Cairo-born model Anok Yai, who is of South Sudanese descent, took to X this morning where she commented on British Fashion Council awarding Alex Consani model of the year during its annual awards event. The Petaluma, California-born Consani is the first trans woman to win the award. In her acceptance speech, Consani thanked the trans Black women who she said made it possible for her to win the award.
Addressing Consani and BFC, she wrote, “Alex, I love you and I’m so proud of you. British Fashion Council, thank you but I don’t want it anymore.”
In a second post, she added, “If you have seen the effort that I’ve seen Alex put in; you would understand how proud I am of her. But Alex can be proud and I can be exhausted at the same time. It doesn’t take away how much love we have for each other.”
This is Yai’s second year being nominated for the award. She lost the award in 2023 to model Paloma Elsesser.
The 26-year-old Yai was famously discovered while attending a homecoming event at Howard University in 2017. She is the only Black model other than Naomi Campbell to open a Prada runway. This year she made waves in a bridal look on Vetements‘ spring 2025 runway.
Response to Yai’s comments mainly have been supportive. Consani’s selection comes in the midst of an increasingly treacherous environment for trans people, especially in the United States where Republicans, who swept all three branches of the government in the November election, made push back on trans rights a centerpiece of their campaigns.
