Discovered via a viral Instagram post in 2017, the 2025 Model of the Year has built a career on creative control and historic firsts.
The British Fashion Council’s decision to name Anok Yai [IMG Models]the 2025 Model of the Year was less a surprise than a confirmation. In an unusual move, the BFC skipped the traditional five person shortlist, naming Yai the outright winner. This gesture signals a rare industry consensus.
Her origin story is a distinctly modern fashion narrative. It began not in a casting room, but online. In October 2017, Yai was 19, studying biochemistry at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Born in Cairo after her family fled Sudan, she moved to the United States at age 3 and grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. She intended to become a doctor.
That plan changed when she attended Howard University’s homecoming. A photographer, Steven Hall, took her picture during the “Yardfest” celebration and posted it to Instagram. The image spread rapidly. Yai, who had about 300 followers, watched her count exceed 50,000 in days. The fashion industry mobilized instantly. The viral photo served as a global casting call.
Within days, Next Management flew her to New York and signed her. The transition was abrupt. Minutes after signing her contract, she was sent to a casting. This captures the speed of her move from student to high fashion prospect.
Yai was not categorized as an “Instagram model.” She was immediately positioned as a major player. Four months after the Howard photograph, in February 2018, she opened the Prada Fall/Winter 2018 show in Milan. This was a significant cultural moment. Yai became the first Black model to open a Prada show in 20 years, following Naomi Campbell in 1997. This appearance set her apart.
Following her debut, she secured a contract as a global spokesmodel for Estée Lauder, confirming her commercial viability.
Her work in the 2024-2025 period demonstrates significant range. She is the face of Mugler’s new fragrance, “Alien Hypersense.” For that campaign, she insisted on performing a wall climbing stunt herself rather than using CGI. She fronted campaigns for the luxury houses such as Alaïa, Versace, Marc Jacobs, Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta.
On the runway, Yai consistently secures the opening and closing slots. During the Spring/Summer 2026 season, she opened Ferragamo, Coperni, and Hugo Boss, and closed Ralph Lauren, Fendi, and Vetements. Her appearances often become performance. At Vetements Spring 2026, she walked as a “pregnant widow” and made a tearful exit. This was a sequel to the previous season, where she acted as a “runaway bride.” She views modeling as a silent form of acting.
The most consistent theme in her recent interviews is her identity as an artist. Yai is a self taught oil painter. She often paints friends, sometimes leaving the eyes unfinished, while listening to Hans Zimmer soundtracks. She completed a month long residency at Black Rock, the artist retreat in Senegal founded by Kehinde Wiley. She calls Wiley a mentor.
Yai is actively planning her next professional chapter. She is preparing work for a planned art exhibition by the end of 2025. The Model of the Year award was not the peak of her career. It was the confirmation of a platform she is now using to move beyond the runway, transitioning from a supermodel who defines the moment to an artist who creates it.
