Alek Wek

Sudanese-British model Alek Wek had also been on an exceptional journey over the years. As a child, she had to flee Sudan because of the civil war and relocate to Europe with her family. Wek suffered from psoriasis until age 14. After arriving in London, her psoriasis immediately cleared. She then enrolled at the London College of Fashion to earn a degree in Fashion Business and Technology.

In 1995, while strolling at an outdoor market, Wek was discovered by a Models 1 scout who booked her a role in Tina Turner’s music video for GoldenEye. Shortly thereafter, she began fashion modeling and was signed to Ford Models the following year. Wek was named MTV’s “Model of the Year” in 1997 and was the first African model to grace the cover of Elle magazine that year. Since then, she has managed to elevate the world’s beauty standards.