Model of the Year Anok Yar Delivered the Most Powerful and Emotional Speech At the BFC Awards Untitled.

Anok Yai delivered one of the most powerful and emotional speeches in fashion history last night as she received her well-deserved Model of the Year award at the British Fashion Council Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.

She took us through the doubts surrounding her entry into the industry, the questions about her longevity, and how, through self-belief, resilience, and relentless self-improvement, she has outlasted the naysayers and their quiet prayers for her downfall.

In a statement that immediately silenced the room and then brought alot of screams and applause she declared “I am a refugee, and there is nothing stronger than that.”

In one of the most moving moments of the night, Anok referenced her native roots in South Sudan and the ongoing war, urging the room not to look away. With tear-filled eyes, she said:

“My family is dying and I don’t know what to do.”

The vulnerability of that moment swept through the room and moved many to tears.

Anok Yai has surpassed every expectation placed upon her and continues to fly the Black girl flag so high it is impossible to miss. She spoke directly to the Black girls in the room and around the world with words that landed like a blessing and a declaration:

“To my little Black Girl Watching, Your color is Not a Curse.”

Without doubt, Anok’s speech was the emotional and cultural highlight of the night, one that will stay with many for years to come.