The fashion world has crowned its new sovereign: Anok Yai. The South Sudanese-American supermodel was named the Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards 2025 by the British Fashion Council (BFC), an honor recognizing her undeniable global impact and influence over the last 12 months. Her journey, which began with a viral photo, is now one of the most powerful narratives in modern luxury fashion.
The 2025 Victory: A Year of Unprecedented Dominance
Anok Yai’s win was based on a career-defining year marked by high-profile runway domination and influential campaign presence.
Runway Reign:
Yai was the undisputed queen of the Spring/Summer 2025 fashion month, commanding attention at every major fashion capital. Her highlights include:
- Opening Shows: She was given the coveted role of opening shows for luxury houses like Ferragamo, Coperni, and Hugo Boss.
- Closing Shows: She closed major presentations for Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Vetements, and Messika, signaling her status as the final, most impactful statement.
- Key Appearances: Yai also graced the runways for iconic brands such as Saint Laurent, Mugler, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, and was a key figure in Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut.
Campaign & Editorial Power:
Off the runway, Anok Yai’s commercial power continued to soar:
- She starred in major global campaigns for luxury brands like Versace, Alaïa, and Saint Laurent, and continued as the face of Mugler’s Alien fragrance.
- She made notable appearances in the revived Victoria’s Secret fashion spectacle and featured in campaigns for high-street giant Gap.
- Yai graced multiple magazine covers, including Vogue France and a joint cover for Allure magazine with the previous year’s winner, Alex Consani.
Anok Yai’s Impact and Representation
Yai’s influence transcends her modeling achievements. Her career is a powerful statement on diversity, representation, and the future of beauty standards.
A Champion for Dark-Skinned Beauty:
Yai has been a vocal advocate against colorism in the industry, using her platform to speak directly to the next generation. Her powerful acceptance speech included a message to young Black girls:
“To all my little Black girls who are watching me right now: your color is not a curse. You are not a trend. You are not unfortunate. You are worthy. You are capable. And you are more powerful than you can imagine.”
Her consistent success in top-tier luxury campaigns is pivotal in normalizing and celebrating the beauty of dark-skinned Black women across the global fashion landscape.
Historic Career Milestones:
Yai’s rise is defined by breaking barriers:
- She was the first South Sudanese model to ever open a Prada show in 2018.
- She is only the second Black model in history, after Naomi Campbell in 1997, to open a Prada runway show—a monumental career marker.
- In 2025, she was also credited as a Creative Director on her Perfect Magazine shoot, showcasing her desire to shape visual culture behind the camera as well as in front of it.
Anok Yai’s Journey: From Viral Photo to Supermodel Status
Anok Yai’s entry into the fashion world is a modern-day fairytale that began purely by chance.
- Discovery: In 2017, while studying biochemistry at Howard University in the U.S., a spontaneous photo of her attending the university’s Homecoming was taken by a photographer.
- Going Viral: The striking image was posted on Instagram and quickly went viral, attracting intense interest from major modeling agencies.
- The Launchpad: Within weeks, she signed with Next Model Management, and four months later, she made history opening the Prada show, catapulting her from a biochemistry student to a supermodel.
Her journey, as she stated upon receiving the BFC award, is one of “resilience and community,” reflecting her family’s background fleeing the Sudanese civil war and relocating from Cairo, Egypt, to the U.S.
The 2025 Model of the Year award is not just a trophy for Anok Yai; it is a profound acknowledgement of her indelible mark on the industry, confirming her status as one of fashion’s most important and enduring figures.
