Recently, the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Fashion Awards 2025 honored Anok Yai with the most significant accolade for a model: Model of the Year.
Anok Yai is dubbed the “black gem” of international modeling, renowned for her perfect face and physique (Photo: Instagram).
This victory came as no surprise to the fashion world, as Anok has dominated runways and global advertising campaigns for the past 12 months, becoming one of the most sought-after models.
However, what makes her truly special isn’t just the title, but also the journey that transformed a “rough gem” into a radiant new beauty icon of our time.
Anok Yai was born in 1997 in Cairo, Egypt, to a South Sudanese family, and grew up in New Hampshire, USA.
Her entry into the industry is a story colored by the social media age. Specifically, in 2017, a photographer coincidentally captured Anok at a Homecoming festival at Howard University. The photo went viral and became an internet sensation overnight.
It wasn’t a staged photo, elaborate makeup, or constrained posing, but a moment that fully captured the innate charisma of a carefree and radiant 20-year-old.
The photo that launched Anok Yai’s modeling career (Photo: Instagram).
Just four months later, Anok made history by becoming the first Black model to open a Prada show since Naomi Campbell.
Her powerful stride on the Prada runway not only transformed her from an internet sensation into an international face but also marked a significant milestone for the fashion community, where notions of beauty standards began to shift more powerfully. From that moment, Anok’s career continuously soared.
In 2025, her schedule was nearly full with the world’s biggest runways. Anok opened and closed shows for numerous brands, including Saint Laurent, Fendi, Chanel, Ferragamo, Hugo Boss, Coperni, and Ralph Lauren.
Beyond the runway, she became the face of campaigns for powerful fashion houses like Versace and Mugler, while also frequently appearing on the covers of prestigious magazines such as Vogue France, Allure, and Perfect Magazine.
Her next iconic moment was the Met Gala 2024 red carpet, where Anok appeared in a form-fitting jumpsuit adorned with 98,000 Swarovski crystals.
Amidst the dazzling lights and fierce competition of the Met Gala, Anok stood out as a contemporary icon, not pursuing ostentation but conquering with her inherent charisma.
Anok Yai’s Met Gala 2024 outfit became legendary in the fashion world (Photo: Vogue).
However, Anok’s journey hasn’t always been brilliant. In the years before her acclaim, there were times when she wasn’t nominated for major awards, and she even openly expressed disappointment at the inconsistencies of the fashion industry.
But instead of stopping, Anok transformed every stumble into a stepping stone. She focused on career sustainability, choosing suitable runways, collaborating with visionary brands, and expanding her voice in dialogues about diversity, inclusion, and representation in fashion.
Speaking after receiving the Model of the Year 2025 award, Anok stated: “This honor doesn’t just belong to me. It’s a story of resilience, community, and everyone who has seen themselves in my journey.”
That statement immediately went viral on social media.
Anok Yai’s beauty, like a black pearl (Photo: Getty).
Many fashion experts analyze that what makes Anok a star is not just her 1.78m height, healthy radiant brown skin, deep cold yet expressive eyes, or sculpted jawline. It’s a synthesis of charisma, poise, and her personal story.
And among millions of faces appearing each fashion season, Anok remains the name that makes people pause, captivated for a few seconds to gaze at her.
