Supermodel Alek Wek Trashes Instagram Models: They’re embarrassing!

October 26, 2016 by Kellie Williams in Latest News with 0 Comments

Alek Wek

Supermodel Alek Wek Trashes Instagram Models

Supermodel Alek Wek is not feeling the growing trend of Instagram models. In fact, she’s not a fan. In a recent interview, she says:

I think the fashion industry has gotten to a place where it is embarrassing. When I think of ‘Instagram models,’ I say you have to take baby steps. You cannot just walk straight onto the runway. When I was working, there was no digital. We actually worked, we used Polaroids.

She adds,

Anything that those girls get for instant gratification, [they’ll] have to pay for it later.

Wek was discovered at an outdoor market in 1995 in Crystal Palace, London by a Models 1 scout. She appeared in the music video for “GoldenEye” by Tina Turner that year, and shortly thereafter began fashion modeling. She was signed to Ford Models in 1996 and also appeared in the “Got ‘Til It’s Gone” music video by Janet Jackson that year. She was the first African model to appear on the cover of Elle that year.

Wek has walked for many notable fashion houses: Chanel, Moschino, Fendi, Dries Van Noten, Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Chloé, Gucci, DKNY, Jean Paul Gaultier, Michael Kors, John Galliano, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Céline, Valentino, Tommy Hilfiger, Roberto Cavalli, Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, Giorgio Armani, Sonia Rykiel, Viktor & Rolf, Diane Von Furstenberg, Zac Posen, Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Oscar De La Renta. She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Clinique, Michael Kors, Jean Paul Gaultier, Ralph Lauren, Moschino, Issey Miyake, Ann Taylor, Nars, Banana Republic, Gap, Saks Fifth Avenue, H&M, and Isabel Marant. Wek has graced the cover of American, French, German and South African Elle as well as i-D, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Forbes Magazine Africa and Ebony. She has also been featured in editorials in American and British Vogue.