Ajak Deng’s cup runneth over.
The 26-year-old fashion model has had enough of the fashion industry and is taking her talents back to Australia, the place she immigrated to after fleeing South Sudan in 2005, People magazine reports. In an Instragram message posted Tuesday, Deng said she’s done with modeling.
“I am happy to announce that I am officially done with the fashion industry, I will be moving back to Australia in order to live the life that I fully deserved. Which is real life,” Deng posted.
She didn’t exactly say why, although it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think it may have something to do with her being a black model—and a chocolate-complexioned model at that. In an Instagram post she put up right before the one announcing her retirement, Deng is carrying a bag that has “Black Models Matter” embroidered on it.
“I can no longer deal with the fakes and the lies. My life is too short for this dramatic life. I am thankful and grateful for every sweet souls [sic] that I have crossed path with,” she finished.
And don’t sleep: Deng’s résumé is nothing to sneeze at. She’s modeled in campaigns and walked in runway shows for Chloé, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin, Sophie Theallet, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs, Barneys New York and Philipp Plein. I’m sure she'll be missed—especially her underrepresented look.
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Diana Ozemebhoya Eromosele is a staff writer at The Root and the founder and executive producer of Lectures to Beats, a Web series that features video interviews with scarily insightful people. Follow Lectures to Beats on Facebook and Twitter.
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