Alek Wek Slays on the Cover of ‘Forbes Life Africa’

Super model Alek Wek was tapped to cover the first edition of Forbes Life Africa. According to Okay Africa, Forbes Africa launched two years ago and to highlight the occasion, they’ve launched Forbes Woman Africa and Forbes Life Africa, and felt that Wek was the perfect face for the first issue of the latter. I agree. Look at how fierce she is.

GAWD!

For all those who think that dark skin women can’t wear colors, especially a red lip (*glares at A$AP Rocky)…take that, take that, uh! She looks beautiful and you (and me too) wish you had her beautiful rich smooth skin (I’ve seen her in person, there was definitely little to no airbrushing involved).

Superficial triteness aside, both magazines are geared toward celebrating African achievement in the world of business and entrepreneurship.

“There are so many stories of success on the African continent that we will never be able to do justice to all the woman making a difference in the corporate world, which is the principal reason why I took the decision to have a separate magazine for women. We are looking forward to making this the most sought after business magazine for women on the continent” said founder and vice chairman of the ABN Group, Rakesh Wahi.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at Alek Wek’s shoot.

I wasn’t familiar with Wek’s work beyond that of a super model until I interviewed her for Black Enterprise last year. Apparently, not only is she producing a line of handbags but she also does humanitarian work with her native Sudan. As a former South Sudanese refugee who fled the country during the Sudan’s first civil war, Wek understands what it’s like for people still living there under uncertain circumstances as the country is still developing. Wek works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) establish a stable government, educational system and a generally solid environment for people to live.

She was so gracious warm and inspirational when I spoke to her, and wise too. I’m glad she was chosen to cover such a landmark issue of what will become an important magazine.

In related news, businesswoman and “African fashion champion,” Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe is pictuered on the first cover of Forbes Woman Africa, which you can see by following this link to Okay Africa.

Tags: Alek Wek, Forbes Africa, Forbes Africa Woman

Category: Fashion/Style, News