Since she fled South Sudan as a refugee 18 years ago, Mari Malek, aka DJ Stiletto, has become a successful Model/DJ and Actress in New York City. She is also the founder of "Stand For Education," a non- profit organization dedicated to empowering girls and providing access to education for underprivileged children. When Malek first escaped South Sudan with her mother and siblings, they spent four years in Egypt where they applied for asylum and were granted refugee status. Mari and her family then moved to Newark, New Jersey before they found their relatives and relocated to San Diego, California. One day on a walk to school, Malek was approached by a modeling scout, and in 2006, Malek moved to New York to pursue a career in the field. She now uses her status as a platform to bring light to an often-ignored plight, and helps to inspire and introduce opportunities to South Sudanese women and children whose lives have been torn apart by the violence and inhumanity of war.
Client List:
Malek has collaborated as a Model/DJ for Vogue, WWD, Harper's Bazaar, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Rolls Royce, Kenneth Cole, Marithé + François Girbaud, Burn Residency Ibiza, Italian Vanity Fair, Elle (Obakki), Marie Claire, Essence, Into gloss, Summer Stage, Tribeca Film Festival, style.com, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Mara Hoffman, Luca Luca, Virgin Mobile, Lacoste LIVE, and Lanvin Paris ad Campaign shot by the Legendary photographer Steven Meisel. She has appeared as an actress in "The Good Lie" movie, and is Starring in "The Nile Hilton Incident." Malek was also highlighted for her humanitarian work on the Refugee Crisis during the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2016, and collaborated with The New York Post, HuffPost Live, Vice, BBC, UN Foundation, UNICEF, Fusion TV, Black Girls Rock Awards Show and with the United Nations for the World Economic Forum.