Meet the South Sudanese Rising Star Model Who’s Looking to Make a Difference

For new models, Paris Fashion Week can be a trial by fire, but Aki Akur took it all in stride. The 23-year-old beauty was on a roll during the fall/winter 2020 collections, racking up some of the biggest shows on the calendar. A commanding presence at Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Valentino, and Saint Laurent, Akur emerged as one of the month’s standouts. Scouted on the streets of Adelaide back in 2018, Akur signed to IMG Models shortly after that. A self-proclaimed introvert, she credits her newfound career with expanding her horizons. “You get a chance to work with some amazing clients, meet interesting people, and sometimes see yourself displayed on billboards or in stores. It’s an interesting feeling, [but] hard to articulate,” she shared post-season. “For me, there are moments of happiness and celebration, spread between all the rejection, hard work, and patience.”

Born in Kakuma, a Kenyan refugee camp, Akur’s family originally hails from South Sudan. Though she has yet to visit the nation, Akur feels a link to its communities thanks to her mother and father. “I’m at the age where my soul is yearning to connect more to my roots. Most of what I’ve learned about South Sudan has been through my mother as I’ve never been myself,” she explains. “I migrated to Australia when I was eight years old. It was easier to assimilate because I was young. I’d say it’s more my parents’ story, but [it’s] ingrained in me. I was born in Kakuma, so that’s all I knew until I left.”

Akur’s early experiences inform her current outlook. Eager to use her fashion platform to raise awareness about the issues migrants face, she cites supermodel Alek Wek as an example of how to use the industry to advance altruistic causes. “I have a special place in my heart for her, she has done a lot for migrants and has donated to the camp in Kakumba. I’m inspired by her impact and will try my hand at the same when my time comes,” she says. “There’s a lot of amazing and hardworking people that have come from there, which inspires me every day. Being able to see people who look like me accomplish great things is incredible.”

While there’s little doubt that Akur’s accomplishments will one day inspire the next-gen, for the moment she’s taking it one day at a time, dealing with the highs and the lows as they come. “The most challenging thing is the instability that comes with working in this industry,” she says. “You never know when you’re going to have to fly out last minute for a job. The experience can be lonely at times, especially if you’re away from home for long periods without knowing how long you have to stay, how much a client will like you, and whether you will end up confirming the job. It can definitely be tough!” Still, fashion month offered a few moments of magic. “When I confirmed Valentino, I was absolutely speechless, and I still kind of am!” she says. “It was an absolute dream and the most surprising experience so far. I wasn’t sure if I was the right fit for the designer, so I was a little nervous.”

Even with the nerve-wracking castings and nonstop schedule, Akur is thankful for the opportunities she’s been granted. “I take everything I do seriously, my work ethic is my best quality, and I put my best foot forward regardless of client,” she says. “It’s a blessing to be able to do what I do, so if someone wants to work with me, I do my best to show them great respect and professionalism as I hope to receive the same back. The best advice I’ve ever received is from my manager Rick Matthew at IMG. He told me to be confident and believe in myself, no matter what. You only get out of something what you put in”