Anok Yai stands 5 feet 10 inches tall. Honestly, if you’ve ever seen her glide down a runway for Mugler or Saint Laurent, she looks roughly twelve feet tall. It’s that presence. That specialized, almost predatory walk. She’s got these impossibly long proportions that make every designer in Paris lose their minds. But the official number—the one on her IMG Models and Next Management comp cards—is 5'10" (which is about 178 cm).
People often guess she’s much taller. Maybe 6'1" or 6'2"? You've probably seen the comments on TikTok or Twitter. Her legs seem to go on forever, and she has this lean, athletic build from her days as a biochemistry student in New Hampshire that toys with your depth perception.
Why Anok Yai's Height Matters on the Runway
In the modeling world, 5'10" is basically the "Golden Ratio." It’s tall enough to command a room but not so tall that you’re towering over the male models or making the sample size clothes look like crop tops.
When she made history back in 2018, opening for Prada, it wasn't just about her height. She was the first Black model to open a Prada show since Naomi Campbell did it in 1997. Think about that for a second. A 20-year gap. Anok stepped into that space with a height that matched the legends, but a look that was entirely her own.
The Stats Breakdown
If you’re a fashion nerd, you know it’s not just about the vertical. Here’s how the rest of her official 2026 industry measurements usually shake out:
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- Height: 5'10" / 178 cm
- Bust: 30 inches
- Waist: 23 inches
- Hips: 34 inches
- Shoe Size: 10 US / 40 EU
It’s a standard "high fashion" frame, but Anok’s impact is anything but standard. She’s currently ranked as one of the "New Supers" on Models.com, and she just took home the 2025 Model of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards. She isn't just a tall girl in expensive clothes; she’s a literal movement.
From Biochemistry to the Big Leagues
The story of how she got here is still one of the wildest "internet breaks reality" moments. Imagine being a 19-year-old student at Plymouth State University, studying biochemistry with plans to become a doctor. You go to Howard University’s homecoming, someone snaps a photo of you, and by the time you check your phone, you have 50,000 new followers.
That photographer, Steven Hall, basically changed the course of fashion history with one click.
Anok has mentioned in interviews that she used to be self-conscious about being the "tall, skinny girl." It's a common trope for supermodels, but for a girl of South Sudanese descent growing up in Manchester, New Hampshire, that "separation from her peers" felt very real. Now? That height is her greatest tool. She uses it to perform—she calls modeling a "silent form of acting."
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The 2025-2026 Season Dominance
Anok didn't just walk the recent Spring/Summer 2026 shows; she owned them.
- Openers: She kicked off the shows for Ferragamo, Coperni, and Hugo Boss.
- Closers: She shut down the runways for Ralph Lauren, Fendi, and Vetements.
- The "Pregnant Widow": At the Vetements Spring 2026 show, she actually performed a theatrical walk as a pregnant widow, even shedding tears on the runway.
Beyond the 5'10" Frame
What most people get wrong is thinking her career is just about her physical dimensions. Anok is a painter. A real one. She spends her downtime doing oil paintings, often leaving the eyes of her subjects unfinished while listening to Hans Zimmer soundtracks. She even did an artist residency at Black Rock in Senegal, founded by Kehinde Wiley.
She’s also not afraid to use her platform for things that actually matter. During her 2025 Model of the Year acceptance speech, she famously called out the ongoing crisis in Sudan, asking the world not to look away.
"To all my little Black girls who are watching me right now: your color is not a curse."
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That’s a quote that hits harder than any runway strut ever could.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Models
If you’re looking at Anok and wondering if you can make it with similar stats, here’s the reality of the 2026 fashion landscape:
- Height is a baseline, not a guarantee. Being 5'10" gets you through the door, but your "walk" and your "eye" (how you look at the camera) are what keep you there.
- The "Viral" route is rare. Don't count on a homecoming photo. Build a portfolio that shows range—Anok can go from "alien-like" in Mugler campaigns to "girl-next-door" for Gap.
- Diversify your skills. Anok is a painter and a student of biochemistry. Designers today love a "slashie"—someone who is a model/artist or model/activist. It gives you longevity when the runway seasons end.
Anok Yai isn't just "tall." She's a once-in-a-generation talent who used her 5'10" frame to bridge the gap between being a viral sensation and becoming a legitimate fashion icon. Whether she's doing her own stunts for a fragrance ad or advocating for her home country, she's proving that the most important measurement isn't your height—it's your reach.
To stay updated on Anok's latest editorial work, keep an eye on the official IMG Models roster or follow her personal Instagram, where she frequently shares her latest oil paintings alongside her high-fashion covers.