In the fall of 2016, a newcomer named Adut Akech walked the Saint Laurent runway in a gold lamé dress and flat boots—a sign that the model would bring a spirited glamour and innate grounded-ness to the fashion firmament. Five years later, gap-toothed Akech is an editorial superstar, with numerous Vogue covers under her belt and a new role as an Estée Lauder ambassador. Her odyssey is well-known: Born in South Sudan, she spent the first seven years of her childhood in a Kenyan refugee camp, before her family relocated to Australia. Akech, now based in Los Angeles, already counts more than a few career highlights, including a turn as the Chanel couture bride—though at 21, she is only getting started. Naomi Campbell, whom she met in 2017 on a Pirelli calendar shoot, is a muse. (“She’s like a second mum to me,” Akech told The Guardian). But it’s her own mother’s cooking that is an eternal comfort. Here, more of the model’s favorite things.
Style File
EVERYDAY BAG: I just got a new Alexander McQueen Curve bag that I am loving.
GO-TO SHOE: Nike Air Force 1s. Whenever I’m not working, you can find me in these.
CLOSET TREASURE: My mom and dad’s wedding photo.
BELOVED JEWELRY: Tiffany & Co. T1 bracelet.
On Beauty
SKIN SAVER: Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ moisturizer.
BATHING RITUAL: I love a grapefruit or citrusy-smelling bath bomb by Lush. Throw it in, light a candle, and I am all set!
PERFUME: Valentino Donna Born in Roma.
PARTY MAKEUP: A bold lip, like the new Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Shine lipstick in shade 915 Royalty.
HAIR CARE: Condition, condition, condition! When I am growing out my hair, olive oil is amazing.
DAILY BOOST: A supplement gummy for hair, skin, and nails.
WORKOUT WEAR: Ivy Park.
For Pleasure
READING: Home Body by Rupi Kaur.
WATCHING: Bridgerton. I binged it in a couple of days!
From left: Naomi Campbell on the Valentino runway in 1991. A still from Bridgerton.
L: PAT/ARNAL/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images; R: Courtesy of NetflixWorkflow
CAREER IDOL: Naomi Campbell.
PASSION PROJECT: I am an ambassador for the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. I love giving back.
At Home
RECENT ADDITION: A set of Le Creuset pots and pans.
ON THE TABLE: I always have fresh flowers.
ROOM SCENT: Le Labo Santal 26 candles.
BEDDING: Brooklinen Core Cashmere sheets.
The Menu
MORNING BEVERAGE: Chai tea latte.
COMFORT FOOD: Anything my mom cooks. She makes this traditional South Sudanese dish called kisra that I started making myself—a green leafy vegetable dish that is chopped and ground into a smooth consistency.
INDULGENCE: A good burger and french fries.
— Sparring and Slurring With Gore Vidal
— How Pickleball Won Over Everyone From Leonardo DiCaprio to Your Grandparents
— Kate Middleton and Prince William Are Turning Their Sights Toward America
— Wait, So Are AirPods Still Cool?
— No More Martinis: The Queen Advised to Give Up Her Favorite Drink
— Demi Lovato’s Alien Stuff Reaches New Heights
— How the FBI Discovered a Real-Life Indiana Jones in, of All Places, Rural Indiana
— Love Is a Crime: Inside One of Hollywood’s Wildest Scandals
— The Definitive Guide to the Best Beauty Advent Calendars of 2021
— From the Archive: Irreconcilable Distances
— Sign up for “The Buyline” to receive a curated list of fashion, books, and beauty buys in one weekly newsletter.