Anok Yai

When Anok Yai heard the Met Gala 2026 theme, her first thought was: I have to be a statue. The Sudanese-American model soon made a moodboard and messaged Pierpaolo Piccioli. Scratch that—she “begged” the recently installed Balenciaga creative director to collaborate and (spoiler!) he, of course, said yes. The two decided that the look would be a strong art piece (”obviously", she says) in line with the “Fashion Is Art” theme, but more than that, they wanted, she says, to “send a message.” They landed on the Black Madonna.