Model blasts magazine’s photo mixup

Supermodel Adut Akech labels picture error disrespectful and ignorant,

Supermodel Adut Akech has made an emotional plea for greater education in the fashion and media industries after a magazine published an interview with her but with a photo of another model.

In the interview in this week’s issue of Australia’s Who magazine, Akech – who is in Australia for Melbourne Fashion Week – spoke to the publication about ‘‘how people view refugees and people’s attitude to colour in general’’, according to her Instagram post on Sunday night.

But alongside the interview, a photo of model Flavia Lazarus, not Akech, took up almost an entire page.

Lazarus appeared in the campaign for Melbourne Fashion Week that was shot by Georges Antoni.

Writing about the mistake, Akech told her 497,000 followers: ‘‘They [Who] published a large photo saying it was me. But it was of another black girl.

‘‘This has upset me, has made me angry, it has made me feel very disrespected and to me is unacceptable and inexcusable under any circumstances. Not

only do I personally feel insulted and disrespected but I feel like my entire race has been disrespected.’’

The City of Melbourne is due to release a statement about the incident but is understood to fully back Akech’s stance.

The council’s public relations agency, OPR, which was dealing with the magazine, said it ‘‘mistakenly sent a file of images to Who magazine, which resulted in an incorrect image being used’’.

‘‘The error was administrative and unintentional and we sincerely apologise for this mistake and any upset it has caused to the models involved, and our client, the City of Melbourne,’’ a spokeswoman said via email.

It’s understood Who has spoken to Akech.

Akech, 19, said the error flew in the face of the message that she was trying to convey in the interview.

‘‘By this happening I feel like it defeated the purpose of what I stand for and spoke about. It goes to show that people are very ignorant and narrow-minded that they think every black girl or African person looks the same,’’ she wrote.

The model, who has walked for Chanel and Valentino, said that although Who apologised to her, ‘‘this would not have happened to a white model’’.

‘‘This has deeply affected me and we need to start an important conversation that needs to happen,’’ she wrote. ‘‘I’m sure that I’m not the first person that’s experienced this and it needs to stop.

‘‘I’ve been called by the name of another model who happens to be of the same ethnicity. I find it very ignorant, rude and disrespectful towards both of us simply because we know that this doesn’t happen with white models.’’

Akech’s post received strong support from followers and key people in the fashion industry, including celebrity stylist Lana Wilkinson. ‘‘So very well said! This is beyond disrespectful and good for you for having the courage to make a stand,’’ Wilkinson wrote.

Another Australian model with African heritage, Duckie Thot, wrote: ‘‘This has happened to me too with another Australian paper. It’s really disrespectful and sad. I hope you’re OK.’’

On Monday, Akech arrived in Melbourne for several appearances as Melbourne Fashion Week’s ambassador. She will walk in the opening Town Hall runway on Friday night, and speak at the business seminar next Monday.

Last month, she was one of the 15 ‘‘forces for change’’ chosen by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, for the September cover of

British Vogue.

Akech was born in South Sudan and was raised in a Kenyan refugee camp, before moving with her family to Adelaide.

Last year, she was named Model of the Year at the Australian Fashion Laureate awards.

– Sydney Morning Herald

‘‘It goes to show that people are very ignorant and narrow-minded that they think every black girl or African person looks the same.’’ Adut Akech, right.