Anok Yai Didn’t Just Win Model Of The Year, She Was Best Dressed At The Fashion Awards 2025
Last year’s Model of the Year Alex Consani has something to say about her friend ahead of the big night: “Anok always keeps an eye out for the underdog. When we first met, she would always hype me up and still to this day, whenever someone in our space is feeling down, I see her do exactly the same. It’s a quality that’s truly rare in an industry made for competition. She has stood solid in her ability to make others feel worthy.”
Paloma Elsesser, another of Anok’s industry sisters, adds: “Anok has a beauty that feels singular, almost overwhelming, but what makes her most deserving and what makes me love her most is her mind, her wit, and her deeply creative spirit. For those lucky enough to know her up close, she is hungry to learn, endlessly curious, tender and brave.”
The feeling is mutual. “I was so excited when I found out that they were going to be the ones presenting me with the award,” Anok beams. “We have a very close relationship; we’ve gone through so many ups and downs in our careers and personal lives, and we’ve always been there for each other. It’s such a tight sisterhood that goes past modelling.”
Sofi Adams
Sofi Adams
The spirit of family carries further than that. When she steps onto the stage to accept her award, she’ll do so beneath the gaze of her parents. “I don’t think my parents ever dreamed that this would happen, especially being immigrants, whose main focus has always been on getting me the best education, rather than the luxuries. Being on that stage in front of them will be a real ‘made-it’ moment for me.”
That may sound odd from a model who has walked pretty much every major runway and fronted every major campaign you could think of, but Anok is the first to profess her own imposter syndrome. “I’ve always struggled with that,” she concedes. “And I’m very, very ambitious. Whenever I meet a goal or hit a checkpoint, I celebrate for maybe five minutes, and then my next thought is, like, ‘Okay, what do I want to achieve next?’”
Sofi Adams
