phelan in ‘Way Out in Mexico’, lensed by Tim Walker for Vogue UK December 2019./ Hair by James Pecis; makeup by Sam Bryant

Mert + Marcus Flashes 'Tickled Pink' Color Pattern Fashion for Vogue UK December 2019

Mert + Marcus Flashes 'Tickled Pink' Color Pattern Fashion for Vogue UK December 2019

British Vogue’s December 2019 issue delivers ‘Tickled Pink’ a bold, modern and festive fashion editorial styled by Benjamin Bruno. Fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott are in the studio, capturing a large model cast that includes Cara Taylor, Carolina Burgin, Janaye Furman, Kris Grikaite, Mariam de Vinzelle, Meghan Collison and Sara Grace Wallerstedt./ Hair by Ryan Mitchell, makeup by Lucia Pieroni

British Vogue November Features 'Fade To Grey' Suitings Lensed by Kristin-Lee Moolman

British Vogue November Features 'Fade To Grey' Suitings Lensed by Kristin-Lee Moolman

Models Cara Taylor, Selena Forrest, Kerolyn Soares and Tash Ogeare suit up in ‘Fade To Grey’, styled by Poppy Kain. Photographer Kristin-Lee Moolman is behind the lens for British Vogue November 2019./ Hair by Cyndia Harvey; makeup by Hiromi Ueda

Mica Arganaraz + Selena Forrest in Fendi Haute Couture for Vogue UK

Mica Arganaraz + Selena Forrest in Fendi Haute Couture for Vogue UK

Models Mica Arganaraz and Selena Forrest are styled by Julia Sarr-Jamois in Fendi Haute Couture, the first showing of the Italian luxury label without Karl Lagerfeld. Photographer Angelo Pennetta is behind the lens for British Vogue November 2019 with ‘There’s No Place Like Rome’.

Hailey Bieber Takes A Country Stroll Lensed by Matt Easton for British Vogue October 2019

Hailey Bieber Takes A Country Stroll Lensed by Matt Easton for British Vogue October 2019

Model Hailey Bieber dresses up fine, styled by Dena Giannini in ‘A River Runs Through It’. Photographer Matt Easton captures Hailey country stroll for British Vogue October 2019./ Hair by Panos Papandrianos; makeup by Frank B

Nick Knight Captures Major #BlackGirlMagic in 'A Certain Romance' for British Vogue November 2019

Nick Knight Captures Major #BlackGirlMagic in 'A Certain Romance' for British Vogue November 2019

Top models Adwoa Aboah, Anok Yai, Duckie Thot, Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Lineisy Montero, Shanelle Nyasiase, Tami Williams, Ugbad Abdi and Winnie Harlow gather in ‘A Certain Romance’, fearless fashion glamour styled by Edward Enninful. Photographer Nick Knight is behind the lens for British Vogue’s November 2019 cover story./ Hair by Jawara; makeup by Val Garland

Craig McDean Eyes Charlie's Angel Star Ella Balinska for British Vogue November 2019

Craig McDean Eyes Charlie's Angel Star Ella Balinska for British Vogue November 2019

British actor Ella Balinska returns to the upcoming 2019 sequel of Charlie’s Angels, styled by Grace Coddington in ‘Ella Enchanted’. Photographer Craig McDean is behind the lens for Vogue UK November 2019./ Hair by Duffy; makeup by Diane Kendal

Kaia Gerber Covers British Vogue October, Lensed by Steven Meisel in Valentino

Kaia Gerber Covers British Vogue October, Lensed by Steven Meisel in Valentino

Rising model Kaia Gerber makes her British Vogue cover debut, lensed by Steven Meisel wearing a bold black and white Valentino jumpsuit for the October 2019 issue. Joe McKenna styles the fashion cover story, dressing Gerber in dramatic, edgy looks from Comme des Garcons.

Campbell Addy Flashes 'Paint by Numbers' for Vogue UK September 2019

Campbell Addy Flashes 'Paint by Numbers' for Vogue UK September 2019

Models Callie Dixon, Paloma Elsesser, Tess McMillan and Ugbad are styled by Julia Sarr-Jamois in ‘Paint by the Numbers’, lensed by Campbell Addy for British Vogue September 2019./ Hair by Cyndia Harvey; makeup by Ammy Drammeh

Binx Walton Travels to Ghana with Juergen Teller in 'Bring it on Home' for British Vogue October 2019

Binx Walton Travels to Ghana with Juergen Teller in 'Bring it on Home' for British Vogue October 2019

Rising model Binx Walton makes her first trip to the African continent, packing her bags for Ghana in ‘Bring it on Home. Poppy Kain styles Binx in eclectic and vibrant outfits lensed by Juergen Teller for British Vogue’s October 2019 issue.

Ghana is promoting the 'YEAR OF RETURN’ as a celebration of African resilience marking the 400th anniversary of the first slaves arriving in Jamestown, Virginia. Binx said about traveling to ACCRA: “The soles of my feet landed where it all began.

Charlotte Wales Captures Adut Akech in 'New World Order' for British Vogue September 2019

Charlotte Wales Captures Adut Akech in 'New World Order' for British Vogue September 2019

Top model Adut Akech leads us into a third fall season of #blackgirlmagic, styled by Julia Sarr-Jamois in ‘New World Order’. Photographer Charlotte Wales is in the studio as Adut gets her groove on for Vogue UK September 2019./ Hair by Chris Colls; makeup by Jenny Myles

British Vogue's September 2019 Issue Shares 'Forces for Change' Cover By Peter Lindbergh

British Vogue's September 2019 Issue Shares 'Forces for Change' Cover By Peter Lindbergh AOC Eye

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex guest edits British Vogue’s September 2019 issue, considered the most important issue of the year. Editor-in-chief-Edward Enninful invited Meghan to appear on the cover, but she declined, saying it would be considered “boastful”. With minions clamoring to criticize the Duchess at every turn in the road, declining was absolutely the correct decision.

Instead, the September 2019 British Vogue cover features 15 women who are “trailblazing changemakers, united by their fearlessness in breaking barriers”, according to a statement issued by Buckingham Palace.

The female ensemble of “trailblazing changemakers” includes activist actor Jane Fonda, climate change advocate, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and supermodel now maternal health advocate Christy Turlington Burns.

Adut Akech Suits Up For A Soft 'Power Play' Lensed By Tyler Mitchell For Vogue UK January 2019

Adut Akech Suits Up For A Soft 'Power Play' Lensed By Tyler Mitchell For Vogue UK January 2019

Aussie model Adut Akech has dominated editorials in December 2018/January 2019 magazines. And while Adut didn’t win the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year award — it went to Adut’s close ‘human rose’ friend Kaia Gerber — this enchanting beauty lives up to her extraordinary reputation in this aptly-named ‘Power Play’ editorial.

That would be ‘soft power’ Adut’s style of influencing the world around her. Riding the express elevator to fashion stardom, this South Sudan woman, raised in Australia via an extended stay in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee camp in is on the global record saying loud and clear: “I Will Always Be A Refugee”.

Thomas Lohr Captures Bo, Lalani, Natalia + Nynka In 'White Nights' For Vogue UK December 2018

Thomas Lohr Captures Bo, Lalani, Natalia + Nynka In 'White Nights' For Vogue UK December 2018

Models Bo Fasseur, Lalani Ali, Natalia Montero and Nynke Slegers are styled by Alexandra Carl in ‘White Nights’, lensed by Thomas Lohr for Vogue UK December 2018./ Makeup by Janeen Witherspoon; hair by Naoki Komiya