18 South Sudanese Models You Didnt Know in the Fashion Industry FPN
South Sudan continues to face severe humanitarian emergencies driven by climate shocks, relentless violence, multiple disease outbreaks and a struggling economy. South Sudan Citizens, Foreign Residents, and Foreign visitors to South Sudan can now apply for Government services in a simple, secure, and convenient way. Currently these are the online services available Over time, the South Sudan National Revenue Authority will increase the number of services that are available online to the public.
Sudan’s refugees and returnees: Living in hope in South Sudan
The oilfields in South Sudan have been significant to the economy since the latter part of the 20th century. The country’s economy, as in many other developing countries, is heavily dependent on agriculture. The region also contains many natural resources such as petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, diamonds, hardwoods, limestone and hydropower. The economy of South Sudan is one of the world’s most underdeveloped, with South Sudan having little existing infrastructure and the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates in the world as of 2011update. In 2010, the child marriage rate in southern Sudan was 52%.b It is driven by socioeconomic factors such as poverty and gender inequality.
She’s featured in runway shows and print editorials for up-and-coming designers. Her return to fashion marked a new chapter in her career, where she now walks runways and participates in more culturally inclusive campaigns. Her activism has earned her respect beyond fashion, as she uses her platform to speak on racism and the need for systemic change in modeling agencies and runways. Alek’s presence in the fashion industry shifted the global perception of beauty. Her signature look is defined by her clean-shaven head and high cheekbones, giving her a commanding presence on the runway. Nyandeng is gaining traction through fashion weeks and partnerships with emerging designers who value her fresh look and her story of resilience.
We have a keen interest to improve the lives of women by delivering inspiring, interactive, and shoppable fashion and beauty content. Mari has walked for major fashion houses and appeared in both music videos and humanitarian campaigns. Her presence challenges colorist standards and broadens the narrative around what beauty looks like globally. Nyakim has been featured in makeup and skincare ads, runways, and fashion campaigns that celebrate melanin. Duckie Thot became a global sensation thanks to her flawless skin, high cheekbones, and doll-like appearance.
- The Boma-Jonglei Landscape region encompasses Boma National Park, broad pasturelands and floodplains, Bandingilo National Park, and the Sudd, a vast area of swamp and seasonally flooded grasslands that includes the Zeraf Wildlife Reserve.
- People in South Sudan suffer the consequences of development deficit characterized by chronic poverty, lack of livelihoods and limited access to basic social services.
- The Zande, Mundu, Avukaya and Baka, who entered South Sudan in the 16th century, established the region’s largest state of Equatoria Region.citation needed
- By November 2025, the continued arrivals, alongside returning South Sudanese nationals, placed additional pressure on already strained markets, services, and natural resources, while a prolonged economic crisis sharply reduced household purchasing power.
Country policy and information note: security situation, Sudan, January 2025 (accessible)
- The latter document provided for the handling of any conflicts that might occur between the two concurrent levels of government.
- In the last three years, she has been streamed across the world while modelling, even sharing a runway with Naomi Campbell at an Off-White show.
- This is likely to cause more crop failure and food insecurity, with the need for more humanitarian support.
Inadequate access to safe drinking water and sanitation and natural disasters such as floods increase the vulnerabilities of communities, posing additional challenges to public health emergencies. Transportation constraints and the strained capacity of host communities underscore the need for increased support to move people quickly to safer locations. The sheer volume of arrivals is overwhelming South Sudan’s limited infrastructure, particularly in border areas where congestion in transit centres heightens protection, gender-based violence (GBV) and health risks. People fleeing Sudan face extreme protection risks along treacherous routes to South Sudan, with many – especially women and girls – exposed to violence and gender-based abuse and arriving in poor physical and psychological conditions. However, entrenched patterns of violence involving armed youth, such as cattle raiding, border disputes and retaliatory attacks, are predominant drivers of violence. Incidents of violence attributed to conventional parties to the conflict remained relatively low due to general compliance with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
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Around 4.9 million people required urgent assistance, and more than one million children were acutely malnourished. By 2014 and 2015, about one third of the population faced crisis or emergency levels. Although good rainfall and harvests in 2012 brought temporary improvements, the civil war that began in December 2013 severely disrupted agriculture, displaced millions, and sharply worsened food security.
Upon independence, the directly elected incumbent president of the southern Sudan region became president of the country for a four-year term. The region was administered under the constitution for southern Sudan, promulgated in December 2005, as well as the country’s national interim constitution, promulgated in July 2005. The creation of the semiautonomous region of southern Sudan was provided for by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running civil war between the north and the south. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It is estimated that only 44 per cent of the population live within reach of health facilities with consistent access to primary care services.
From 2018 onward, between 5 million and 6 million people were regularly classified in crisis or emergency phases, driven by ongoing insecurity, displacement, economic decline, erratic rainfall, flooding, and pest outbreaks. Conditions deteriorated further in 2016 amid conflict, economic collapse, high food prices, and restricted humanitarian access. Several smaller airports exist throughout South Sudan, the majority consisting of little more than dirt runways.
