The Model of the Year award may as well come with a ‘Not Anok Yai’ disclaimer because what?!
The British Fashion Council Awards were held on Monday (December 2nd), and for the fourth year in a row, Sudanese American supermodel Anok Yai was passed over for the “Model of the Year” award.
Instead, the honor went to Alex Consani, who made history as the first out transgender model to win the accolade.
Shortly after, Anok Yai took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Consani on her win and also tell the British Fashion Council that she was tired.
Alex, I love you and I’m so proud of you
British Fashion Council, thank you but I don’t want it anymore
— ROCK (@Anok_Yai) December 3, 2024
and
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
— ROCK (@Anok_Yai) December 3, 2024
According to The Root, Anok Yai’s snub caused quite a stir on Black Twitter, with many taking offence at her being overlooked in the industry.
Anok Yai is one of the most accomplished young Black models of the 21st Century. She’s the second Black model in history (after Naomi Campbell, of course) to open a Prada show.
She has also been featured on the cover of American Vogue three times, and models.com has ranked her as one of the “New Supers” of this generation.
But, for some reason, it feels like Anok Yai has to outperform her already stellar accomplishments just to receive half the recognition her peers enjoy.
anok yai being snubbed of the model of the year title yet again.. so disappointing pic.twitter.com/XHI3gBxZCJ
— saint (@xlovegalore) December 2, 2024
and
I actually hate the modelling industry how has Anok Yai been snubbed for model of the year for 4 YEARSSSSS, I like Alex Consani and she did her thing but come on pic.twitter.com/FkeqZEAxso
— ???????? (@_stargrl7) December 3, 2024
and
Nah, she’s was robbed. Cause how on earth don’t you give the goddess the award? Hell no.#FashionAwards2024 #anokyai pic.twitter.com/CmVxnJFUB0
— bookwormwitch (@Rita86238037) December 3, 2024
and
anok yai deserved that model of the year award. this feels so wrong
— ????????????????????????⭑ (@TsholoNovember) December 4, 2024
and
Anok Yai was robbed of MOTY twice in a row and I just want y’all to remember that when black women say they have to work 10x harder to get half as much as their white counterparts it’s not a joke. Especially in the fashion industry
— Not You (@CindyGabriellek) December 2, 2024
and
Anok Yai robbed once again but white people with marginalised identities will try and convince us on tiktok that their identities are on the same level as racism as if they aren’t white before anything pic.twitter.com/0WtgPbzzPI
— I AM SUCH A TYRANT (@ali_ensuperstar) December 3, 2024
and
Responding to a post that suggested Yai should “model harder” to secure a win next year, one user fired back, “Model harder? Baby, this is ANOK YAI. Who’s out here modeling harder than her?”
Model harder? baby this is ANOK YAI who is modelling harder than her? https://t.co/Qf2NgFoZpw pic.twitter.com/7muqHf1NV6
— Hell is a teenage girl. (@hrhbitch__) December 3, 2024
another:
Anok Yai has to me personally gone beyond the need for that award anyway.
— Minnie (@saintdutchess) December 3, 2024
and
Every year she turns in work above and beyond. She’s only going further and further so in my eyes it is them undeserving of her.
— Minnie (@saintdutchess) December 3, 2024
and
Anok you are right, you were taken away for the second time in a row from an award that you 100% deserved and that would have been only the first in a long series!!
but maybe it’s better that way, what difference does it make to have an award..
— Ilenialit (@ilenialit) December 3, 2024
and
When was the last time we had an iconic show moment like this one? They keep playing literally pic.twitter.com/yHz8h9lkKi
— M ???? (@xnvmadii) December 3, 2024
and
normal, intelligent people, understand your frustration babes. we love you. we are proud of you. we ALSO have seen the effort you’ve put in for so many years and KNOW you’ve been done wrong many times. you have every right to be upset. hope you’re in a good place with loved ones
— ⋆ ????????????????????????, (@sainteamelie) December 3, 2024
During her acceptance speech, Consani, 21, honored Black transgender models, including Connie Flaming and Aaron Rose Philip, who paved the way for her success in the industry.
According to People, Consani also said she believed her win was a step in the right direction for inclusivity in modeling.
“Now, more than ever, it’s an important conversation that should be had about how to truly support and uplift one another within this industry, especially those who have been made to feel insignificant,” she said. “Because change is more than possible — it’s needed.”
