Supermodel Anok Yai has shared an emotional health update that left fans and industry shocked.
The 28-year-old revealed that she has been diagnosed with a congenital lung defect that has been “overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs.”
“For the past year I’ve been dealing with this silent battle,” Yai wrote on her Instagram post, while sharing several clips of her recovery in the hospital.
Noting that she had been “asymptomatic for the majority of my life,” Yai said that her health issue was discovered when she developed a “lingering cough.”
“[The cough] turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times struggling to breathe,” she recalled.
“I chose to work through this while trying to find the right doctor and the right time. I quickly realised there was never going to be a ‘right time’—my health would continue to worsen.”
“So, yesterday I had a successful robotic lung surgery,” the supermodel said as she thanked her medical team.
Also read: AJ Michalka, Alexander Ludwig to star in 'White Lotus'
She gave a special thank you shout to her nurses at NYU’s Langone hospital, where she was treated, and to her friends and family “for being the first thing I saw when I woke up.”
“For now, I’m healing … but I’ll be back,” she closed. “See ya.”
Yai’s modelling colleagues offered their support in the comments section.
“I love you so much,” Amelia Gray Hamlin replied. “The strongest soldier there ever was. You inspire me every day.”
Winnie Harlow added, “God Bless you in your healing. God bless your family and all of your strength. Everything will be here waiting for you. Your health never waits, proud of you for putting you first.”
Heidi Klum, Iman, Alex Consani, Faretta Radic and more modelling icons also sent their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Yai has been commanding catwalks since 2018. She even won the Model of the Year at the 2025 Fashion Awards earlier this month.
Follow us
