Ajak Deng

Ajak Deng is a South Sudanese-Australian fashion model known for her high-fashion editorial work and extensive international runway appearances. Born on December 7, 1989, in Tonj, South Sudan, she relocated to Melbourne, Australia, as a teenager after spending time in a Kenyan refugee camp. Since debuting on global runways, Deng has established herself as one of Australia's most prominent international modeling exports.

Early Life

Deng grew up in South Sudan during a period of civil conflict. Her family fled the violence and lived in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya for several years. Following her mother's death from malaria, Deng and her family were granted asylum by the Australian government and resettled in Melbourne in 2005. Encouraged by her school and local scout Stephen Bucknall, she pursued modeling and quickly signed with FRM Model Management in 2008.

Career Highlights

Deng made her international fashion debut with major advertising campaigns, including a global feature for United Colors of Benetton. She rapidly became a staple on international fashion week catwalks across New York, Paris, and Milan. Over her career, Deng has walked in runway shows for top couture and luxury fashion houses, including Dior, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Givenchy, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Alexander Wang. Her print and commercial work includes major campaigns for brands such as Calvin Klein, Levi's, Gap, Topshop, MAC Cosmetics, Kate Spade, and Barneys New York. In 2018, she became one of the prominent campaign faces for Rihanna's cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty.

Industry Advocacy

Throughout her career, Deng has been an outspoken voice regarding diversity, racial equity, and representation in the global fashion industry. In 2016, she briefly announced a hiatus from modeling to address systemic biases in casting, though she returned shortly after to continue advocating for aspiring models of color. She has also been featured on cover stories and editorial spreads for high-profile international publications, including Vogue Portugal, i-D, and W Magazine.