{"id":58227,"date":"2021-10-18T12:57:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T16:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/?p=58227"},"modified":"2023-05-02T08:50:29","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T12:50:29","slug":"the-graduates-ajok-madel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-graduates-ajok-madel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Graduates: Ajok Madel"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='row' id='cover'>\n<div class=\"small-12 medium-12 columns\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_22_v1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2522\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_22_v1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_22_v1-1280x1614.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_22_v1-159x200.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"covertitle\">\n<h3>The Graduates<\/h3>\n<h1>Ajok Madel<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n#content .row {max-width:100%}\n#cover {\nbackground-color: white;\nposition:relative;\nmargin: 0 auto 30px auto;\ntext-align:center;\n}\n#covertitle, #covertitle h1, #content #covertitle h3 {color: white;}\n#covertitle {\nposition: absolute;font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01',helvetica,sans-serif;\nbottom: 12%;\nwidth: 100%;\nfont-size: 4rem;\nfont-weight:900;\n}\n#covertitle p {}\n#covertitle h1 {display:inherit;}\n#content #covertitle h3 {font-size:1.7rem;}\n#content div.post {color:black;}\n.post p, .post div p:first-child {padding:0}\n.coverpic {max-width:1280px;padding: 4%;margin:auto;}\n#introbox,.txtbox,.introblurb {text-align:justify;}\n.introblurb,.introblurb p {line-height:1.6;}\n#introbox,#creditbox {border:1px solid white;padding:90px 30px !important;max-width: 850px;margin: auto !important;}\n#introbox, #introbox p {font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01';}\n#introbox{font-size:20px;text-align:center !important;}\n#introbox .introcredits {font-size:.85rem;}\n#introbox, .introcredits {font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01', sans-serif;}\n#introbox,.txtbox,.rside {margin:0px 0 10px 0}\n#introbox,.rside {font-weight:300;}\n.title {font-size:4.2rem;color:black;font-weight:normal;margin:auto;padding:60px 0;text-align:center;text-transform: capitalize;font-family: 'Neue Haas Unica W01';font-weight: 400;}\n.title a {color:black;}\n.subtitle {margin:auto;padding:60px 0;text-align:center;font-size:.8em !important;}\n.photogtitle {font-size:2rem;}\n.pullquote {font-size:1.8rem;text-align:center;font-style:italic;max-width:900px;margin:auto;padding:20px;font-family: 'Neue Haas Unica W01';}\n.txtdiv {padding: 0 40px;clear:both;}\n.txtbox {font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01', sans-serif;font-weight:400;width:36%;border:0;margin:auto;padding: 10% 10% 20% 10%;}\n.txtbox strong {font-weight: 700;}\n.credits {font-size:.95rem;padding:2rem 0;font-weight:normal;text-align:center;clear:both;text-transform: uppercase;max-width: 800px;margin: auto;}\n.subcredits {font-size:.9rem;}\n.separ {border:1px solid white;clear:both;margin:60px;}\n.center {text-align: center;}\n.center img {max-width: 80%;}\n.pic40 {width:60%;margin:2% 20%;text-align:center;}\n.fullwidth {max-width:100% !important;margin-top:20px;}\n.videodiv {height:auto;width:auto;background-color:white;padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;max-width:1280px;}\n#content div.post h2 {margin: 20px 0;\n    background: white;\n    font-family: \"Helvetica Neue\";\n    font-size: 2rem;\n    color: #333;}\n<\/style>\n<link type=\"text\/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/\/fast.fonts.net\/cssapi\/1ee7eecc-8318-40d7-9f60-2840770611c0.css?1\"\/>\n<!-- mdc set, L Futura W01,Linotype Didot W01,Neue Haas Unica W01 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"txtdiv\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"introbox\">\n<div class=\"introblurb\">\nSince 2013, Models.com\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/tag\/the-graduates\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Graduates<\/a> series has been a visual celebration of the model muses who\u2019ve cemented themselves as faces of noteworthy praise in editorial, advertisements, lookbooks, and runways. Through insurmountable rejection and just as many wins, these muses have locked down luxury clients while rising through the ranks from the Hot List to the top working models in the World, during the pandemic no less. Shot in New York through the lens of photographer <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/jon-ervin\">Jon Ervin<\/a>, this year&#8217;s list stands as a testament to the fashion industry&#8217;s tenacity.<\/p>\n<p>Visit her <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/ajok-madel\">Models.com page<\/a> and click or tap the Lists button <i class=\"fa fa-heart-o\"><\/i>to favorite Ajok and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/lists\/\">keep track<\/a> of her work.