From Biochemistry To Balenciaga: 5 Shocking Facts About Anok Yai's College Life And Sudden Supermodel Rise

The story of Anok Yai’s college life is one of the most unexpected and dramatic pivots in modern fashion history. As of late 2025, Anok Yai is an undisputed supermodel, a global icon, and the recipient of the prestigious Model of the Year award, yet just a few short years ago, her life was on a completely different trajectory. She was not preparing for the runway; she was studying for exams, aiming for a career in medicine, specifically a biochemistry major at a New Hampshire university.

This article, updated with her latest career milestones in December 2025, dives deep into the academic world Anok Yai left behind, the single viral moment that changed everything, and why a promising future as a doctor was sacrificed for a historic career in high fashion. Her journey from a biochemistry student to a global fashion powerhouse is a testament to the unpredictable nature of destiny.

Anok Yai: Full Biography and Profile

Anok Yai’s profile is a powerful blend of academic ambition and groundbreaking fashion success, rooted in a compelling personal history.

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• Full Name: Anok Yai
• Date of Birth: December 20, 1997
• Place of Birth: Cairo, Egypt
• Nationality: American (of South Sudanese descent)
• Heritage: South Sudanese
• Hometown/Upbringing: Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
• High School: Manchester High School West
• College: Plymouth State University, New Hampshire (Attended)
• College Major: Biochemistry (Intended to pursue a career as a doctor)
• Discovery Date: October 2017
• Discovery Location: Howard University Homecoming, Washington D.C.
• Modeling Agency: Next Models
• Career Start: 2017
• Major Milestone: Second Black model to open a Prada show (Spring/Summer 2018), Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards 2025.
• Notable Work: Campaigns for Estée Lauder, Alexander McQueen, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and more.

The Biochemistry Dream: Anok Yai at Plymouth State University

Before the bright lights of Paris and Milan, Anok Yai was a dedicated student with a clear, science-focused goal. Her enrollment at Plymouth State University (PSU) in New Hampshire was the first major step toward a career in medicine, a world away from the fashion industry.

A Pre-Med Path: Anok Yai chose to major in Biochemistry, a notoriously rigorous and demanding field of study. Her intention was to continue her education and eventually become a practicing doctor. This choice highlights a foundational trait of the supermodel: intense focus and a commitment to difficult, high-achieving goals. Her life was structured around labs, lectures, and the complex world of organic chemistry, not fittings and runways.

The Sophomore Year Interruption: Her academic journey was abruptly halted during her sophomore year in the fall of 2017. At the time, she was a 19-year-old college student, balancing her studies with a part-time job. The irony is that her life-changing moment did not even happen on her own campus; it happened while she was attending a cultural event at another institution.

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The pursuit of a Biochemistry degree is a massive commitment, requiring years of focus, something that would prove incompatible with the sudden, global demands of a supermodel career. This juxtaposition—the intellectual rigor of science against the artistic chaos of fashion—is a core part of her unique narrative.

The Viral Photo That Ended Her College Career

The moment that forever changed Anok Yai's life and ended her pre-med career is a quintessential modern-day discovery story. It is a moment that perfectly illustrates the power of social media and the unpredictable nature of fame.

The Howard University Homecoming: In October 2017, Anok Yai traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the Howard University Homecoming, a major cultural event at the historically Black college. She was simply there to enjoy the festivities, dressed in a casual outfit that showcased her natural, striking beauty.

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The Photographer and the Post: Photographer Steven Hall, known as 'theSUNK' on Instagram, spotted her in the crowd. Hall, captivated by her unique look and flawless dark skin, asked to take a few candid photos. He posted the resulting image to his Instagram account with the caption, "I love her skin tone." The photo immediately went viral, racking up over 20,000 likes in a matter of hours.

The Flood of Agency Calls: Within days, Anok Yai's phone was flooded with calls and direct messages from nearly every major modeling agency in the world. The sheer volume and seriousness of the offers were impossible to ignore. She eventually signed with Next Models, one of the industry's most powerful agencies, marking her official entry into the fashion world.

The Inevitable Choice: The demands of high fashion—constant international travel, major campaign shoots, and walking in global Fashion Weeks—simply do not allow for the structured, time-intensive curriculum of a Biochemistry major. As Anok Yai herself has reflected, "science and traveling don't work together." She made the difficult but necessary decision to leave Plymouth State University to pursue the once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity that had literally found her on the street.

From Lab Coat to Louis Vuitton: Her Meteoric Rise and Topical Authority

Anok Yai's decision to leave college was quickly validated by a series of monumental career achievements that have cemented her status as a supermodel and a figure of topical authority in the fashion world, particularly regarding representation.

The Prada Breakthrough: Just four months after her viral discovery, Anok Yai made history. She was selected to open the Prada Spring/Summer 2018 show in Milan. This was a monumental moment, as she became only the second Black model—after the legendary Naomi Campbell 20 years prior—to open a Prada runway show. This single achievement instantly elevated her from a college student to a fashion industry trailblazer.

A Global Campaign Powerhouse: Since her debut, Anok Yai has become one of the most sought-after faces in the industry. Her portfolio includes major campaigns for Versace, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, Fendi, and a high-profile contract with Estée Lauder. She has also graced the covers of numerous international fashion magazines, including multiple editions of Vogue.

Model of the Year 2025: The ultimate validation of her career pivot came with her most recent and significant accolade. In late 2025, Anok Yai was honored as the Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council (BFC) at The Fashion Awards 2025. This award recognizes her immense global influence, her impactful campaigns, and her role in redefining beauty standards and dark skin representation on the global stage. Her recent work, including walking for the Louis Vuitton Men's Fall 2025 show, proves she is at the absolute peak of her profession.

Anok Yai's journey from a Plymouth State University student with dreams of a medical career to a global supermodel winning the highest industry honors is a powerful narrative. It’s a story of destiny stepping in and turning a dedicated biochemistry major into a fashion icon, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected path is the one that leads to greatness.