Quick answer
Who is Adut Akech?
Adut Akech (born 25 December 1999 in South Sudan) is a South Sudanese-Australian model who became one of the most in-demand runway and campaign faces of the late 2010s. Adut Akech is ranked #25 on The Cast Index Global 50, with an Index Rating of 86.3 out of 100 in the 5 October 2026 snapshot. Listed representation: Elite.
At a glance
How old and how tall is Adut Akech?
Adut Akech was born on 25 December 1999 in South Sudan, which makes Adut 26 as of 5 October 2026. Adut Akech’s recorded height is 178 cm (5 ft 10 in), according to Wikidata. Agency measurements can differ slightly.
- Born
- 25 December 1999 (age 26)
- Birthplace
- South Sudan
- Height
- 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
- Nationality
- Australia
- Disciplines
- Runway, Couture
- Agencies
- Elite (Paris / Milan / London / Copenhagen)
- Cast Index status
- #25 · 86.3 / 100
- @adutakech
Birth date, birthplace and height from Wikidata (Q47031031), retrieved . Agencies from the listed sources. Profile updated .
The perspective
What is Adut Akech known for?
Named Model of the Year at the 2019 Fashion Awards.
The published assessment
Where does Adut Akech rank on the Global 50?
Adut Akech is ranked #25 on The Cast Index Global 50, with an Index Rating of 86.3 out of 100 in the 5 October 2026 snapshot.
Each pillar reflects an editorial assessment of the published record. The weighted rating belongs to the snapshot.
Index Rating · Editorial pillars · Medium confidence · evidence reviewed
86.3
- Runway · 40%
- 78
-
78 / 100 - Campaigns · 30%
- 91
-
91 / 100 - Editorial · 20%
- 92
-
92 / 100 - Cultural aura · 10%
- 94
-
94 / 100
Evidence behind the assessment
- American Vogue and Valentino fragrance credits in 2026.
- Fashion Awards Model of the Year, 2019; historical achievements receive 10% decay in the current index.
New work and corrections can change the assessment. A profile’s confidence label describes the depth of its source review.
Sources to explore
The runway record
Which shows has Adut Akech walked?
No show-by-show walks for Adut Akech are on the Cast Index ledger yet; the sources above give the career record.
A source-linked selection across seasons, rather than a complete booking history. Open the source for the original record.
A show-by-show record has not yet been added. The source links above provide the available career context.
Career & background
The story so far.
Biography last reviewed .
Early life
Adut Akech Bior was born on 25 December 1999 in what is now South Sudan, and spent part of her childhood in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya after her family fled conflict. At age 7 she and her mother resettled as refugees in Adelaide, Australia, where teachers, struggling with the pronunciation of "Adut," called her by her second name, "Mary." She has since become an outspoken advocate for refugees, including work with the UNHCR.
She was scouted several times from around age 13 but did not sign professionally until 16, when she joined Chadwick Models in Sydney; her runway debut came at a local show organised by her aunt, followed by Melbourne Fashion Week.
International breakthrough, 2017–2019
Akech’s international breakthrough came in 2017, when she was cast as an exclusive model for Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer show, later closing both the house’s Fall/Winter 2017 and Spring/Summer 2018 shows. She appeared in the Pirelli Calendar, photographed by Tim Walker, in 2018, and was named Models.com’s Model of the Year in both 2018 and 2019 — a back-to-back honour matched by few of her peers.
Vogue and the British Fashion Awards, 2019
In September 2019, Akech appeared on the cover of British Vogue for the issue guest-edited by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and on 2 December 2019 she won Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
Recent record, 2020–2024
Akech appeared in Beyoncé’s "Black Is King" visual album in 2020, alongside an American Vogue cover the same year. Campaign and cover work continued through 2022 with Michael Kors, Victoria’s Secret and Hugo Boss, plus a spot among the 17 cover models for W Magazine’s 50th Anniversary Issue that September. In May 2023, she appeared on the cover of American Vogue for an issue paying tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, and in March 2024 she featured on a British Vogue "fashion icons" cover alongside a Valentino perfume campaign. She is represented by The Society Management in New York, Elite Model Management across Europe, and Chadwick Models in Sydney.
At a glance
Quick facts.
- Born 25 December 1999 in what is now South Sudan; raised in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya before resettling in Adelaide, Australia, at age 7
- Signed with Chadwick Models in Sydney at 16 after being scouted several times from age 13
- International breakthrough as a Saint Laurent exclusive for its Spring/Summer 2017 show
- Named Models.com’s Model of the Year in both 2018 and 2019
- Won Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards on 2 December 2019, having fronted the September 2019 British Vogue cover guest-edited by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
- Appeared in Beyoncé’s "Black Is King" visual album in 2020
