Aweng Ade-Chuol is the perfect illustration of a sibylline woman. Everyone knows her name, but nobody really knows who she is. This Australian of South-Sudanese origin lives her life as it pleases her, with all guns blazing.

Describe yourself in three words.

I have never been asked this question. But I would honestly say, motivated, workaholic and outspoken.

A stand-out memory from last season (SS20)?

When I got to walk the Parabel Gurung show in New York City, I met so many top models — and the team was phenomenal. The entire process (from casting/fitting to the show) was just amazing.

We know that Aweng likes to be mysterious, but can you tell us what your favorite food is (even if I already know)?

What can I say, mystery adds more to the character. But anything that my wife cooks, to be honest. She is an amazing cook (I love pasta, I love curry — only when she cooks it though). I also love Miss Lily’s in New York City.

Writing, reading or listening? Why?

What a way to put me on the spot. And honestly, it depends on what I am reading, writing or listening to — but I love when I write, I like to emphasize that words are the most powerful things in the world — and you need to be careful how you listen to, write and read them.

It’s nice to see that you keep a foot in the “real world” with your studies and commitments. Does it help you with modeling?

It helps with keeping me grounded. I have made a promise to myself: no matter what, I will always have one foot in the real world. And that is something that is really important- let’s say I become a top model one day — I never want my team to start seeing me differently ( as if I have allowed the status of ‘top model’ to go to my head). I value my humility, and I will always fight to hold on to it.

Do you feel that history is about to repeat itself regarding your home country?

I do not think the world can really ever truly see if things will unfold exactly the same way, we do have a current wave in our society — where we seem to never learn our lessons when it comes down to warfare. Perhaps I would not want it to but at this point, I will not rule anything out with the way politics are driving us, as a society.

How do you walk the talk? Is it hard, or does your status as a model help you raise awareness?

I am alive, that is a bigger deed to myself and the world than anything else I could ever aspire to. I surround myself with the reality that I had as a child.

Where do you feel most at home?

When I am lounging around in my New York City apartment with my wife, and the speakers are blasting “dangerously in Love” by Beyoncé. And then my phone buzzes for a flight, and my wife and I rush to the airport at around 9 pm for a flight that lasts eight hours.

What’s your goal for the future?

My goal is simply “to be somebody”, I want to be a somebody in more than one field. I want to accomplish everything on my list. I want to enter politics, and one day I want to release the album of the year. Who really ever knows?

When you’re older, you see yourself…

As someone that did everything they had ever dreamed of, and as someone that had appeared on the cover of Time magazine several times. And as a dreamer that taught not just young people, but the whole word, to believe in their dreams.

photographs BEN FOURMI

interview & text CYRIL VINCHON