Model Adut Akech has been announced as the newest Global Brand Ambassador for heritage beauty brand, Estée Lauder. The South Sudanese-born, Adelaide-raised 21-year-old model, who has risen through the ranks in the fashion industry since signing to a modelling agency five years ago, is now turning her sights to the beauty world. 

“As part of a global brand, I am excited to reach even more women and girls around the world,” Akech tells Gritty Pretty in an exclusive interview. “Growing up, I didn’t see anyone who looked like me in magazines or on TV. Now, girls who look like me can see my Estée Lauder campaigns and see themselves. I feel a responsibility to represent not only black women and girls, but women and girls everywhere.”

It’s a major coup for the model—and the beauty brand. Akech, who first moved to Australia with her family as South Sudanese refugees when she was six, has walked for Saint Laurent, Dior and Versace, and was crowned the Chanel bride at the brand’s haute couture show in 2018. In 2019, she was named “Model of the Year” at the British Fashion Awards in London. Her first campaign for Estée Lauder will be for the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup. “It was such a surreal experience,” Akech says of shooting the campaign. “We shot in the most beautiful houses in the desert in California. I was on set with Karlie, Grace and Carolyn—they were so welcoming and being on set with them and the Estée Lauder team made me feel like a part of the family.”

Akech joins the likes of Kloss (“she surprised me with a cake and balloons officially welcoming me to Estée Lauder”), and Carolyn Murphy as a Global Brand Ambassador for Estée Lauder’s ranges. “Carolyn has been with the brand for 20 years which is incredible and so inspiring,” Akech adds. “Everyone has been so welcoming to me.” 

“My first memory of beauty is when I moved to Australia and I saw my mum and sister’s makeup products,” Akech says. “I remember playing with lipsticks and eyeshadows and becoming mesmerised with these magical products.” Now, as a model, she has come to further appreciate her beauty routine, which she says is “so important” to her. “When work is super busy, the most important part of my routine is cleansing and getting all of my makeup off to make sure my skin stays healthy. After a day on set or at shows, I’ll use the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm to remove all my makeup. I love this balm because it melts into an oil and gets all my makeup off.” 

When she’s not working, her approach to beauty is ‘less is more’. “Taking care of my skin is the most important thing and I’ve found that a simple routine is best for me. Cleanser, moisturiser (with SPF) and lip balm. If I’ve been working a lot or traveling, I like to use a mask for extra hydration. I love the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair PowerFoil Mask.”

“When I’m not working, I like to keep my makeup routine simple. I love the Estée Lauder Little Black Primer – it’s a great base for mascara to give my lashes some length, but I also love that it’s tinted. I will also do my brows with the Estée Lauder Brow Multi-Tasker and then a clear lip gloss like the Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Oil-Infused Lip Shine. I’m a lip gloss girl.”

Proving she is destined to take the world of beauty by storm, she already has a favourite Estée Lauder product too: “I love the Estée Lauder DayWear Anti-Oxidant 72H-Hydration Sorbet Creme SPF 15 because it has such a lightweight texture but is incredibly hydrating. And it has SPF, so it’s really all I need in the morning. I didn’t realise the importance of SPF for my skintone when I was younger, but now I know how important it is and I never leave the house without it.”

As she prepares to launch her first campaign, it’s her family that’s top of mind: “Now, my little sisters can look at my Estée Lauder campaigns and see themselves and know they are beautiful.”