Haute Of Africa: The Top African Models Taking Fashion’s Center Stage

The Game Changer: Alek Wek

Sudan’s Alek Wek wasn’t just a model when she hit the scene in ’95. She was a movement. With her obsidian complexion and close-cropped natural hair, she looked nothing like successful contemporary Americans Beverly Peele or Veronica Webb, or Ugandan Kiara Kabukuru. This is what influencers in the industry loved about her. At the very top of her career, MTV named her Model of the Year, i-D named her Model of the Decade, and People christened her one of the world’s 50 Most Beautiful People. The effusive accolades continued in the form of Vogue, Essence and Elle covers. At key fashion shows, Wek opened and closed for Valentino, Christian Lacroix, Diane von Furstenberg, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others.  The 33-year-old has since launched a handbag line and penned a memoir, and shows no sign of slowing down. Wek last shot with photographer Matthew Stone for the Summer 2011 issue of i-D.  Fashion writer Blay points out, “The African models we see gracing the runways now are all variations of Wek and her bold, refreshing, ideal-shattering brand of beauty.” We salute them all for breaking barriers in the field of fashion.