Ajak Deng lends star power to refugee campaign

She’s the Australian supermodel, who continues to take the fashion world by storm.

And years after her devastating plight as a child refugee fleeing war-torn Sudan, Ajak Deng, 27, is lending her star power to a good cause with the hopes of helping others overcome adversity.

The statuesque beauty, who is often hailed for her Afrocentric features and endless legs, is the face of The Body Shop’s new Play for Peace campaign, which seeks to raise $440,000 for child refugees impacted by war in Syria.

Model on a mission: Years after her devastating plight as a child refugee fleeing war-torn Sudan, Ajak Deng, 27, is lending her star power to a good cause

‘The Australian government brought us here because they felt sorry for my father with eight kids having just lost a wife, and that to me is such a beautiful thing,’ she told The Sydney Morning Herald this week.

‘The Australian people have such a heart, welcoming people in.

She recalled her family’s decision to flee Sudan during the second civil war: ‘My parents got tired of running all the time… my father didn’t want to keep worrying, ‘will my family be killed?’ Now I can give back and help the people who cannot help themselves.’

In 2005, at age 11, Ajak, who has walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Lanvin among other big name brands, and her family fled Sudan as refugees.

Giving back: 'The Australian government brought us here because they felt sorry for my father with eight kids having just lost a wife, and that to me is such a beautiful thing,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald this week

Giving back: ‘The Australian government brought us here because they felt sorry for my father with eight kids having just lost a wife, and that to me is such a beautiful thing,’ she told The Sydney Morning Herald this week

Her mother died of malaria in a refugee camp in Kenya, where the family spent three years.

After their resettlement in Melbourne, Ajak was discovered while still in high school and signed to FRM Model Management in 2008.

She made headlines in February last year by declaring her plans to quit modelling over her frustration with the industry.

Difficult past: She recalled her family's decision to flee Sudan during the second civil war: 'My parents got tired of running all the time... my father didn't want to keep worrying, 'will my family be killed?' Now I can give back and help the people who cannot help themselves' 

Difficult past: She recalled her family’s decision to flee Sudan during the second civil war: ‘My parents got tired of running all the time… my father didn’t want to keep worrying, ‘will my family be killed?’ Now I can give back and help the people who cannot help themselves’ 

Ajak made the revelation in a post shared to Instagram, writing ‘I am happy to announce that I am officially done with the fashion industry, I will be moving back to Australia in order to live the life that I fully deserved. Which is real life.’

‘I can no longer deal with the fakes and the lies… My life is too short for this dramatic life.’

The supermodel had previously taken to social media to vent her frustrations over racism in the industry, claiming in 2014 she was kicked out of Balmain for being black in a since-deleted tweet.

Overcoming adversity: In 2005, at age 11, Ajak, who has walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Lanvin among other big name brands, and her family fled Sudan as refugees

Overcoming adversity: In 2005, at age 11, Ajak, who has walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton and Lanvin among other big name brands, and her family fled Sudan as refugees

Her manager Stephen Bucknall backed Ajak’s frustrations, telling The Herald Sun Ausralian brands were more willing to book Caucasian models. 

‘The budgets probably aren’t big enough for (Deng), because she’s a big money earner, but they will spend the money on a Miranda Kerr or a Jess Hart,’ he said.

‘They’ll book the big caucasian girls, spend the big dollars, and fly them in from LA, but I’m yet to see them book a dark skinned girl in that way.’

But a week later Ajak vowed to stay in the modelling game and fight for wider acceptance of darker-skinned models in the fashion industry. 

Career challenges: She made headlines in February last year by declaring her plans to quit modelling over her frustration with the industry 

Career challenges: She made headlines in February last year by declaring her plans to quit modelling over her frustration with the industry 

 

 

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