Supermodel Anok Yai rises high above her model-world peers with her relentless pursuit of self-challenge, self-development and self-love. Add stunningly good looks and a fearless [but controlled] ability to dominate the camera lens to Anok’s resumé and we are watching total fire.

Today’s focus on this Egyptian-born, American model of South Sudanese descent covering the Harper’s Bazaar US May 2024 issue inspires us to the max. The photographer who visualized this Anok Yai joy ride is Ethan James Green [IG].

Carlos Nazario styled the fashion story with Bottega Veneta, Celine by Hedi Slimane, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Marni, Maison Margiela, Michael Kors Collection, Prada, Valentino and more. High jewelry names include Bottega Veneta, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. / Hair by Jawara; makeup by Yadim

The Epic Rise of Anok Yai

AOC complains regularly about the dilution of once powerful words in fashion media. We save the superlatives for special occasions — and today they are all in the house. Today we agree with the cover message ‘The Epic Rise of ANOK YAI’.

Placing it above ‘The Eternally Super CHRISTY TURLINGTON BURNS’, the second star of this issue, is just fine with us.

This is the cycle of life in operation. NO ONE but Anok Yai has put herself in this position on the fashion cover marquee. She wasn’t the fav child of our beloved former EIC of British Vogue, although Anok has many friends in the fashion industry. Anok told Vogue in 2021:

“When I first started my career, I knew I had a voice, but I had to fight for it,” says Anok Yai, who has protested discrimination in fashion and beyond. “I felt like every day was a fight, but I pushed so hard. I stood my ground in whatever I did. And I had my sense of self, and I commanded respect no matter where I went and who I talked to, [because] at the end of the day, if you know what you’re fighting for, it doesn’t matter what you’re risking.”

Supermodel Combustion

It’s often the case that certain photographers create a personal chemistry space for a model to combust into breakout images. In rarer circumstances, the model unites in some psychic way with the photographer and s[he] pulls the creative behind the lens to elevated ground.

Part of being a true supermodel is the innate and practised ability to take everybody else to a higher platform of creative excellence along with you. Obviously, the model must have the respect of her creative fashion peers who are excited about the ride ahead.

A Knife-Fitting Artist

In Anok’s case, it’s not solely because she’s an expert in knife fighting, that she brings influence to a fashion shoot. But AOC imagines that this 26-year-old has acquired some serious insights into human psychology in her training as a knife fighter. Speaking previously about this new skill that got her a movie role, Anok expressed how helpful learning knife fighting was in cultivating mental focus and mental clarity — in addition to stress relief.

Understand that Anok Yai — the disciplined, knife fighter with moxie and rock-solid backbone — is also expressing her creative side as an artist. Writer Kaitlyn Greenidge meets the top model at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the presence of Kerry James Marshall’s ‘Untitled’ (Studio) painting.

Beauty Defined by Anok Yai

“I started off painting a portrait of myself,” Anok reflects with Greenidge. “Every month, I would add a detail.” She describes the work as “a time capsule in a painting of myself.”

Now Yai is painting other people. [Note: AOC again looked for Anok Yai’s images online. Many artists are painting her. But Anok’s own paintings seem to be wisely under wraps.]

Read the entire interview at Harper’s Bazaar: ‘For Anok Yai, Beauty Is Personal’. This supermodel is a major creative bonfire inspiring all around her to row in the boat of exceptional excellence.

AOC has followed Anok from Day one — literally —and I am so proud that she’s one of our own — a superstar American. ~ Anne