Anok Yai, fashion's newest cool girl, has quickly become one of the industry's top rising stars.&nbsp;

Anok Yai is a four-time <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/best-dressed-celebrities-met-gala-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Met Gala</a> attendee, the face of dozens of high-profile campaigns, and a frequent figure on the buzziest runways&mdash;but that's not all. 
Over the past year, Yai has established herself among the newest generation's crop of It models to be sure, but she's also become a cultural icon. In between strutting down the Victoria's Secret runway and starring in Mugler's ethereal, otherworldly Spring/Summer 2025 campaign, she's broken into the music scene, starring in music videos with rap legends like Offset, Lil Yachty, and Travis Scott.
For fashion fanatics and pop culture obsessives, Yai has been modeling royalty, but her appearance on the Victoria's Secret runway has introduced new audiences to her influence.&nbsp;

Anok Yai walks the runway during the 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Steiner Studios on October 15, 2025 in New York City. Getty.

From the very beginning, Yai&rsquo;s meteoric rise has been nothing but intentional. Born in South Sudan, Yai moved with her family to the United States at age two. While at Howard University&rsquo;s homecoming week, a photographer captured her, and the video of her went viral, leading top New York modeling agencies to discover her. In the years since, Yai has continued to be a trailblazing influence in the fashion industry by wearing her natural hair or cornrows, helping to break down barriers for Black women in the runway beauty arena. 
With her unique look and charismatic personality, Yai&rsquo;s effort in the industry has yielded major opportunities and historic bookings&mdash;she was the second Black model ever to open a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/prada-womens-fashion-show-spring-summer-2025-collection-photo-look" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prada runway show</a>.
"Me opening for one of the top fashion houses is a statement to the world&mdash;especially for black women&mdash;that their beauty is something that deserves to be celebrated,&rdquo; Yai told <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/anok-yai-prada-model-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vogue</a>.&nbsp;

Anok Yai at Ferragamo during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 in Milan, Italy. Getty.

Anok Yai attends the 2025 Met Gala celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" in New York City. Getty.

Yai&rsquo;s level of versatility cannot be underscored&mdash;who else do you know can walk a high fashion runway, and then star in a rap video? The 27-year-old is an artist at heart, which comes through in her creative visage. When she&rsquo;s not shooting an editorial or opening a catwalk, Yai likes to spend days on end in her New York apartment painting.

Who Is Anok Yai? Meet The Model Of The Moment

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