Country policy and information note: humanitarian situation, Sudan, February 2024 (accessible)
In March 2024, South Sudan experienced abnormally hot climate-induced weather conditions with temperatures reaching 45° C – above the normal average2 between 25° C and 35° C. This is likely to cause more crop failure and food insecurity, with the need for more humanitarian support. In 2024, heavy rains and the release of water from a historically full Lake Victoria in Uganda increased the levels of the Nile River – causing floods and affecting up to 1.4 million people as of mid-November 2024.
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Meanwhile, the conflict has destabilized markets in border states, causing prices of food and essential commodities to skyrocket, and heightening risks of secondary displacement to collective sites and urban centres. Climate shocks affect different parts of https://pin-up-india.it.com/ the country at varying intensities, leading to multiple intercommunal conflicts at sub-national levels, including farmer-herder conflicts, cattle raids, land disputes and disputes over resources such as water. By November 2025, the continued arrivals, alongside returning South Sudanese nationals, placed additional pressure on already strained markets, services, and natural resources, while a prolonged economic crisis sharply reduced household purchasing power. This region has been negatively affected by war for all but 10 of the years since 1956, resulting in serious neglect, lack of infrastructure development, and major destruction and displacement. Early conditions fluctuated between stressed and crisis levels, with localized emergencies along the Sudan border. The effects of conflicts deepen extreme poverty and hamper private sector prospects and livelihood improvements.
Sadly, evidence-based needs remain high, and the people of South Sudan will continue to require significant support from the international community throughout 2024. Additionally, the Imatong Mountains lie in the south near the border of Uganda. For example, the Ironstone Plateau straddles its western border with the Central African Republic. The central region is mostly flat with vast swampland like the Sudd formed by the White Nile Baḥr al-Jabal section. Otherwise, its major lakes include Shambe, Ambadi, and No.
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The primary language at all levels is English, as compared to the Republic of Sudan, where the language of instruction is Arabic. Unlike the previous educational system of the regional Southern Sudan—which was modelled after the system used in the Republic of Sudan since 1990—the current educational system of the Republic of South Sudan follows the 8 + 4 + 4 system (similar to Kenya). Muslims are relatively well integrated into South Sudanese society and represented in government; Muslim religious leaders are present in all major political ceremonies as well as peace negotiations. Although the internal conflicts that precipitated Sudan’s partition have been characterised as between Muslims and Christians, some scholars reject this notion, claiming Muslim and Christian sides sometimes overlapped. Many religious organisations function as a source of stability, community, humanitarian aid, and refuge in the absence of government institutions, with Christian and Muslim religious leaders actively involved in peacebuilding and socioeconomic development.
In September 2011, a spokesman for the government said the country’s political leaders had accepted a proposal to build a new capital at Ramciel, a place in Lakes state near the borders with Central Equatoria and Jonglei. The environment is threatened by the development of the economy and infrastructure. The Boma-Jonglei Landscape region encompasses Boma National Park, broad pasturelands and floodplains, Bandingilo National Park, and the Sudd, a vast area of swamp and seasonally flooded grasslands that includes the Zeraf Wildlife Reserve.
Sudanese Civil War (2013–
Surveys have revealed that Boma National Park, west of the Ethiopian border, as well as the Sudd wetland and Southern National Park near the border with Congo, provided habitat for large populations of hartebeest, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. The killings form part of a growing surge in violence across South Sudan, where forces aligned with President Salva Kiir are fighting armed groups believed to support opposition leader Riek Machar. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the “peace agreement is in shambles” and South Sudan is on “the edge of a collapse into civil war” while the African Union has sent a delegation to try to deescalate the conflict.
Country policy and information note: security situation, Sudan, January 2025 (accessible)
In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including South Sudan, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending China’s treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. As a result, the country suffered serious neglect, a lack of infrastructure development, and major destruction and displacement. South Sudan descended into the South Sudanese Civil War from 2013 to 2018, enduring rampant human rights abuses, including forced displacement, ethnic massacres, and killings of journalists by various parties. An investigation by British newspaper the Times, external found that two refugees living in a camp in Kenya were flown to Europe only to be told they were too malnourished to appear on the runway. Beyond modeling, Alek is a published author and humanitarian, working closely with the UN to support refugees. Their presence on the runway isn’t just about fashion; it’s a statement about representation and the global shift toward inclusivity.
The areas most affected by the current floods are those already facing high levels of vulnerability due to previous flooding, conflict and the impact of the Sudan crisis. In 2024, the economic crisis, the conflict in neighbouring Sudan and widespread flooding deepened people’s needs. Just a month prior in July 2017, access to major news websites and popular blogs including Sudan Tribune and Radio Tamazuj had been blocked by the government without formal notice. These conditions were further aggravated by disease outbreaks, limited access to health care, and inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services. As of February 2014, South Sudan was host to over 230,000 refugees, with the vast majority, over 209,000, having arrived recently from Sudan, because of the War in Darfur.
