Alek Wek, cover-girl on ELLE birthday issue
First black US cover-girl
Wek, who started her modeling career over 15 years ago, took the magazine industry into a new era when she was featured on the cover of US ELLE and became the first black women to appear on a magazine cover in the US. Since then Wek has been the face of numerous international campaigns, which include Clinique, Ralph Lauren and Jean Paul Gautier.
Wek, styled in signature pieces from local designers, combined with a Woolworths basics t-shirt, embellished with a sequined heart, created especially for the ELLE shoot by Christopher Strong designer Olive du Plessis.
"This outfit makes a strong statement for style democracy and Wek's vibrant smile captures the optimism and high spirits that ELLE magazine epitomises going forward into its second seven-year South African cycle," says ELLE editor, Jackie Burger.
"ELLE South Africa's fourteenth birthday is our cue to celebrate a brand that has, for over six decades, served millions of women as a fashion authority, a school of style, a mentor and friend," adds Burger.
April issue features
The April issue also features a host of stories that ELLE has flagged on their cover including an honest look at the question, do black covers sell and Wek's personal account of how she escaped from Sudan and conquered New York.
The 14th birthday collector's issue will be available from 18 March 2010. A limited edition of the embellished t-shirt worn by Wek on the cover is available at selected Woolworth's stores from 24 March 2010.
