Ataui Deng (born 3 November 1991) is a Sudanese American model who began her fashion career at the age of 17 in 2008. As the niece of Alek Wek, she began her career linked to her more famous aunt though her youth quickly became the aspect that the media focused on. She is from the South Sudan,[1] and left for San Antonio, Texas, USA. She currently[when?] lives in San Antonio, TX.
Ataui Deng | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ataui Deng 3 November 1991 Khartoum, Sudan |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Dark Brown |
Early life
editDeng was born in Khartoum in the Sudan. She escaped the Second Sudanese Civil War with her parents and immigrated to San Antonio, Texas.
Career
editShe arrived in San Antonio at age 12, four years later she signed to Trump modelling agency and moved to New York.[2] She debuted as a runway model in September 2008 for the spring Jeremy Laing, Kai Kuhne, L’Wren Scott, Proenza Schouler, and Zac Posen shows in New York. She was filmed by Jeremy Kost backstage at the Zac Posen show for New York magazine.[3] She skipped the fashion weeks in Europe in 2008 in order to finish high school in Texas. She appeared in Teen Vogue several times.[4] At age eighteen she became well known for having fallen on the runway for Z Spoke by Zac Posen.[5]
Image
editAtaui Deng forms part of a famous triumvirate of ethnic Dinka models, the other two are her aunt Alek Wek and her best friend Ajak Deng.[6]
Personal life
editDeng is best friends with Australian Sudanese model Ajak Deng who has sometimes mistakenly been described as her sister. She is niece to the runway model Alek Wek.[7] She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.[8] She was reported missing on 8 August 2014. On August 18, 2014, she was found in a New York hospital after being reported missing for 10 days.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Meet The New Girl". nymag.com. 22 October 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ "MODEL MOMENT: ATAUI DENG The Leggy, Lippy Niece of Alek Wek is A Supermodel in the Making". www.kisua.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ "Model Ataui Deng Blinks for Zen".
- ^ "Ataui Deng – Fashion Model – Profile".
- ^ "Model Falls At Z Spoke Zac Posen Spring 2011 Show". Archived from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
- ^ "Ajak Deng: The Pride of South Sudan and Dinka People Who Successfully Changed from a Refugee to Supermodel".
- ^ "Meet The New Girl". nymag.com. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ Alek Wek – Model Profile
- ^ "NYC-Based Model Ataui Deng Has Gone Missing". www.styleite.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
