Adut Akech responds to a magazine publishing a photo of the wrong model

The model and autumn 2019 Dazed cover star Adut Akech has taken to Instagram to discuss what she calls: “a situation that isn’t sitting well with me.” Last week, she explains, the Australian Who Magazine included a feature article about her ahead of Melbourne Fashion Week, in which they published a photo of her that… wasn’t her.

The photo in question was actually of another black model, reportedly Flavia Lazarus, who also attended Melbourne Fashion Week.

“In the interview I spoke about how people view refugees and peoples attitude to colour in general,” Akech writes in the post. She sought asylum in Australia in 2008 after fleeing South Sudan and spending time in a refugee camp. The fact she was discussing this makes the mistake all the more ironic and upsetting. “By this happening I feel like it defeated the purpose of what I stand for and spoke about,” she says. 

“It goes to show that people are very ignorant and narrowminded that they think every black girl or African people looks the same.”

“Not only do I personally feel insulted and disrespected but I feel like my entire race has been disrespected too and it is why I feel it is important that I address this issue.”

She goes on to explain that the purpose of the post isn’t just to “bash” Who Magazine, who have directly apologised, but to express herself and attempt to “start an important conversation that needs to happen”.  

“I’m sure that I’m not the first person that’s experienced this and it needs to stop,” she adds. “I want this to be somewhat of a wake up call to people within the industry.”