Beauty is subjective and should not be limited to only what we see on the outside.

— Alek Wek

Don't focus on negative things; focus on the positive, and you will flourish.

— Alek Wek

Going back to South Sudan after the independence took place was deeply emotional for me because I had gone through the civil war with my family just before going to seek refuge in London.

— Alek Wek

I like to accept it all, the negative and the positive.

— Alek Wek

I meet and talk to women from every corner of this planet, and I can find beauty in each one of them.

— Alek Wek

I still have dreams in which someone is coming to the door.

— Alek Wek

I think beauty is not just about what we put on our heads or on our faces or what we wear: it's deeper than that, and if we can celebrate that, celebrate the women, not just the superficiality... I think it would be really gorgeous.

— Alek Wek

It's sometimes tiring to get off a long-haul flight and go straight to the studio for a shoot, but if you really plan everything well, you can get so much out of combining travel with work.

— Alek Wek

I've always loved to paint - I was studying to do an art degree when I was approached to become a model - and I've being doing some design work as well. I also love just having a quiet time, sitting in my little library at home in Brooklyn and reading or watching documentaries or listening to music.

— Alek Wek

My mother has always instilled in us that we should carry ourselves with dignity despite the horror that came with the civil war. She also taught us that where you come from is very important because that's what makes you who you are. So for me, whatever I've gone through had profoundly shaped me; it has given me strength and unwavering faith.

— Alek Wek