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"introcredits\">\n<h3>Photography by <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/jon-ervin\">Jon Ervin<\/a> for Models.com<\/h3>\n<p>Styling &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/rebecca-dennett\">Rebecca Dennett<\/a><br \/>\nHair &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/ro-morgan\">Ro Morgan<\/a> | Makeup &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/jaleesa-jaikaran\">Jaleesa Jaikaran<\/a> | Nails &#8211; Kuniko Inoue<br \/>\nModel &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/ajok-madel\">Ajok Madel<\/a><br \/>\nPhotographer Assistant &#8211; Vita Burn | Stylist Assistants &#8211; Alia West and John Dunham | Makeup Assistant &#8211; Eunice Kristen<\/p>\n<p>Editor-in-Chief &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/stephan-moskovic\">Stephan Moskovic<\/a><br \/>\nText &#038; interview by <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/irene-ojo-felix\">Irene Ojo-Felix<\/a><br \/>\nProduction &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/sasha-grinblat\">Sasha Grinblat<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Above: Jacket and Pants &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/alberta-ferretti\">Alberta Ferretti<\/a> | Earring &#8211; Lady Grey<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"pic40\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_26_v1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2522\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_26_v1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_26_v1-1280x1614.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_26_v1-159x200.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Dress &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nanushka\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nanushka<\/a> | Earrings &#8211; Joanna Laura Constantine<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p>It is a rare occurrence that a model has the trajectory that <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/ajok-madel\">Ajok Madel<\/a> had her very first season on the Big Four runway circuit (the biannual, viral pilgrimage through New York, London, Milan, and Paris for fashion week). From the JFK tarmac, bleary-eyed from her first brutal, day-long flight, she jumped straight into castings for a season that would set the career trajectory of the newly minted Top 50 muse. \u201cI was praying I booked just one show,\u201d Madel recalls. \u201cI had never traveled to all the other four cities, and next minute I did quite a number of shows, about 28.\u201d Born in Kenya, raised in Australia, her hard to ignore season towards the end of 2019 landed her on <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/top-newcomers-s-s-2020\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Models.com Top Newcomers S\/S 2020 list<\/a> before her resume really started piling up.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pullquote\">&#8220;I was praying I booked just one show&#8230;I had never traveled to all the other four cities, and next minute I did quite a number of shows, about 28.&#8221;<\/div>\n<p>The South Sudanese Australian stunner counts many of those early runway clients like Jason Wu, Tom Ford, and Salvatore Ferragamo as mainstays within her portfolio, brimming with editorial features in Dazed, V Magazine, and Numero. Ask Madel, and she\u2019ll mention that her \u201cBig Four\u201d ambition also applies to rounding out her appearances in fashion tome, Vogue, this year of which she has shot for its American, British and Italian editions. With tunnel vision on Vogue Paris, her cerebral nature with her work shows a sharp drive, attributing her well-rounded success with research and early dedication to the industry when she was just a scouted teenager, aided by the digital age. She watched reality TV and fashion runway videos online to get a glimpse of the world she&#8217;s now dominating in. \u201cBefore I even came to New York, when I was still young I did my studying,\u201d she recollects. \u201cI was watching shows even though I was at home. I knew all the designers, all the casting directors.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pic40\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_28_v1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2522\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_28_v1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_28_v1-1280x1614.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_28_v1-159x200.