"This is not the first time I experienced this type of racism," 17-year-old Adelaide model Adut Akech Bior tells SBS Dinka.
"There is hatred everywhere. We all experience racism on daily basis. You don’t need somebody to come to your face and call you the 'N-word’ for you to realise they are being racist.”
Akech, 17, this week found herself at the centre of a social media furore when department store chain David Jones apologised to a customer who complained on social media against the brand's use of a black model on the cover of its Summer Beauty catalogue.
Akech says that as a reaction to this, "People expect hatred from me, but they're not going to get it."
"I am trying to see the bigger picture and rise above."
She explains that, "David Jones is not the only client that I have worked with or that will be working with."
"I have many clients."
Listen to the Adut Akech's full interview with SBS Dinka (in English) in the player above.
Akech is a fast-rising star on the world fashion stage, having modeled internationally for the past three years in major campaigns including the Pirelli calendar alongside superstars including Naomi Campbell and Lupita Nyong'o. This year she walked at Paris Fashion Week where she closed the show for fashion giant Saint Laurent - and all before she's even finished high school.
She tells SBS Dinka that she will not let an incident such as this get in the way of her rising career.
“Future clients that would not be interested in me if I were to let this little problem get to me,” says Akech.
“I think some clients will see this and they will say ‘ok, she could have made it a big deal, or she could dwell over it, but she decided to see a bigger picture in it and be positive about it.’”
The Gold Coast woman who posted to company's Facebook wall wrote:"How on earth am I expected to relate to this cover?"
"I can't wear any of her make-up, I don't know ANYONE who looks like her...she could have been used on the back page...[by the way] did you even notice the irony? On the opening page you have a section on fake tans.
Source: Facebook
"You people have really missed the mark here, and I'm pissed off and sick of big companys [sic] going for the minority feel good. Please think about your shoppers next time."
“I am still very proud that they were able to see a better picture and for the first time use a different girl that wasn’t a white girl.”
David Jones responded by telling the customer the company was "so sorry you feel this way."
"We have passed your feedback on to our Marketing Department for their information and consideration," the reply concluded.
The woman's post has been removed by David Jones, however not before attracting more than 400 reactions, 350 comments and 47 shares.
Customer comments condemned David Jones' initial response.
David Jones later reply was not appropriate and made by a staff member "without enough thought as to how it could be misinterpreted."
"We have not, and will never, apologise for representing the diverse make up of the Australian community in our marketing materials or campaigns. This is at heart of our values as a company," the statement said.
"I am not going to sit there and blame the entire team because I know that David Jones’ choice of me was not a mistake."
Akech however is not critical of the retailer for the way they dealt with the incident.
“I have been contacted by David Jones with an apology, they contacted my management with an apology and they have said their apology numerous times,” she says.
“I worked with the team there for eight days throughout the campaign.”
“That’s why I am not going to sit there and blame the entire team because I know that David Jones’ choice of me was not a mistake."
In fact, Akech reserves praise for the retailer for diversifying their catalogue.
“I am the first Sudanese girl that they have used now in any of their campaigns," she says.
“I am still very proud that they were able to see a better picture and for the first time use a different girl that wasn’t a white girl.”
The initial complainant said that Akech's appearance was unrepresentative of Australia's general population.
For Akech, that couldn't be further from the truth. “When people ask me ‘where are you from?’ I reply that I am proudly from Australia."
“When people ask me ‘where are you from?’ I reply that I am proudly from Australia."
"I am of South Sudanese background but I am an Australian citizen. Australia has been home for most of my life.
“I am very proud to be in Australia, and I am so grateful that my mum brought us here.
“Had I not came to Australia I don’t think I would have got the opportunity to even do what I am doing today.”
Sharing the story of how she rose to international modelling success at such a young age, Akech says,“I started travelling for modelling at 14 years of age."
But the process did not come without some difficulties, "At first, it was very hard for my mum to understand.”
“It is very hard for Sudanese parents to understand - but I asked her to let me do it.”
“I promised that I will continue to do my school at the same time. That was the only reason my mum accepted my modelling career.”
"I just thought to myself that ‘I am going to prove everyone wrong.’ That’s exactly what I did.”
Among the most interesting challenge of Akech's new career was how she would combine her work with her education- as she is still currently completing high school,
“Lots of people doubted me - and continue to doubt me now," she says.
“I’ve got one month of year 12 to go in school. My modelling career became serious in year 10. I have been travelling and doing school at the same time.
“In year 11, people doubted me - I was not going to school as often. I just thought to myself that ‘I am going to prove everyone wrong.’"
"That’s exactly what I did.”
