By Prosper Mene
South Sudanese-Canadian model Awar Odhiang has been named Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards 2026, capping a breakthrough year that has made her one of the most recognisable faces in fashion.
The 25-year-old will receive the honour at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 30 November.
Odhiang’s rise has been swift and deeply personal. Born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia and raised in Canada after being discovered in Alberta, she is now represented by leading agencies in London, Milan, Paris and New York.
Her runway credits include Prada, Versace, Miu Miu, Saint Laurent and Jacquemus. But it was her appearance at Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2026 show in October 2025 that turned her into a global talking point.
Closing Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection for the house, Odhiang wore the bridal look: an oversized white shirt paired with a voluminous, colourful feathered skirt. As the finale began, she broke formation, smiling, clapping and twirling in the skirt before running to embrace Blazy. The spontaneous moment went viral.
The moment was also historic. Odhiang became only the third Black woman to close a Chanel show in the house’s 115-year history, following Alek Wek and Adut Akech.
Since then, her momentum has only grown. This year alone, she has appeared on eight international magazine covers and fronted campaigns for Chanel, Chloé, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Loro Piana and H&M.
Beyond the runway, Odhiang has used her platform to advocate for greater representation and inclusion of Black models in luxury fashion.
Her Model of the Year win recognises not only a remarkable year of runway, editorial and campaign work, but also the joy, visibility and influence she continues to bring to the industry.
