In 1997, Ms. Wek was tasked with op

In 1997, Ms. Wek was tasked with opening and closing the “Maasai"- themed collection by Ralph Lauren at New York Fashion Week. In November of that year, she appeared on the cover of Elle Magazine, the first black model ever. In contrast to the widely held belief at the time that covers featuring women of color didn’t sell, this issue was very popular and prompted a huge reader response. For example, one subscriber said, “When I saw your recent cover featuring a proud and radiant Alek Wek, I nearly cried.” Ms. Wek was also named “Model of the Year” by MTV in 1997.