South Sudanese-American Anok Yai named Model of the Year at 2025 Fashion Awards

Global attention in the fashion world turned to South Sudanese-American model Anok Yai after she was named Model of the Year at the 2025 Fashion Awards in London.

Ms Yai received the award at the Royal Albert Hall during a ceremony organised by the British Fashion Council in partnership with the Pandora.

The event recognised contributions across fashion, with Yai’s win emerging as one of the most discussed moments of the night. In her acceptance remarks, she highlighted issues of representation and self-worth.

“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,” she said.

Yai was first photographed in October 2017 during Howard University Homecoming week at Howard University by photographer Steve Hall. The image, posted to the mobile_app Instagram, gained wide circulation online, prompting interest from modeling agencies. She later signed with the organization Next Model Management.

Four months into her modelling career, she became the first Sudanese model to open a Prada runway show, a role regarded in the industry as a major career marker due to the brand’s history of introducing new faces to the global stage.

Over the years, she has worked on runway shows for houses including Versace and Louis Vuitton, appeared in editorials for Vogue, and featured in the music video for song Swing My Way by music_artist Offset.