Fashion in 2026 is not playing around. The latest upcoming top models in the world are rewriting what it means to be a supermodel, and honestly, the industry is struggling to keep up with them. No more waiting for a seat at the table. These women are the table. Want to know more famous models have a look on Pelageo Model Management.
Let’s get into it.
Anok Yai: The Standard Nobody Asked For But Everyone Needed
Anok Yai is an incredible model to know about as of 2026! If you do not already, you need to familiarize yourself with the story of how Anok Yai found her way into the modelling world after being discovered at a Howard University Homecoming event in 2017 (at a party just merely existing), and ultimately becoming the first Black Model than Naomi Campbell to walk the runway for Prada. Since then, Yai has walked on behalf of Louis Vuitton, Versace, Valentino and Fendi brands! Most recently, Yai’s bridal look on the Vetements runway in 2025 broke the internet in a positive way!
Another amazing thing about Anok Yai’s career is that not long after her landmark 2025 experience on the Vetements runway, there was public drama regarding Yai and the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year 2024. Yai was nominated and subsequently did not win the award to fellow model Alex Consani. Yai took to her Instagram page and made a Kanye West/Taylor Swift Meme about the loss, explaining how she loves Consani and is proud of her, while also making statement that she was also somewhat tired and fatigued. This post went viral creating a conversation with many calling her response to the BFC a “shady” comment while others feel that Anok is being human; as she has every right to express that a fashion and modelling industry owes her everything due to her African Dick heritage. Regardless of who you are, you should be aware that the impact of this conversation would ultimately take place thanks to having an incredible leader like Anok Yai!
When you look at Yai’s career in 2026, you will see that awards are not necessarily needed to validate her career success. Anok Yai is the benchmark for all models!
Adut Akech: Ice Cold, Untouchable, Iconic
Adut is an example of unrelenting beauty, while Anok is an example of raging chaos. Adut’s life began when her family fled their native South Sudan for refuge in Kenya, where she spent much of her childhood being raised as part of a refugee population. Adut has been doing well for herself since winning Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2019. Throughout her career, she has had numerous remarkable jobs with labels such as Saint Laurent, Givenchy, and Valentino, just to name a few. She has been featured on numerous covers of all the major editions of Vogue (and countless others) than many other models that are over twice her age.
What makes Adut stand out even among the latest upcoming top models dominating 2026 is her refusal to just be pretty on a runway. She discusses her beliefs relating to mental well-being; though she frequently mentions refugees who may or may not have been accepted; finally, she explains why it is necessary for her to carry on doing fashion shows for those who did not once exist within that context. Her spirit continues regardless of current fashions or cultural sensibilities related to appearance.
Kaia Gerber: Yes She Has Connections, No That Is Not the Whole Story
Cindy Crawford’s daughter, Kaia Gerber, has access to a world of fashion that few models will have access to and has a proven success for building a legacy. What is unique about Kaia going into 2026 is that her approach has pivoted from closing every runway to building an authentic identity for herself. She serves as an intermediary between fashion and culture, speaks about mental health and the pressures of being raised in the spotlight, has transitioned into acting and is an influencer to Gen Z due to her authenticity as opposed to perfection.
The Longevity Play
Among all the latest upcoming top models in the world right now, Kaia might be the best example of understanding that relevance outlasts being the most booked face of the season. She has figured that out early.
Alex Consani: The Most Talked-About Model of 2026, Period
This list cannot be complete without including Alex Consani. In California, in 2003, Alex Consani (the world’s youngest transgender model) entered her modelling career at age 12. After going viral on TikTok during the pandemic as being completely hilarious and chaotic, she was signed with IMG Models and became the first transgender woman to walk for Victoria’s Secret, as well as win Model of the Year from the British Fashion Council in 2024. Both of these moments were historic, as well as controversial (to deny that would be giving yourself a disservice). Alex made it a point to thank the Black trans women who paved the way for her in her acceptance speech, which is very important because the discussion about diversity and inclusion within the fashion industry continues to evolve, and Alex is currently at the centre of that discussion. In 2026, Alex Consani has walked for Michael Kors and Tory Burch and is one of the top models working today.
