Anok Yai is a South Sudanese-American supermodel who was discovered through a single picture at Howard University’s 2017 homecoming and went on to open Prada, walk for Chanel, and win the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year award in 2025. She was born on December 20, 1997, in Cairo, Egypt, and is 28 years old. In 2026 she returned to the runway after major lung surgery and walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the third time.
Anok Yai Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anok Yai |
| Birth Date | December 20, 1997 |
| Age | 28 Years Old (2026) |
| Birth Place | Cairo, Egypt |
| Raised In | Manchester, New Hampshire, USA |
| Nationality | South Sudanese-American |
| Ethnicity | Dinka (South Sudanese) |
| Parents | South Sudanese immigrants |
| High School | Manchester High School West |
| College | Plymouth State University (biochemistry) |
| Profession | Fashion Model |
| Known For | Opening Prada 2018, Model of the Year 2025, Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show |
| Years Active | 2017 to Present |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Relationship Status | Private (linked in rumors to ALLDAY PROJECT’s Tarzzan, unconfirmed) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $3 to $7 million |
| @anokyai |
Why Is Anok Yai Trending in 2026?
It’s a comeback story. Yai had robotic lung surgery in December 2025, just days after being named Model of the Year, and by March she was posting that she was “back from the dead.” Since then she’s covered British Vogue, closed major shows at Paris Fashion Week in October, and walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles on October 18 in a pink petal bodysuit and a white lace look. On top of that came her public pushback against a Washington Post story about her 2024 Met Gala outfit and the Tarzzan dating rumors from May.
Anok Yai Early Life
Anok Yai was born in Cairo after her family fled the genocide in Sudan. She comes from a Dinka Christian family, and around the age of two or three they moved to the United States and settled in Manchester, New Hampshire.
She grew up watching America’s Next Top Model and dreamed of becoming a model, but she has said the lack of dark-skinned women in the industry made her cautious about even trying. Instead she aimed for medicine. When she talks about her background, she often points to the path from Egypt to South Sudan to the United States as a story of resilience and community.
Anok Yai Family
Her parents are South Sudanese immigrants who rebuilt their lives in New Hampshire, and education was a top priority at home. Yai keeps the rest of her family life private.
Anok Yai Education
She graduated from Manchester High School West and enrolled at Plymouth State University, where she studied biochemistry. Her plan was to become a doctor. She was a sophomore when she visited Howard University’s homecoming in October 2017, the weekend that changed her path. She wasn’t a Howard student, which is part of why the photographer who spotted her immediately knew she didn’t belong to the campus crowd.
Anok Yai Career
How She Was Discovered (2017)
Photographer Steve “theSUNK” Hall, a Howard alumnus, saw her at the end of Yardfest, asked if he could take her picture, and posted it with a caption calling her stunning. It took off almost instantly. Yai has said her phone started vibrating for a long time and she thought someone had made a meme of her. Within 24 hours her Instagram following jumped by around 30,000, and Next Models flew her out for a meeting.
Prada and the Breakthrough (2018)
Four months later she opened Prada’s Fall/Winter 2018 show. She became the first Sudanese model to open Prada and the second Black model to do it after Naomi Campbell in 1997. She also appeared in Prada’s spring/summer 2018 campaign and in a Nike campaign designed by Riccardo Tisci.
Building a Name (2019 to 2023)
In 2019 she appeared in a Chanel short film, and in 2020 she modeled for Versace’s Resort campaign. She landed covers of Vogue Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.S., and in 2021 she fronted Ambush’s spring/summer campaign. In 2022 she shot two spring/summer campaigns and fronted a Tiffany & Co. perfume campaign, and W magazine put her on its 50th anniversary cover that September and called her a supermodel. She appeared in Lil Yachty’s “Say Something” video, attended the 2023 Met Gala in custom Prabal Gurung, and in December 2023 won both the industry vote and the readers’ choice for Model of the Year: Women+ at models.com.
Met Gala, Victoria’s Secret, and Awards Heartbreak (2024)
At the 2024 Met Gala she wore a custom Swarovski bodysuit covered in 98,000 crystals, plus metallic body paint and about 200 carats of diamonds. That year she also walked the Louis Vuitton men’s show and made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut. In October she came back to Howard for its 100th homecoming, a full-circle moment that students filmed as she walked through the Yard. In December she lost the Fashion Awards’ Model of the Year to Alex Consani, and she posted on X that she didn’t want the award “anymore.”