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In March 2012, South Sudanese forces seized the Heglig oil fields in lands claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan in the province of South Kordofan after conflict with Sudanese forces in the South Sudanese state of Unity. The fighters accuse the government of plotting to stay in power indefinitely, not fairly representing and supporting all tribal groups while neglecting development in rural areas. The South Kordofan conflict broke out in June 2011 between the Army of Sudan and the SPLA over the Nuba Mountains. South Sudan formally became independent from Sudan on 9 https://pinup-game.in/ July, although certain disputes still remained, including the division of oil revenues, as 75% of all the former Sudan’s oil reserves are in South Sudan.
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Urgent life-saving assistance remains critical, including food, nutrition, shelter and WASH services, health and vulnerability screening, vaccinations for children, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The prolonged period of heatwaves increased the risk of human-related illnesses, particularly among children, the elderly and adults with underlying conditions, and affected socioeconomic conditions and people’s access to services. Despite periods of modest improvement, renewed conflict, climate shocks, economic deterioration, and the arrival of returnees and refugees from Sudan led to further deterioration in 2024 and 2025, with around 6 million people still facing acute food insecurity. In addition, global trends, including pandemic-induced supply shortages, rising United States dollar (USD) denominated commodity prices and a stronger USD impact the economy significantly. In high-return areas, a major scale-up of services is critical, especially for health care and education, to support host communities already absorbing internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees.
The Zande, Mundu, Avukaya and Baka, who entered South Sudan in the 16th century, established the region’s largest state of Equatoria Region.citation needed The name Sudan is a name given to a geographical region to the south of the Sahara, stretching from Western Africa to eastern Central Africa. The South Sudanese economy has historically produced the world’s lowest nominal GDP per capita. The majority of inhabitants adhere to Christianity or various traditional indigenous faiths, with a sizeable Muslim minority. South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011, following 98.8% support for independence in a January 2011 referendum. It is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and Central African Republic to the west.
Other major cities are Malakal, Yei, and Wau. Lessons from its rollout prompted additional refinements for the updated JIAF 2. JIAF 2 is the product of a partnership of donors, United Nations agencies, NGOs, global clusters and areas of responsibility, and specialized agencies under the auspices of the Grand Bargain. To improve the way humanitarian actors jointly plan and respond to crises, through a rigorous, evidence-based, and comprehensive joint and intersectoral analysis system. JIAF 2 is the Joint and Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF) setting global standards for the analysis and estimation of humanitarian needs and protection risks of populations in crises. In addition, many areas – such as gender and poverty, physical and sexual harassment, women’s access to assets (including land), and gender and the environment – lack comparable methodologies for reguar monitoring.
He is “proud” to see this model – and others from South Sudan – on the global stage and although the industry cycles through trends, Deng does not believe South Sudanese models will go out of fashion. After being scouted in a London car park in 1995, Wek was one of the very first South Sudanese models to find global success . Flick through a fashion magazine or scan footage of a runway show and you will see Akol’s point – models born and raised in South Sudan, or those from the country’s sizable diaspora, are everywhere.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Overall, South Sudan has had a relatively low prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, with urban areas and border areas typically having higher rates of the virus and disease. Many tropical diseases are endemic in the country, including schistosomiasis (bilharzia), visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Varying ecological conditions in South Sudan, poor hygiene, and widespread malnutrition result in a high incidence of fatal infectious diseases. The majority of NLA members were directly elected; the rest were elected from closed lists to ensure proportional representation for women and various other groups. Upon independence, the NLA body consisted of members of the previous regional legislative body, the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, and South Sudanese who had seats in Sudan’s National Assembly.
Southern Sudan Airlines also serves Nimule and Akobo, which have unpaved runways. South Sudan has 248 km (154 mi) of single-track 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge railway line from the Sudanese border to Wau terminus. In December 2012, Tanzania officially agreed to South Sudan’s bid to join the EAC, clearing the way for the world’s newest state to become the regional bloc’s sixth member. Analysts suggested that South Sudan’s early efforts to integrate infrastructure, including rail links and oil pipelines, with systems in Kenya and Uganda indicated intention to pivot away from dependence on Sudan and toward the EAC. Inflation, measured by consumer prices, rose to about 45% in 2011 and 2012, before falling to very low levels in 2013 and 2014. Private bilateral creditors (i.e. private commercial banks and private credit suppliers) account for the majority of the remainder (approximately US$6 billion of the total debt).
Within months, Anok Yai became the first South Sudanese and second Black model ever to open a Prada runway show. The image went viral, and soon after, she was signed by a major modeling agency. The East African nation has produced some of the most stunning, bold, and groundbreaking models to ever walk the runway. South Sudan might be the youngest country in the world, but its impact on global fashion is anything but juvenile.
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This included about 1.66 million internally displaced people (IDPs), an estimated 53.4% of whom were children, and nearly 644,900 refugees in neighbouring countries. These problems have been shaped by decades of conflict, poverty, low literacy, and the country’s largely rural economy, in which much of the population depends on subsistence farming or animal husbandry. As of December 2017, an estimated 42% of the South Sudanese population was facing severe security conditions, with most of the affected being young people and children. Exact figures are lacking due to internal displacement from ongoing conflict, large numbers of frequently-migrating pastoralists, and insufficient government resources.