AUSSIE supermodel Ajak Deng's manager says the local fashion industry prefers to spend big budgets on "Caucasian girls" rather than "dark-skinned" models. 
Stephen Bucknall of FRM Model Management said he struggled to book Australian jobs for Deng (pictured), who has starred overseas for Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier and Valentino, and will feature in campaigns for Givenchy and Marc Jacobs.
Bucknall told Confidential: "Ajak has said to me many times that it saddens her there isn't more work for dark-skinned girls in Australia, as she would like to work more here.
"But they will spend the money on a Miranda Kerr or a Jess Hart. They'll book the big Caucasian girls, spend the big dollars and fly them in from LA, but I'm yet to see them book a dark-skinned girl like that."The Australian market doesn't want to take the risk, but if you go to New York you'll see African-American, Asian and all these diverse cultures. Australia just doesn't get it."