Awar Odhiang: 2026 Belongs to Her
Awar Odhiang was born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents. After being raised in Canada, she closed the Chanel Spring/Summer 2026 runway show in Paris with a beaming smile that will go down as one of the happiest ever experienced on any runway. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered joy, and it was wonders to behold! It also made its way around the internet like wildfire, and everyone experienced it in the best possible way!
Not only did Italian Vogue name Awar as their Top Model of the Moment shortly after this moment, but they featured the model on the February 2026 cover of the publication in a beautiful image taken in the Italian Alps! To make matters even better, Awar is already walking for high-end fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Chloé, Prada, and Jacquemus, and she continues to find success as one of the most sought-after, fresh-faced models currently working.
When you watch Awar walk, you genuinely feel something. This is very hard to achieve!
Imaan Hammam: Amsterdam’s Greatest Export
The Dutch models (they’ve been making big waves for the last few decades) need some recognition! Imaan Hammam was found by an agent when she was only 13 years old at Amsterdam’s central train station. She is Moroccan, Egyptian, and Dutch, and was born and raised in Amsterdam. Imaan embraces her identity as a proud Muslim, and never has she attempted to downplay any aspect of her identity so that the fashion industry would be more acceptable to her. As of March 2023, she has graced the cover of Vogue 27 times while opening the Givenchy runway show at the tender age of 16! Imaan is a global ambassador for Estée Lauder and is still 1 of 8 women on Models.com’s Industry Icons list.
More Than Just a Face
From day one, I’ve always wanted to be a role model for girls who deal with issues related to racism in their lives, through having an appearance that isn’t accepted by society or having trouble seeing figures in magazines that look like them. I’ve never waited until I became famous to make these statements. In 2025, I was on the cover of Vogue Arabia with Achraf Hakimi, an athlete. There are very few girls at this time who have had as much success as I have, my arrival has happened already and I am established as much, if not more than, any other successful person.
Jill Kortleve: Rewriting the Rules From the Netherlands
“Jill Kortleve stands equally as tall in the modeling world as Imaan does on fashion’s global runways. She took to the runway for Alexander McQueen in 2018, is the first plus-size model to walk the Chanel runway in a decade, made history in like three different ways in 2022 by being the Haute Couture bride for Chanel, and is in the process of covering numerous international editions of Vogue, including being in campaigns and on runways for Victoria’s Secret, Valentino, H&M and Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, and appearing on runways for Mugler and Jacquemus.
Jill appears to be advocating to young women that it is okay to not conform to the standards that society has set for the “perfect” body type. In a fashion industry that has much work to be done in size representation, Jill is using her status and celebrity as a vehicle to help make these changes happen from the inside.
Bhavitha Mandava: The Discovery Story Fashion Needed to Hear
Often, fashion tells amazing stories that could be mistaken for movies. One such case is Bhavitha Mandava.
An NYU graduate from India, she was first discovered at a subway station in Brooklyn by Matthieu Blazy (now the creative director for Chanel), who walked her down the stairs at the Chanel Métiers d’Art 2026 show in an abandoned subway station (where he found her). As a result, he became her muse both at Bottega Veneta and currently at Chanel (where he continues to work with her). Bhavitha has received coverage from The New York Times, as well as having over 400,000 followers on Instagram. In a year full of powerful stories among the latest upcoming top models in the world, Bhavitha’s reminds the industry of something it keeps forgetting, that talent is everywhere, if you bother to look.
What 2026 Is Really Telling Us
The presence of these females is no accident; they represent the way that the fashion industry has begun to appreciate value in terms of authentic stories, presence, and a sense of identity. Whether they are on the subway platform at Brooklyn or refugee camp in their homeland, or coming off the international train at Amsterdam Central Station, these women do not conform to established forms; they are breaking down those forms every day.
Pay attention.
