Supermodel Anok Yai: 'Black women, your colour is powerful, not a curse'
South Sudanese-American model Anok Yai named Model of the Year at the 2025 British Fashion Awards, redefining beauty in the fashion industry.
Black is beautiful, capable and “more powerful than you can imagine.” This is the message of South Sudanese-American supermodel Anok Yai, who recently won Model of the Year title at the 2025 British Fashion Awards.
The recognition solidifies her status as a defining force in the fashion industry.
In her acceptance speech on Monday, December 1 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the 27-year-old runway beauty queen delivered a powerful message.
She stated: “To all my little Black girls who are watching me right now—your colour 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.”
The supermodel also called for peace in Sudan and her home country of South Sudan.
Yai’s arrival on the blue carpet was widely viewed as a victory statement, in itself. She shimmered in a custom ivory gown by celebrated Turkish designer Dilara Findikoglu, embodying modern glamour.
Many of Anok Yai’s fans and fashion industry experts had wondered why the ‘Model of the Year’ award eluded her for years.
Famed for her striking complexion and elegant walk, Yai’s rise to stardom was extraordinary.
Her parents fled violence in Sudan to Egypt, where she was born. They then moved to the United States when she was three years old.
Anok Yai’s life-changing moment came in 2017, when an impromptu solo shot of her at an American university event went viral on social media.
The biochemistry student then became the most sought-after newcomer in the fashion industry, feverishly courted by top agencies before eventually signing with Next Model Management.
By 2018, Anok Yai made history when renowned fashion brand Prada chose her as the first Black model to open one of its shows, since British supermodel Naomi Campbell in 1999.
From that historic runway, Yai’s rise has been meteoric. A string of global beauty contracts, iconic campaigns, and show-stopping runway moments followed one of the world’s most acclaimed models.
Before becoming a famous model, Yai was buried in textbooks, pursuing a degree at an American university with dreams of becoming a doctor. However, destiny rerouted her path.
With her latest award, Anok Yai isn't just model of the year; she’s a symbol of enduring influence and change.