Supermodel Anok Yai has been diagnosed with a congenital lung defect.
The runway beauty queen revealed the defect has been “overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs,” opening up about a year-long health battle in a deeply personal Instagram post.
Yai, 26, shared the update alongside video clips from her hospital recovery, giving followers a rare look into a struggle she says she faced quietly behind the scenes.
“For the past year I’ve been dealing with this silent battle,” Yai wrote. “I incidentally found out I had a congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs.”
She explained that the condition, which had been asymptomatic for most of her life, gradually worsened. “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,” she shared.
Despite the escalating symptoms, Yai said she continued working while searching for appropriate medical care.
“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.”
Yai rose to international prominence after being discovered at a college homecoming event in 2017. In 2018, she made history as the first South Sudanese model to open a Prada runway show, a breakthrough moment that launched her global career.
Since then, she has walked for major luxury fashion houses, appeared on leading magazine covers, and featured in high-profile beauty and fashion campaigns.
Reflecting on her experience, Yai acknowledged the mindset that shaped her approach to work and life. “I’ve always thought I could outwork or outrun anything,” she wrote. “But the universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up.”
As she continues her recovery, Yai’s disclosure has drawn widespread support from fans and members of the fashion industry.