AFRICAN NILOTE CAT WALK QUEENS

ALEK WEK

"I believe that true beauty comes from inside you and that always shows through. I have no problem with whatever the next big look is, whether it's big blonde hair and blue eyes or green hair and dark eyes. That's fine so long as there isn't just one ideal image. Don't try and tell me that only one look is beautiful!"

- Alek Wek

Alek Wek born 1977 in Wau Southern Sudan. Named "the-black-and-white-cow" after a tribal good luck symbol, she was raised in a large but close-knit family in the small village of Wau. Alek's family fled to the UK when she was 12 to escape the civil war between the muslin north and Christian south of the Sudan. Alek was discovered in London in 1995 by a model scout. Alek's reputation has since been bolstered by her appearances in the music videos of Tina Turner ‘Goldeneye’ and 'Got ‘Til It’s Gone’ by Janet Jackson. One of the hottest new faces on the scene, Alek was soon courted by top design houses for their runway shows. Alek's distinctive looks, so different from the usual catwalk fare, caused a stir in the world of fashion, and garnered a raft of awards, including "Best New Model" at the Venus de la Mode Fashion Awards and the 1997 MTV model of the year.

Photos by Style.com

Alek also designs a range of designer handbags called "Wek 1933”. The year refers to the year her father was born.

Alek is a member of the U.S. Committee for Refugees' Advisory Council, and is helping to raise awareness about the situation in Sudan, as well as the plight of refugees worldwide.

Alek's success has redefined the traditional understanding of beauty.

Alek Wek Website http://www.alekwek1933.com

About the Dinka of Sudan Click Here

ATONG ARJOK

Atong Arjok is Sudanese born in California, USA. She has been featured in several magazines and cat walked in fashion shows for Benjamin Cho, Custo Barcelona and Diane von Furstenberg just to name a few.

AJUMA NASENYANA

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Ajuma Nasenyana was born 1984 in Lodwar, Turkana District in Kenya. 5ft 10 Ajuma got her breakthrough into the cat walk industry when she was recruited by Surazuri a modeling agency based in Nairobi, Kenya after having participated in the Miss Tourism Kenya Competition in 2003. The international agency Ford Models signed her up as a Ford Model. Since then the sky has been the limit for Ajuma trotting for country to country.

Ajuma has participated in numerous modeling stints alongside famous cat walk queens as Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek. She has equally been featured in numerous magazines.

Alek and Ajuma at Work