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Anyier Yuol was born in a Kenyan refugee camp to South Sudanese parents who died while she was young.
Ms Yuol was cared for by her aunt before arriving in Australia on a humanitarian visa aged 10.
The 29-year-old has since built her life around soccer, study, modelling and advocacy on behalf of refugees.
For her efforts, Ms Young has won the Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition.
The award is named after sports broadcaster Les Murray, a former refugee from Hungary, and recognises former refugees raising awareness about forced migration.
Growing up in the multicultural suburb of Blacktown in western Sydney, Ms Yuol nurtured her love for soccer and eventually went on to represent Australia at a sideline tournament during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
She also started a program called Football in the Park to provide a safe space to talk about challenges in the community.
Looking beyond sports, she created Miss Sahara, a beauty pageant for women of colour, and launched a model management agency to give under-represented groups opportunities.
Ms Yuol chaired the Australian National Committee on Refugee Women, where her work informed national policy and was presented at international forums.
"I was able to collect the voices of refugee women and take them to Geneva," she said.
"It gave me the strength and platform to do even more."
Ms Yuol also founded a charity addressing barriers to education and leadership for culturally and racially marginalised people, both in Australia and in refugee camps.
She is completing a PhD at Western Sydney University on bride-price practices within South Sudanese communities in Australia.
Trudi Mitchell, chief executive at the UN Refugee Agency's national partner in Australia, said the award recognised Ms Yuol's many achievements.
Ms Mitchell said the judges were impressed with Ms Yuol's determination to make a difference for refugees.
