03/12/2025
As Africa’s Next Supermodel, we live for moments that remind every rising star why their dreams matter. This week, one of our continent’s brightest daughters, Anok Yai, delivered such a moment when she accepted the Model of the Year title at the 2025 British Fashion Awards.
From the stage of London’s Royal Albert Hall, the South Sudanese-American trailblazer spoke with a strength that echoed far beyond fashion. Her words were not just an acceptance speech—they were a message to every young Black girl watching, especially those standing on runways-in-the-making across Africa:
“Your colour is not a curse. You are not a trend, you are not unfortunate.
You are worthy, you are capable, and you are more powerful than you can imagine.”
Her voice carried love for her homeland of South Sudan and a call for peace—a reminder that beauty is not only what we wear on the outside, but what we uplift and fight for.
At just 27, Anok has reshaped global fashion with her presence—fronting major campaigns, gracing the world’s biggest covers, and commanding runways with a confidence born from resilience. Her rise began in 2017, when a simple photo taken at a Howard University homecoming went viral and opened doors she never expected.
And that is why her journey matters here, to us, to you.
Because every supermodel begins as someone unseen, someone unsure, someone waiting to be discovered—just like many of you stepping onto the Africa’s Next Supermodel stage.
Anok Yai’s triumph is proof:
A single moment can change everything.
A single girl can inspire a whole generation.
And one day, that girl could be you.
So hold your head high.
Your skin is your power.
Your story is your runway.
And the world is waiting for you to walk it.
