Alek Wek

The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don't celebrate those, they can pass you by.

Beauty is subjective and should not be limited to only what we see on the outside.

I meet and talk to women from every corner of this planet, and I can find beauty in each and every one of them.

True beauty is born through our actions and aspirations and in the kindness we offer to others.

I've always loved to paint - I was studying to do an art degree when I was approached to become a model - and I've being doing some design work as well. I also love just having a quiet time, sitting in my little library at home in Brooklyn and reading or watching documentaries or listening to music.

I like to accept it all, the negative and the positive.

Don't focus on negative things; focus on the positive, and you will flourish.

The beauty of reading is that it lets you travel in a way you could never know.

It's sometimes tiring to get off a long-haul flight and go straight to the studio for a shoot, but if you really plan everything well, you can get so much out of combining travel with work.

We need to do everything we can to protect the health and welfare of children around the world, but fortunately, it's getting easier to provide things like medication and care.

I think beauty is not just about what we put on our heads or on our faces or what we wear: it's deeper than that, and if we can celebrate that, celebrate the women, not just the superficiality... I think it would be really gorgeous.

Going back to South Sudan after the independence took place was deeply emotional for me because I had gone through the civil war with my family just before going to seek refuge in London.

My mother has always instilled in us that we should carry ourselves with dignity despite the horror that came with the civil war. She also taught us that where you come from is very important because that's what makes you who you are. So for me, whatever I've gone through had profoundly shaped me; it has given me strength and unwavering faith.

I still have dreams in which someone is coming to the door.