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Anok Yai
Anok Yai is a fashion model described by fashion sources as South Sudanese-American. She gained broad attention through a photograph taken at Howard University’s 2017 homecoming, later opened Prada’s Fall 2018 show and received the British Fashion Council’s 2025 Model of the Year Award.
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About Anok Yai
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United States · Fashion model
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- Fashion model
At a glance
- Yai won the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year Award at The Fashion Awards 2025 in London.
- She opened Prada’s Fall 2018 show, becoming the first Black woman since Naomi Campbell to open one of the fashion house’s casts, according to Vogue.
- Her modeling career gained broad attention after a photograph of her at Howard University’s 2017 homecoming went viral.
- Models.com recognized Yai in both its industry and readers’ votes in 2023, and its readers selected her again in 2025.
Background
Fashion sources describe Yai as South Sudanese-American. The British Fashion Council states that she was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents and raised in the United States. Vogue identified her as a biochemistry student when the photograph that brought her wider notice circulated in 2017.
Breakthrough and runway career
A photograph of Yai at Howard University’s 2017 homecoming went viral and drew broad fashion-industry attention. In February 2018, she opened Prada’s Fall 2018 show; Vogue reported that she was the first Black woman since Naomi Campbell to open one of Prada’s casts.
Industry recognition
Yai won both the Industry’s Vote and Readers’ Choice in Models.com’s 2023 Model of the Year Women+ category. In 2025, she received the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year Award and was also the Readers’ Choice winner in Models.com’s Model of the Year: Women category.
Professional work and representation
Yai’s work spans runway modeling, fashion campaigns and editorial assignments. As of August 2026, IMG Models listed her in its New York directory. A British Fashion Council announcement in November 2025 also described her as continuing as the face of Mugler’s Alien fragrance, although that association was not independently verified as current after the announcement.
Timeline
- A photograph of Yai at Howard University’s homecoming went viral, initiating broad fashion-industry attention and her modeling career.
- Opened Prada’s Fall 2018 show. Vogue reported that she was the first Black woman since Naomi Campbell to open one of Prada’s casts.
- Won Models.com’s Model of the Year Women+ recognition in both the Industry’s Vote and Readers’ Choice.
- Won the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year Award at The Fashion Awards 2025 in London.
- Was the Readers’ Choice winner for Models.com’s 2025 Model of the Year: Women award.
Additional verified details
Current context
- Yai is listed by IMG Models in its New York directory. Agency rosters may change; this reflects the IMG Models directory observed for this research.
- The British Fashion Council stated that Yai was continuing as the face of Mugler’s Alien fragrance. This was a contemporaneous statement in the British Fashion Council’s November 2025 announcement and is not independently verified as current after that date.
Biographical facts
- Fashion sources describe Yai as South Sudanese-American. The British Fashion Council states that she was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents and raised in the United States.
- Vogue identified Yai as a biochemistry student when attention to her viral 2017 Howard University homecoming photograph brought her wider fashion-industry notice.
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Affiliations
Affiliations associated with Anok Yai.
- IMG Models Model present
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