Model of the Year (2025)
Her 2025 included the Oscars, runway shows for Mugler, Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, and Bottega Veneta, and a spot in Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel show. She also covered American Vogue and Vogue France. At the Fashion Awards on December 1 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, she received Model of the Year, saying the recognition was for everyone who’d ever seen their story in hers.
Surgery and Comeback (2025 to 2026)
On December 19, 2025, Yai told her followers she had been dealing with a “silent battle” for a year. A congenital defect had been damaging her lungs and overworking her heart, and she’d had successful robotic lung surgery the day before. She later said stepping back from work was really hard at first. In 2026 she returned, covered British Vogue, attended Gucci’s Cruise 2027 show in New York, closed shows at Paris Fashion Week, and walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the third time.
Anok Yai Movies, TV Shows, and Music Videos
| Year | Appearance | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Chanel short film | Fashion film |
| 2023 | Lil Yachty, “Say Something” | Music video |
| 2024 to 2026 | Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show | Runway broadcast |
| 2025 | Academy Awards | Attendee |
Anok Yai Awards and Honors
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | W Magazine | 50th anniversary cover, recognized as a supermodel | Honored |
| 2023 | models.com | Model of the Year: Women+ (industry vote and readers’ choice) | Won |
| 2023 | The Fashion Awards | Model of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | The Fashion Awards | Model of the Year | Nominated |
| 2025 | The Fashion Awards | Model of the Year | Won |
Anok Yai Interests and Personal Life
Howard University stays close to her heart. After the 2024 Met Gala she told Essence she needed to return “soon,” and she kept that promise that October. Beyond fashion, her visibility has made her a symbol of representation, and she often talks about what it means to be seen in an industry that long overlooked darker skin.
In May 2026, she responded sharply to a Washington Post report that claimed she tore her dress to use the bathroom at the 2024 Met Gala. She called the claim crazy on Instagram and challenged the paper to show any proof. Many fans supported her online.
Anok Yai Relationship Status
Yai keeps her love life private. In May 2026, she and ALLDAY PROJECT member Tarzzan were photographed together after Gucci’s Cruise 2027 show in New York, which started dating rumors. Neither of them has said anything publicly about it.
Anok Yai Net Worth
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | Estimated $3 to $7 million (about $5 million most often cited) |
| Income Sources | Runway shows, luxury campaigns, beauty contracts, editorials |
She has never talked about her finances, so these figures come from outside estimates. Her income comes from runway work and campaigns with brands like Prada, Versace, Tiffany & Co., and Nike, along with magazine covers.
Anok Yai Social Media
| Platform | Handle |
|---|---|
| @anokyai |
10 Interesting Facts About Anok Yai
- She was born in Cairo, not Sudan, after her family fled the war.
- She planned to become a doctor and studied biochemistry.
- She wasn’t a Howard student when she was photographed at its homecoming.
- Her Instagram gained about 30,000 followers within a day of the picture going up.
- She was the first Sudanese model to open Prada.
- She loved watching America’s Next Top Model growing up.
- Her 2024 Met Gala outfit used 98,000 Swarovski crystals.
- She was nominated for Model of the Year twice before winning.
- She posted that she didn’t want the award “anymore” after losing in 2024, then won it a year later.
- She had lung surgery just days after her big win.
Anok Yai Recent News
Her latest headlines include the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on October 18 in Los Angeles, her closing runway spots at Paris Fashion Week in early October, and her British Vogue cover. Earlier this year, she made news for her response to the Washington Post, the Gucci Cruise 2027 appearance, and the Tarzzan rumors.
Anok Yai FAQs
How old is Anok Yai?
She was born on December 20, 1997, so she is 28 in 2026.
Where is Anok Yai from?
She was born in Cairo, Egypt, to South Sudanese parents and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.
How did Anok Yai become famous?
A photographer took her picture at Howard University’s 2017 homecoming, and it went viral within hours.
What is Anok Yai best known for?
Opening Prada in 2018 and winning Model of the Year in 2025.
What did Anok Yai study?
Biochemistry at Plymouth State University, with plans to become a doctor.
Why did Anok Yai take a break from modeling?
She had robotic lung surgery in December 2025 for a congenital defect and returned in March 2026.
Who is Anok Yai dating?
Nothing is confirmed. She was linked to ALLDAY PROJECT’s Tarzzan in May 2026.
Did Anok Yai win Model of the Year?
Yes, at the 2025 Fashion Awards.
What is Anok Yai’s net worth?
Estimates range from $3 to $7 million, most often about $5 million.
