Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The Hilltop

Variety

Anok Yai: Where is She Now?

By: Sasha Charlemagne, Staff Reporter

Howard homecoming is iconic and has been for decades. In the 80’s and 90’s Howard’s homecoming was the place to be if you were an artist who wanted to push their music out into the world. From Biggie to Drake, we have had some of the most amazing stars pop up on Howard’s campus at various points in their careers.

Anok Yai, 19 years old at the time, was photographed at last year’s YardFest and quickly rose to stardom after her picture went viral on social media. Within just four months she became the second Black woman in history to open a fashion show for Prada. Appearing in Nike, Estee Lauder and Givenchy campaigns, Anok is quickly taking the fashion industry by storm.

Jordan Mullings, a sophomore TV and Film major and one of Howard’s own HU Elite Models responded to Yai’s quick succession saying, “Knowing she went viral gave me hope. Being of a darker complexion as well, it gave me a sense of comfort and helped me realize that, as a model, your chance can come at any point. If it’s for you, it’s for you.”

“It’s cool how Howard can really put you on to things and how just being here can take you places. It’s really dope that just her coming to have a good time led to her success,” said Autumn McDougle, a sophomore Psychology major and member of Models of the Mecca. 

“Since being found at Howard everything has been a whirlwind,” said Yai to The Hilltop, “I basically live in hotels. I’m on a plane every week and working with top designers on a regular basis.”

Just how quick all of this change occurred is the wildest part of Anok’s story.  Being the first Black model to open Prada in twenty years since Naomi Campbell in 1997 is a considerable accomplishment for a relatively new model. Anok’s success is one of the many stories that should.

Advertisement

You May Also Like

NEWS

Attorneys general filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents, arguing that it’s “unconstitutional.”

Variety

The horror film “Companion” performed steadily at the box office while opening up a conversation about the developing relationship of technology and humanity in...

SPORTS

The “Battle of the Real H.U.” rivalry has Bison divided on its significance following a one-point loss in overtime to the Hampton University’s men...

CAMPUS

A soon-to-be Howard Law professor was among the 67 victims of last week’s plane crash, of which EMS Chief John Donnelly confirmed no survivors...

NEWS

Some teachers warn that cuts to the Department of Education funding could worsen existing challenges in resource-strapped classrooms, potentially increasing educational disparities for D.C.’s...

Variety

Manuel Oliver transforms his loss into activism, using art, storytelling and emotion to honor his son and challenge America’s gun violence epidemic.

NEWS

The Trump Administration’s Jan. 20 executive order calls for an end to antisemitism, threatening to cancel student visas and deport pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

CAMPUS

Bestselling author and historian Ibram X. Kendi will leave his role at Boston University to oversee a new research center at Howard.

NEWS

President Donald Trump’s Administration temporarily halted its directive to freeze federal funding but later indicated the freeze will remain in effect. The initial order...

Columns

Trump’s administration’s use of “flooding the zone” to overwhelm the public with rapid policy changes creates confusion and fatigue. How can we resist fear...

MULTIMEDIA

Weekly roundups of the latest news and campus buzz, courtesy of Howard University’s collegiate newspaper, The Hilltop. New episodes every Friday.

Variety

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s third annual Day of Action shined a light on the work of Fred Gray and his legacy of transformative...

NEWS

After over a year of war, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect this month.

SPORTS

With the Super Bowl quickly approaching, The Hilltop’s sports staff gave their predictions on who will win in football's biggest showdown.

INVESTIGATIVE

In the first three weeks of the spring semester, four crimes were reported near Howard’s campus including a shooting and multiple armed robberies.