South Sudanese-American model Anok Yai has been announced as the Model of the Year for the 2025 edition of the Fashion Awards.
The announcement was made by the British Fashion Council (BFC) on Wednesday, November 5th through its official Instagram page. The council explained that the early reveal, one month before the ceremony, was done to celebrate the individuals selected ahead of the highly anticipated event.
Anok Yai has long been recognized as one of the most influential figures in modern fashion. She made history as the second Black supermodel after Naomi Campbell to open a Prada show and has graced multiple international Vogue covers, earning her a reputation as one of the faces reshaping global beauty standards.
She opened shows for Ferragamo, Coperni, and Hugo Boss, and closed runways for Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Vetements, and Messika, among others. Her impressive catwalk presence also extended to top fashion names such as Saint Laurent, Mugler, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Bottega Veneta, and Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut.
Beyond the runway, Yai has starred in several global campaigns, including Mugler’s Alien fragrance, and fronted ads for commercial brands like Gap. She also walked the Victoria’s Secret runway, further expanding her influence in both high fashion and mainstream markets. Her striking features and versatility have earned her multiple magazine covers, including Perfect, Vogue France, and Allure, the latter of which she shared with last year’s Model of the Year, Alex Consani.
Unlike previous years, the Model of the Year category did not feature the traditional five nominees. Instead, a special panel of industry experts convened to select the winner directly, marking another shift in how the Fashion Awards are presented.
The jury included BFC’s new CEO Laura Weir, Dazed’s Fashion Features Director Emma Davidson, photographer Campbell Addy, stylist Carlos Nazario, casting director Emma Matell, former Dazed Editorial Director Kacion Mayers, movement director Pat Boguslawski, and 10 Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou.
Their unanimous decision to honor Anok Yai underscores her consistent excellence, artistry, and influence across the global fashion scene. Her work continues to bridge creativity and representation, highlighting diversity in an industry that has often struggled with inclusion.
Outside of the Model of the Year category, the 2025 Fashion Awards remains one of the most prestigious events on the fashion calendar. The ceremony is set to take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London next month, celebrating designers, creatives, and visionaries shaping the industry’s future.
Nominees across other categories were decided back in July, and winners will be revealed during the star-studded December event.
With her latest honor, Anok Yai cements her place as one of the defining models of her generation an icon of elegance, resilience, and representation whose story continues to inspire the next wave of fashion talent.
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