Last week, Sudanese-Australian model Ajak Dengannounced her untimely retirement from the fashion industry. “I can no longer deal with the fakes and the lies,” Deng, 26, wrote in an Instagram post. “My life is too short for this dramatic life.” The announcement, though somewhat vague, came from one of the industry’s most prominent critical voices of industry racism.
After a few days of R&R in Australia, Deng took to Instagram on Sunday to apologize to her supporters and announce her return from retirement.
“I was selfish to only think of myself and forgetting the people that has always been there for me through the worst times and good times,” she wrote. “I feel like I have touched so many young people's lives, gave them hope. Just because I come from NOTHING does not mean that I can't make something for myself and for that I will still want to continued to touched more lives. Yes sure giving up is easier but who will fight the war that we are so in denial about? I am just getting started and modeling isn't the only Thing I will be successful in, in my life time. I apologize to every kind souls/hearts that I have broken in the past week. I thought giving up was easier but I am going to stay and fight this war with kindness, forgiveness, love and support to all humanity. We are all beautiful and deserved to be respected. #BigLoveToHumanity.”
