Where is Anok Yai from? Parents and more about the model diagnosed with a congenital defect

On December 19, a day before her 28th birthday, supermodel Anok Yai took to Instagram and shared that she has been diagnosed with a “congenital defect” that was “overworking her cardiac and respiratory systems. The post had a lengthy caption, which began:

“For the past year, I’ve been dealing with this silent battle. I incidentally found out I had a Congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs. What started as something asymptomatic for the majority of my life turned into a lingering cough, which turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then, at times, struggling to breathe.”

Anok Yai was born in Cairo, Egypt, but has her roots in Sudan.

“I chose to work through this while trying to find the right doctor and the right time. I quickly realized there was never going to be a ‘right time’ - my health would continue to worsen. I've always thought I could outwork or outrun anything, but the universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up,” the fashion model continued.

Yai also mentioned that she recently underwent a “successful Robotic Lung Surgery” at New York University’s Langone Health and thanked her doctors and the entire medical team for extending her lifespan, adding she was “forever indebted… grateful” to them.

She also gave a shoutout to her friends and family for standing by her through the hard time.

“For now, I’m healing … but I’ll be back. See ya [red heart emoji],” the caption concluded.

Anok Yai’s post came with a carousel of images that showed her struggling to breathe and being attached to oxygen support while lying on a hospital bed.

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All about Anok Yai’s family life

Anok Yai was born to South Sudanese immigrant parents in Cairo on December 20, 1997, who escaped genocide during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Three years later, the family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, USA, where Anok grew up with her sister Alim, in government housing.

Their father worked for the 501©(3) nonprofit Easterseals, formerly known as the National Society for Crippled Children. Meanwhile, Yai’s mother was a nurse. She told Vogue in November 2017:

“My parents worked very hard to put my siblings and I [through school] to be able to be set up for success. They put in up to 16 hour days in order to save enough money, so we could move to [Manchester] and we have been living there ever since.”

Both sisters attended Manchester High School West before Anok Yai pursued biochemistry from Plymouth State University, while dreaming of becoming a doctor.

However, in October 2017, Anok was at Howard University’s homecoming week when she was discovered by renowned fashion photographer Steven Hall. Yai’s picture shot by Hall went viral overnight, earning her a contract with NEXT Model Management and IMG Models.

According to her recent profile on Elle, Yai’s parents were not happy with her modelling career. Notably, her sister is now her manager and financial advisor. She also told the publication earlier this year that she faced racism and isolation very early in life.

“I struggled a lot with social anxiety. I was the kid in the corner who didn’t talk to anybody. I never really had a set friend group. I was more of a floater. I was always on the outside looking in. Growing up dark-skinned in New Hampshire, there was a lot of racism. A lot of kids made fun of me for my skin color,” Anok shared.

She added that initially her family landed in New York City from Egypt but eventually settled in New Hampshire, as it had “the most benefits for immigrants.”

“I always knew I was meant for bigger things than the small town that I came from. I think that allowed me to feel comfortable with my separation from my peers,” Yai stated.

Since then, Anok Yai has been the first Sudanese and second Black model after Naomi Campbell to inaugurate a show for Prada. She has also appeared on the covers of Vogue, i-D, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle, and walked for brands like Versace, Fendi, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton.

Her other brand collabs include Nike, Tiffany & Co., and Ambush. Yai has worked with other supermodels, including Naomi Campbell, Bella Hadid, and Kaia Gerber. Anok has also appeared in several music videos of Doja Cat, Travis Scott, Offset, and Lil Yachty, among others.

Today, she is one of the most sought-after fashion models across the world who works in countries such as France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and the USA.

Speaking with Forbes in 2021, Anok Yai shared that she hasn’t been to South Sudan, but longed to do so.

“Right now, I’m actually finding out about family members that I didn’t even know I had. Since I’ve become a public figure, they were able to chase me down and send me photos of when I was a little kid, when we were in Egypt. I have family in Europe, Australia, and all over the world,” she noted.

Yai continued:

“I still have a connection to my family, of course, and my mom and sister have gone back, so I’ve seen my home through photos and Facebook.”

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Before breaking her silence about her ongoing health battle, Anok Yai was declared the recipient of the prestigious Model of the Year Award by the British Fashion Council and Pandora at the 2025 Fashion Awards held at Royal Albert Hall, London, on December 1, 2025.

“Being named Model of the Year is such an honor. My journey — from Egypt to South Sudan to the U.S. — is one of resilience and community. This recognition is for everyone who’s ever seen their story in mine. Thank you for celebrating us,” Anok Yai wrote on Instagram at the time.

Apart from her 3.3 million Instagram followers, many celebrities sent their best wishes to Yai in the comment section of her post. For instance, Naomi Campbell wrote:

“Sending you, love, light and healing … may God cover and protect you.”

Likewise, Haley Kalil, aka Haley Bayley, sent “positivity and healing.” Other well-wishers include Iman, Heidi Klum, Taraji P. Henson, Angel Reese, Winnie Harlow, and Donatella Versace.