She didn’t need to grace the runway to steal the spotlight. On June 24, at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, all eyes were fixed on Sudanese-American supermodel Anok Yai as she arrived for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show. Though she wasn’t part of the lineup, her presence alone turned the event into a moment.
Yai wore a sleek black Louis Vuitton tracksuit, effortlessly elevated with minimalist gold accessories, classic heels, and her signature Louis Vuitton handbag. With her statuesque frame and natural poise, she once again reminded the fashion world why she remains a force—making even streetwear look like high couture.
Completing her look was a soft, radiant makeup finish by celebrated artist Ngozi Edeme, popularly known as PaintedByEsther on social media. The soft blush tones and flawless skin prep highlighted Anok’s features perfectly, adding just the right glow. She kept her hair sleek and simple—waist-length, straight, with two delicate braids framing her face. And yes, her bangs were truly a moment of their own.
Her photos from the event quickly lit up social media, with fans across platforms praising her look.
“Face devoured, makeup ate!!!” one user raved on X (formerly Twitter).
“So insane I can’t deal,” wrote another overwhelmed admirer on TikTok.
Anok Yai’s rise to fashion royalty is the stuff of modern legends. Born in Sudan and raised in New Hampshire, she was first discovered in 2017 while attending Howard University’s homecoming. At the time, she was a biochemistry student at Plymouth State University. Despite initial hesitation from her parents, she chose to chase fashion full-time—and it paid off. Today, she’s walked the runway for the likes of Versace, Saint Laurent, and Victoria’s Secret.
Her fans have no doubt that she made the right call.
“Perfection exists, and it’s Anok Yai,” another TikTok user declared—and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that.
