You’ve always had a wonderfully confident appreciation of your own beauty. How has that perspective changed in your 40s as compared with when you were younger?

 “I feel very beautiful in my 40s and I’m very comfortable with myself – much more than when I was in my 20s. The beautiful thing about being in your 40s is that you really know who you are and what you like. Today I don’t even need to try a dress on because I know which silhouettes work for me as soon as I see them.”

Tell us About.A.W.orld and how it reflects your philosophy in life.

“It started last Fall when I shared my ideas, inspirations and my artworks with the brand’s creative team. I wanted this collection to be authentic; for every piece to be something that I would really want to wear and have in my wardrobe. This means that it has to be practical and sophisticated; classic and comfortable so that it can be worn by women worldwide (highlights include softly tailored coats; body-skimming knits with a sporty zing; and flared jeans and jumpsuits as timeless as they are trendy). I wanted to do a collection with no borders or barriers.”

Your artwork! Tell us more about this side of you and how it’s reflected in the collection.

“What excites me most today is the possibility to do projects such as this capsule with Weekend Max Mara in which I can express my creativity and my art. (She picked up painting as a hobby when she started her career while the Italian label partners up regularly with artists – from Donald Robertson to the glass artist Ritsue Mishima.) I made these paintings titled Life Lines almost 20 years ago when I first came to New York and it’s so moving to see how the brand has translated them into the collection (the works’ colourful brush strokes with an abstract expressionist bent turn up on the likes of a ruffled silk shirt dress and matching scarf as well as the lining of a coat).”

For all the brands that you’ve worked with as a model, Weekend Max Mara might seem like an unexpected choice for your first design collaboration.  

“When I think about Weekend Max Mara, I think of the Italian lifestyle – this unique love for life, elegance and art that Italians have. It’s a brand that celebrates this specific attitude; this casual sophistication that permeates every item – and then I loved the idea of adding a touch of African culture to it. You can see this in the details: the colours on the scarves, belts and hooded coat, for example, were inspired by the flag of South Sudan. Each one has a specific meaning: yellow to symbolise the the sun; green, the land; red for blood; blue for the sky; black to represent the people; and white for peace. It’s a tribute to Africa and to my homeland of South Sudan.”

Speaking up about diversity and the importance of self-confidence has been a definitive part of your career. How has your approach changed over the years?

“When I started modelling, I realised immediately that I was different from my colleagues, but I welcomed the opportunities that fashion offered me and the support that came from many inspiring individuals in the industry. I’ve always strived to use this platform to champion the ideals of what’s beautiful. It’s strange that in some countries, some are viewed as more beautiful than others simply because of their skin colour. Beauty should be universal – we’re all different and all beautiful. Similarly, style is what you make of it. It’s influenced by what surrounds you – people, everyday experiences – and should make you feel comfortable. This collaboration with Weekend Max Mara reflects this. Wearing the pieces really makes one feel good.”

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

A version of this article first appeared in the October 2021 Life Is Beautiful edition of FEMALE