Alek Wek Talks Meeting Lupita Nyong’o: "I Told Her You Are Inspiring"

The supermodel opens up about her admiration for Lupita

Lupita Nyong'o has been vocal about her admiration for supermodel Alek Wek, and apparently the feeling is mutual!

Lupita has the highest praise for the 36-year-old South Sudanese British model, and she even mentioned Alek in her acceptance speech at Essence's Black Women in Hollywood award ceremony.

"When I saw Alek, I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny," said Lupita. "Now, I had a spring in my step because I felt more seen, more appreciated by the far away gatekeepers of beauty."

We caught up Alek at Montblanc's Meisterstück 90th Anniversary Dinner in NYC last night, and asked her what it felt like to be honored by Lupita that way. "I was very humbled," she said. "We are all very different, but as women we have to celebrate one another's beauty."

And Alek actually got to thank Lupita for the sweet words in person, because the two stars met for the first time. And naturally, it was nothing but love.

"I told her you are so inspiring," said Alek. "I said thank you so much for always saying those beautiful words about me!"

She gushed about Lupita, explaining how deep her mutual respect runs. "Lupita made it not because of her skin color, but because of her wonderful words of saying you should never let anyone stop you," explained Alek. "No one can define you better than yourself. We all fall, but it's how you pick yourself up and dust yourself off."