Alex Consani has been awarded this year’s Model of the Year award, becoming the first transgender person to receive the prestigious award. The annual Fashion Awards event took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with the award recognizing ‘the global impact of a model who, over the [past] 12 months, has dominated the industry, with an influence that transcends the catwalk.’ In addition to her modelling career, the 21-year-old American is active on TikTok and appeared in Charli XCX’s music video ‘360’.
In her speech Consani specifically highlighted ‘the Black trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today—Dominique Jackson, Connie Fleming, Aaron Rose Phillips, and countless more who paved the way for me to flourish.’ She concluded her remarks by stating: ‘Change is more than possible—it’s needed.’
Consani’s victory sparked predictable reactions. Progressives celebrated the win as a milestone for inclusivity, while critics, who argued that the award should have gone to a biological woman, were swiftly labelled as bigots and transphobes by proponents of the decision.
The biggest loser of the night was Anok Yai, the 26-year-old American model who failed to win the competition for the fourth consecutive time. Yai is regarded as one of the most successful figures in the industry. She is the first model of South Sudanese descent and the second Black supermodel, after Naomi Campbell, to open a Prada show.
After losing to a transgender model, Yai posted an Instagram story referencing the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where Taylor Swift won Best Music Video but was interrupted by Kanye West, who claimed that the award rightfully belonged to Beyoncé. Many—understandably—interpreted Yai’s post as a critique of Consani’s victory.
‘Alex Consani is another example of beta males stealing opportunities from women’
However, Yai clarified her intentions on X, stating that she is proud of Consani’s accomplishments. Furthermore, Yai revealed that she no longer wishes to participate in the competition. ‘British Fashion Council, thank you, but I don’t want it anymore,’ she added.
Nevertheless, many were outraged by Yai’s defeat, claiming that the model was robbed. ‘Anok Yai was robbed of MOTY twice in a row and I just want y’all to remember that when black women say they have to work 10x harder to get half as much as their white counterparts it’s not a joke. Especially in the fashion industry,’ one commenter wrote. ‘Alex Consani is another example of beta males stealing opportunities from women,’ another comment stated.
Consani’s appearance has sparked controversy before, particularly following her appearance at the Victoria’s Secret runway fashion show in October. Outraged commentators flooded the internet with criticism, with one stating ‘now it’s a drag show,’ while others argued that featuring a transgender woman on the catwalk undermines feminism’s achievements. ‘Leftist women are just watching as everything they worked for is taken away by men in skirts,’ one critic remarked.
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