Ajus Samuel

South Sudanese Top 50 model Ajus Samuel burst onto the scene with her debut at the Saint Laurent S/S 24 show, a worldwide exclusive debut that marked the beginning of a powerful partnership with the house. Since then, she has fronted four Saint Laurent campaigns, opened one show, and closed two for the brand, including her recent closing spot for S/S 26. To date, she has walked in 98 shows worldwide, yet her path to fashion was anything but typical. During the 2021 lockdown, her sister encouraged her to try modeling. She reached out to her fellow South Sudanese model, Mary Ukech, for advice who connected her with her mother agency, 90s Model Management, which soon became Samuel’s mother agency too. After being scouted, she signed with her London agency and was quickly confirmed as a Saint Laurent exclusive.

She didn’t grasp the magnitude at first, but her friends quickly made it clear that it was a career-defining moment. Since that debut, Samuel has worked with Juergen Teller, Stef Mitchell and Drew Vickers on advertisements for the French brand and has become one of Anthony Vaccarello’s key muses. Reflecting on her connection with Saint Laurent, she said, “Being in that kind of family feels like you are one of the chosen. It’s so rare and so special to me because so many people would want that opportunity. I always prayed for it, and I’m very thankful.” Beyond Saint Laurent, Samuel has fronted campaigns for Phoebe Philo, Fendi, and McQueen. Despite such global success, she stays grounded, often spending time with her family when she’s not traveling. “They didn’t understand it at first,” she said about her family being supportive of her modeling. “When I told them, they didn’t approve, so I had to make up an excuse and later apologize. After my first show, I called them to explain what I do, and once they saw the results, they understood.” Looking ahead, Samuel hopes to launch a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children. Having grown up on a scholarship, she wants to provide the same opportunities for others, paying forward the support that once helped her.