Adut Akech before she was known by Nigerians as girlfriend to the famous Afrobeat singer, Runtown, she already has the world in her hands.
Born in South Sudan (formerly part of Sudan) Adut Akech made her major fashion week debut at the Saint Laurent’s S/S17 show. In 2016 she gained international headlines after being named “Model of the Year” at the British Fashion in London. She won the 2019 industry vote consecutively – Model of the Year and 2019 Time -100 NEXT list amongst many more.
Before all the glitz and glam, the world-famous model has an extraordinary story. We’ve gathered 8 things you didn’t know about the world-famous model.
1. She was raised in Kakuma, Kenya
When Adut was 7 years old, she moved away from Kenya along with her mother and siblings to Adelaide, Australia. But prior to the Australian migration, Akech’s family settled at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northwestern Kenya.
2. She was introduced to fashion by her family
The model tells VOGUE “we didn’t’ know what a magazine was and we didn’t know much about fashion…. I only discovered the love that I have for fashion when I moved to Australia.” Her debut was in a fashion show organized by her aunt.
3. She is a Christmas baby
Born on the 25th December, 1999 in South Sudan – the model shares birthday with Christmas, an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
4. Adut Akech got her start on the runway at an early age
Adut Akech first strutted down the runway at the age of 13 in Adelaide where her darling aunt a former model herself, had a fashion label. She went on singing to her mother agency, Chadwick Models at the age of 16 years old in Sydney in Australia.
5. Adut was known as ‘Mary’ in Adelaide
She was renamed Mary as a child when she began attending school in Australia – since, Australian teachers were unable to pronounce her name. Within the fashion industry, she prefers her birth name, Adut.
6. She is currently ranked “Top 50” on model.com
Models.com a niche site that contains everything you need to know about models: measurements, every campaign, social channels etc. The site currently ranked Adut as Top 50.
7. She has been very candid about Racism
Having being able to overcome a great deal of racism as child over her look, Adut has been very candid about racism in the fashion industry. In 2019, Who magazine ran a feature about Akech printing a picture of another model instead of her. Akech tagged as “unacceptable and inexcusable” feeling that the “entire race had been disrespected”. The Australian magazine went on to apologize for their error.
8. She’s currently dating Nigerian singer, Douglas Agu aka Runtown
Runtown, known for hit songs Mad Over You sent media to a frenzy with relationship rumors surrounding the pair a moth ago after a video showing the two getting cozy surfaced in London. It was reported that the two met during Fashion Week event in Europe where Runtown featured in several high end brand campaign including Versace and Dior.
