Following the event, Anok requested to be excluded from future nominations for the British Fashion Awards.
She also appeared to criticize systemic biases within the fashion industry in a now-deleted social media post, which quickly sparked debate online.
The title has been awarded to past icons like Kate Moss, Georgia May Jagger, and Cara Delevingne, but Anok failed to secure the win for the second consecutive year.
According to The Daily Mail, this year’s contenders included models Alva Claire, Amelia Gray, Liu Wen, Mona Tougaard, and Alex Consani.
Supermodel Anok Yai voices frustrations over award loss
After losing the title once again, Anok shared an uncaptioned image on social media referencing Kanye West’s infamous interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV VMAs.
Fans speculated this was her way of saying she had been unfairly overlooked by the British Fashion Council.
Later, the 26-year-old supermodel took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her concerns directly at the British Fashion Council.
In the now-deleted post, she wrote: “Alex [Consani], I love you and I’m proud of you. British Fashion Council, thank you but I don’t want it anymore.”
Her words sparked mixed reactions online. A user commented: “If you have seen the effort that I’ve seen Alex put in; you would understand how proud I am of her. “
Another user countered: “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.”
Discussions around her statement quickly went viral. One Threads user remarked: “Oh no what a hit to the modeling world.”
Controversy follows Anok’s 2024 “Model Of The Year” loss
A commenter criticized: “No wait no one cares if Anok Yai wants to be a petulant child because she didn’t win an award.”
Others defended her perspective, with one stating: “She even thanks Alex, but rightly calls out the institution for the fight that Black and brown models have to put in even to get nominated.”
Yet another user weighed in: “Her comments regarding not wanting the award have NOTHING to do with Alex winning, and DEFINITELY nothing to do with Alex being trans.”
In support of Anok, someone posted: “Anok Yai is my model of the year every year,” and followed up with: “Period. FULL STOP.”
A different commentator argued: “Anok Yai deserved to win more than anyone…”
Another observer added to the conversation: “Hot take: Anok was not being ‘shady’ towards Alex; she basically said ‘it is what it is’ bc she’s been getting ROBBED of [the] model of the year for YEARS now and she’s accepted it.”
Anok Yai requests exclusion from future nominations
Defending her stance, a supporter noted: “But bc you guys like to read into everything a Black [woman] does and act as if we can’t be upset, yall are making her seem problematic.”
Someone else observed: “I can understand her frustration. As much as it’s good to see trans visibility Alex Consani still falls into the stereotype of white, blonde beauty.”
Amidst the backlash over her viral comments, Teen Vogue’s Aiynaha Ishmael published an article stating that Anok’s frustration “isn’t an attack” Alex’s historic win.
In the same article, Ishmael emphasized: “[Anok] rightfully should be frustrated. This is now her second year being nominated.”
“Alex [Consani], I love you and I’m proud of you,” Anok declared
Despite her loss, Anok acknowledged Alex’s accomplishment, writing: “She lost the award in 2023 to model Paloma Elsesser — another deserving model and activist. “
She also highlighted her impact on the fashion world: “[Anok] has made an impact in the fashion industry, especially in the last three years. She’s become synonymous with what it means to be a high-fashion model. “
A supporter rebutted: “Some on the internet, though, believe she hasn’t handled her loss the right way, arguing that her vocal advocacy for herself takes away from [Alex]’s win. But that is not true.”
She further noted: “The dismissal of her feelings serves no one. For so long Black and brown women have been told to just be grateful to be in the room, especially when it comes to fashion. “
A larger societal critique emerged from the situation, with Ishmael stating: “But broadly, we can acknowledge that minorities are often expected to accept defeat with humility and grace, while white people get to be whole versions of themselves.”
Anok is the first model of South Sudanese descent and the second Black supermodel after Naomi Campbell to open a Prada show
A pointed comment captured the broader issue: “Because isn’t it enough that you were nominated? You shouldn’t expect to win.”
The writer further explored how Anok’s reaction sheds light on the unique pressures faced by Black women in the industry, who are often expected to mask their struggles with grace.
She emphasized how this opens up essential conversations about representation in fashion.
Alex Consani, at 21, became the first transgender woman to earn the “Model of the Year” title during the 2024 British Fashion Awards in London on December 2.
She said: “I’m the first trans woman to win this award,” and expressed gratitude to trailblazers, saying: “But I can’t accept this award without thanking those who came before me, specifically the Black trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today — Domonique Jackson, Connie Fleming, Aaron Rose Phillips and countless more who fought for the space that allowed me to flourish today.”
She concluded: “Because change is more than possible — it’s needed.”
“What difference does it make to have an award?” a reader commented
