Right beforeAdut Akechfound out she was pregnant, she dreamt her sister was.
The dream was so lucid that Akech woke up in the middle of the night.
She frantically called her in a nocturnal haze to see if it was true.
Adut wears Christopher Esber blue denim top and jeans. Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
Her sister assured her it wasntthat she was very muchnotexpecting.
But Akech now sees it as the first omen of many.
The day after that, she found herself the most exhausted shed ever been in her life.
Acne blazer and trouser and Eres bralette. Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
But as a top model, that had always been her schedule.
Then came the day of pregnancy reckoning.
She took five, and they all said the same thing: She was definitely and undisputedly pregnant.
“I always said I wanted to be a young mom because I love the idea of growing up with your kids,” says Akech. Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
Akech is 24 years old, three years below the U.S. average age for first-time mothers.
Thats the relationship she shares with her own mother, who had Akech when she was 20 years old.
The age difference plays a huge role in how close we are, she says.
Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
She wants at least four.
Shed also be cool with six, if some end up twinning.
Acne blazer and trouser and Eres bralette.
Adut Akech at the 2024 Met Gala in May. She was just over one month pregnant.
Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
Hows the journey with number one going?
She answers, breathlessly: Im good.
Im likecan they just come already?
Im kind of over it and Im just halfway.
Nothing really ever prepares you for it.
Its one thing to read about pregnancy-specific weight gain, for example.
Im so sorry for my language, she says, laughing.
Or when the exhaustion comes with a mind-boggling, simultaneous case of insomnia.
Or when your simple craving for oranges morphs into a bizarre eating pattern.
Some days, Akech isnt hungry at all.
I want everythingIll force my mom to cook three traditional dishes and on top of that Im having KFC.
Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
Its not just the cravings that have Akech thinking a lot about her upbringing.
For eight years Akech lived in a Kenyan refugee camp.
She knows her child wont have the same journeyand of course, she doesnt want them to.
I could have easily gotten carried away with the life that I now live.
If I can take care of my family and take care of myself, thats it, Im happy.
I just want to teach my kids whats valuable.
And whats not, she adds, before pausing.
Just to be a kind, decent human being.
Her kids, for starters, are going to work.
But for Akech, that doesnt matter.
My mom didnt have anything!
Stylist, Emma Kalfus; makeup artist, Samantha Patrikopoulos.
The other one mightve been Victorias Secret.
But I dont go anywhere in Adelaide!
Akech says, laughing.
I go to my OB-GYN, I go back home.
I go to my pregnancy Pilates, I come back home.
I pick up my siblings from school, I come back home.
Theres nowhere to dress up!
Adut Akech at the 2024 Met Gala in May.
She was just over one month pregnant.
The model has about 10 weeks of pregnancy left.
she says, exaggerating her movements to comedic effect.
But after gathering herself together, she looks me straight in the eye.
Women…were built different, honestly, she says.
I dont think men couldever.
