“There wasn’t any gender tagged to the award” — Netizens divided as Anok Yai slams British Fashion Council over Alex Consani’s Model of the Year win

Model Anok Yai recently called out the British Fashion Council for snubbing her second year in a row for the Model of the Year award. On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Yai took to her X (@Anok_Yai) to congratulate her friend Alex Consani for winning the award, adding:

"Alex, I love you and I’m so proud of you. British Fashion Council, thank you but I don’t want it anymore."

For the unversed, Consani is a 21-year-old model who made history as the trans woman to hold the title. Anok Yai is a supermodel, who is the second black model to open a Prada show behind Naomi Campbell. In 2023, she was nominated for the award but came runner-up to Paloma Elsesser.

Yai's post sparked a debate among her followers with many questioning Consani's win as a trans model saying:

"If it’s just “Model of the year” its fine. As long as there wasn’t any gender tagged to the award."

A comment reacting to the news (Image via X/ @DailyLoud)

Many offered words of encouragement to the 26-year-old and praised her. Here are some comments seen under her X post:

"You deserve everything. Keep going until you win," one encouraged.

"you are the model of the century," another commented.

"idk about y'all, but this is a very valid tweet..." a user added.

Others rallied in support of Consani calling out the hate she was receiving.

"yall are being so bitter towards Alex wow," one wrote.

"people hating on alex... you can be proud of alex and feel for anok at the same time so need to hate on anyone since theyre not the ones making those decisions," a person stated.

"Anok pls this screams jealousy delete," another added.

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"Alex can be proud and I can be exhausted at the same time"-Anok Yai about British Fashion Council awarding Alex Consani Model of the Year

Just moments after her original post calling out the British Fashion Council, Anok Yai asserted that she didn't think her friend deserved the awards any less. However, she expressed feeling "exhausted" at the loss, stating:

"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."

According to an op-ed by Teen Vogue published in December 2024, author Aiyana Ishmael, a photographer took a picture of Anok Yai while she was on Howard University’s campus for homecoming week. The supermodel was studying biochemistry at Plymouth State University. The picture went viral and several modeling agencies looking to hire her.

Anok Yai has since been featured on the cover of American Vogue thrice and Model.com has listed her among the "New Supers" of this generation. In September, Yai's Runway Bride showcase at Paris Fashion Week's Vetements Spring Summer 2025 was met with praise.

Per Ishmael, Consani herself had a great year in fashion-bagging runway spots in four fashion capitals and even garnering a fan base on social media. While accepting her award, she stated:

"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."

In her speech, Alex also expressed her gratitude to Black trans models, including Connie Fleming and Aaron Rose Philip who helped her career.

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Neither Anok Yai nor Alex Consani have publicly reacted to the development.