The 50th anniversary issue of W Magazine continues as probably the best single issue of fashion that has hit mailboxes in a decade or more. From the original supers to now, the breath of models is exciting — and AOC is not particularly moved by blockbuster concepts.

This one is truly fabulous, under the editorship of Sara Moonves, and a new August 2020 ownership structure that includes Karlie Kloss and CEO of BDG [Bustle Digital Group] Bryan Goldberg.

Anok Yai is among the jawdropping list of cover stars, both print and digital, photographed here by Rafael Pavarotti [IG] The photographer works with his frequent stylist partner Ib Kamara.

Jenny Comita chats with Anok Yai about her experience of being discovered at Howard University in October 2017, and then opening the Prada show at Milan Fashion Week. Anok says she didn’t know at the time that she was the first Black model to have the honor since Naomi Campbell, 20 years earlier.

Anne of Carversville was on the front end of changes in the fashion industry, also demanding changes in representation for models of color. In a note of irony, before Anok Yai was born, I gave Victoria’s Secret an ultimatum over a holiday ad campaign with Naomi Campbell. Naomi was in — or I was out.

Thankfully, Naomi won.

Read more about Anok’s early days as a model after checking out her W Magazine interview. Immediately after opening the Prada show, Anok Yai appeared in a Prada campaign. In that period of 20 years, only one other Black woman Jourdan Dunn was cast in a Prada show.

The change over five years in representation in the fashion industry is almost incomprehensible, unleashed fully in 2020 over the very public, agonizing murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

Sudanese-Born, Howard U Discovered Anok Yai Opens Prada Show As 1st Model of Color in 20 Years AOC Fashion

Prada Launches Black Nylon Spring/Summer 2018 Campaign, Lensed By Willy Vanderperre AOC Fashion