Supermodel Anok yai Reveals Hidden Health Battle
Supermodel Anok Yai shared heartbreaking news about her health, leaving social media stunned and emotional. Just days after being named the 2025 Model of the Year, Yai revealed on Friday (Dec. 19) that she was quietly battling a serious medical condition, news that has shaken fans and colleagues in the fashion industry.
The South Sudanese-American supermodel rose to fame in 2017 after a photo of her whent viral, launching one of the fastest ascents in fashion history. Since then, Yai has walked for renowned luxury houses such as Prada, Versace, and Dior, establishing her as a trailblazer among Black models on high-fashion runways and making headlines for her appearance in Vetements’ Fall runway show.
But while dominating on the runway, the 28-year-old was fighting for her life behind the scenes.
In a vulnerable social media post, Yai revealed that she was diagnosed with a congenital defect that had been “overworking” her heart and “slowly destroying” her lungs.
Fans were shocked to see a video of the supermodel lying in a hospital bed, opening up about her health scare. “For the past year I’ve been dealing with this silent battle,” Yai wrote in her Instagram post. “I incidentally found out I had a congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs.”
Yai explained that she had been “asymptomatic for most of her life” and only discovered the condition after developing what she thought was a “lingering cough.”
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