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Jacket and Pants &#8211; <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/alberta-ferretti\">Alberta Ferretti<\/a> | Earring &#8211; Lady Grey<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p>Having already worked with photographers like S\u00f8lve Sundsb\u00f8, Nick Knight, and Mert and Marcus, Madel understands her added studious edge is still heavily aided by the countless model figureheads that allow for her to take up space presently. \u201cSeeing how diverse the industry is becoming has made me feel like there&#8217;s space for me in the industry,\u201d Madel believes. The brilliant glow you see reflected in these images from Jon Ervin\u2019s lens shows a muse that has trusted the arduous process of becoming a model, now preparing herself for an industry itching to return to normalcy when the COVID-19 pandemic, severe climate change, and racial turmoil has made us question its very role in society. \u201cHonestly I&#8217;m super proud of how hard I have worked and grateful for the opportunities I&#8217;ve been receiving. Even though the pandemic has affected a lot of people, they still work and we&#8217;re managing to push through it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pullquote\">&#8220;Seeing how diverse the industry is becoming has made me feel like there&#8217;s space for me in the industry.&#8221;<\/div>\n<p>Madel has also set another goal of shooting with visual luminary Steven Meisel and during this interview points to past work, he\u2019s done that she\u2019s inspired by. Her advice to others that preparation is key makes sense as she ticks off favorite shots of his. &#8220;Confidence and having a thick skin [is important] because we get a lot of rejection,\u201d she says. \u201cI&#8217;m scared of flying but I was in planes at least five times a week going from New York to Europe my first season. I know there&#8217;s so much potential in me because of how hard I&#8217;ve worked.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pic40\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_21_v1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2522\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_21_v1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_21_v1-1280x1614.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/MODELSDOT_POLAROID_21_v1-159x200.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Dress &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nanushka\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nanushka<\/a> | Earrings &#8211; Joanna Laura Constantine<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"small-12 columns\" id=\"thumbs\" style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<h2>The Graduates<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"small-block-grid-2 medium-block-grid-5\" id=\"thumbsul\">\n<li id=\"thumb-ajok-madel\"><a href=\"\/mdx\/the-graduates-ajok-madel\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/AjokThumb.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/AjokThumb2.jpg\" style=\"display:none\"\/><br \/>\n  \tAjok Madel<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"thumb-james-turlington\"><a href=\"\/mdx\/the-graduates-james-turlington\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/JamesThumb.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/JamesThumb2.jpg\" style=\"display:none\"\/><br \/>\n  \tJames Turlington<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"thumb-indira-scott\"><a href=\"\/mdx\/the-graduates-indira-scott\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/IndiraThumb2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/IndiraThumb.jpg\" style=\"display:none\"\/><br \/>\nIndira Scott<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"thumb-abdulaye-niang\"><a href=\"\/mdx\/the-graduates-abdulaye-niang\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/AbThumb1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/AbThumb2.jpg\" style=\"display:none\"\/><br \/>\n  \tAbdulaye Niang<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"thumb-kyla-ramsey\"><a href=\"\/mdx\/the-graduates-kyla-ramsey\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/KThumb1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2021\/10\/KThumb2.jpg\" style=\"display:none\"\/><br \/>\n  \tKyla Ramsey<br \/>\n  <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ bottom\"><\/div>\n<p><script>\n$(\"[id^='thumb-']\").hover(function() {\n    $(this).find('img').toggle();\n});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Graduates Ajok Madel Since 2013, Models.com\u2019s The Graduates series has been a visual celebration of the model muses who\u2019ve cemented themselves as faces of noteworthy praise in editorial, advertisements, lookbooks, and runways. Through insurmountable rejection and just as many wins, these muses have locked down luxury clients while rising through the ranks from the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":58321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3044,155,2701,4257,1538,3066],"tags":[3602,2554,4023,4020,4021,4022,3103,197,2739],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58227"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58227"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58421,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58227\/revisions\/58421"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}