ADUT AKECH
Former refugee and model
“I want to help people to understand
that refugees are normal people, just
like everybody else. You don’t choose
to be a refugee; the only difference
between a refugee and someone who
grew up in the Western world is that
we were forced out of our own country,
out of our homes, because of fear –
not out of choice. I use myself as an
example: I fled war in southern Sudan,
grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya,
went to make a new life in Australia,
and now I am living and working in
New York. I decided to make something
of myself, and I want people to use my
story and really understand it. What
is happening in Sudan right now is
so disheartening, but it can be a great
example to the world. I encourage
everyone that has been touched by
this tragedy to do something.”Wool coat, £3,665, Raf Simons, at Dover
Street Market and Machine-A. Satin
slingbacks, £560, Manolo Blahnik.
Fashion editor: Grace Coddington.
Hair: Didier Malige. Make-up: Diane
Kendal. Nails: Yuko Tsuchihashi.
For stockists, all pages, see Vogue
Information. Production, unless
otherwise stated: Anthony Graneri
at 2b Management. Digital artwork:
Christian Tochtermann at Red Line.
With thanks to Amy Somerville
Galloway at Sunbeam Studios, and
Benjamin Stelly at Spring Studios25109-19-WELL-ForcesForChange.indd 251 09/07/2019 12:22