She said they have known each other for eight years. “Samuel does a bit of everything,he’s in property development,he’s in music.”
Despite being a darling of the industry,Akech Bior arrived more than fashionably late on Tuesday,taking her seat at the Lexus marquee mere moments before the main race. Her mid-afternoon arrival continued a long tradition of celebrities arriving late to Flemington,but nothing tops Naomi Campbell,who on Derby Day in 2013 finally swanned into the Birdcage just as the main race of the day was run.
But unlike some celebrity appearances at the races,which take months and hundreds of thousands in payments and contra to come to fruition,Akech Bior’s attendance was relatively low-key,despite her standing as one of the fashion industry’s most influential faces internationally.
Akech Bior said she was visiting Australia for her sister Kim’s 26th birthday and asked her manager to contact the Victoria Racing Club about making her first visit to the Melbourne Cup.
“I got[to Australia] on Saturday ...[my sister] had no idea I was coming. I hit up my agent and said,‘I want to go to the races,I know they are on Tuesday,’ and it came together,” she said.
According to a source close to the arrangements,no payment was requested or offered,a stark contrast to guests such as Elsa Pataky,who reportedly commanded a six-figure sum for her attendance on Derby Day.