The Sudanese-American model has taken the fashion world by storm and rightfully so. Anok Yai made history as the second Black model ever to open a Prada show, following the legendary Naomi Campbell. (Honestly, it’s 2021 being the “first” or “second Black anything” should so be a thing of the past, but here we are.)

Background | Born in Cairo, Egypt, and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, Anok’s rise to fame reads like a modern-day fairy tale. She was discovered after a photo of her at a university homecoming event went viral — proving that one perfect shot really can change everything.

Work | Since then, she’s been unstoppable  walking for Prada, Versace, and Saint Laurent, and gracing the covers of Vogue (UK, US, Korea, Brazil  take your pick). In July 2018, she became the face of Estée Lauder, bringing her striking beauty and unapologetic confidence to beauty counters worldwide.

Anok isn’t just a model

she’s a movement. Fearless, poised, and endlessly chic, she embodies the future of fashion: inclusive, global, and unforgettable.

“Anok, we’re rooting for you the runway’s yours, darling!”