Meet Anok Yai: The Sudanese-American supermodel named British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has revealed the recipient of its prestigious Model of the Year title almost a month before the 2025 Fashion Awards and the honour has gone to none other than Sudanese-American supermodel Anok Yai.Announced through the BFC’s official Instagram handle, the Council hailed Yai as “a defining force in today’s fashion landscape”, commending her for reshaping beauty ideals on the runway while championing representation and inclusivity in fashion. “Her influence continues to shape culture and inspire the next generation,” the post read, a proof of Yai’s powerful presence and evolving legacy.For the 27-year-old model, this moment feels like a poetic full circle in a career that took off unexpectedly in 2017 when a spontaneous photo of her at Howard University’s Homecoming went viral, catapulting her into the global spotlight.

Since then, Yai has evolved into one of the industry’s most commanding and instantly recognisable faces, known for her poise, versatility, and magnetic runway energy.

Her 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular. Yai opened major shows for Ferragamo, Coperni and Hugo Boss, and brought down the curtain for Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Vetements and Messika. Her impressive line-up also includes appearances for Saint Laurent, Mugler, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Bottega Veneta and Matthieu Blazy’s highly anticipated Chanel debut.

Off the runway, Yai fronted campaigns for Mugler’s iconic Alien fragrance as well as high-street giant Gap, featured in the revived Victoria’s Secret runway spectacle, and graced multiple magazine covers, from Vogue France to Allure, where she shared a double cover moment with last year’s winner, Alex Consani.In a break from tradition, the BFC skipped the usual shortlist of five finalists this year. Instead, an internal panel of top fashion insiders selected the winner directly.

Among the decision-makers were BFC CEO Laura Weir, photographer Campbell Addy, stylist Carlos Nazario, casting director Emma Matell, and 10 Magazine’s editor-in-chief Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, alongside several other industry leaders.With this accolade, Yai joins an elite circle of fashion icons such as Bella Hadid, Paloma Elsesser, and Kate Moss, the latter still holding the record with three wins. But Yai’s impact reaches far beyond trophies. She was the second Black model in history to open a Prada show after Naomi Campbell, has appeared on the cover of Vogue US three times, and continues to redefine representation for dark-skinned Black women across fashion and pop culture, from luxury campaigns to music videos with Ice Spice and Lil Yachty.As anticipation builds for the rest of the British Fashion Awards, set to dazzle at London’s Royal Albert Hall on December 1 — one thing is already certain: Anok Yai has secured her crown as fashion’s ultimate runway queen of 2025.