Anok Yai Channels Black Madonna at 2026 Met Gala with Balenciaga
At the 2026 Met Gala, model Anok Yai collaborated with Balenciaga creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli on a look inspired by the Black Madonna, aiming to send a message of hope in what she described as a 'Trump world.' The Sudanese-American model, who was also named one of Time's 100 most influential people this year, chose prosthetic hair to achieve a statue-like appearance, moving away from her usual sexy style. Yai, 28, recently underwent robotic surgery for a congenital lung defect and was named Model of the Year at the Fashion Awards. The Met Gala theme was 'Fashion Is Art.'
Key facts
- Anok Yai wore a Balenciaga Black Madonna look at the 2026 Met Gala.
- The look was designed with Balenciaga creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli.
- Yai wanted to send a message of hope in a 'Trump world.'
- The Met Gala 2026 theme was 'Fashion Is Art.'
- Yai used prosthetic hair to look like a walking statue.
- Yai was named one of Time's 100 most influential people of the year.
- Yai underwent robotic surgery for a congenital lung defect.
- Yai was named Model of the Year at the Fashion Awards.
Entities
Artists
- Anok Yai
- Pierpaolo Piccioli
Institutions
- Balenciaga
- Time
- Fashion Awards
- Vogue
Locations
- New York City
- United States