Alex Consani Makes History As 2024’s Model of the Year
Introducing your model of the year, Alex Consani. Last night in London, the model had her big moment at the 2024 Fashion Awards, hosted by the British Fashion Council and presented by Pandora, making history as the first transgender woman to win.
The award was presented to Consani by fellow model Ashley Graham and Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau, who made history at this year’s Emmys as the first trans woman to be nominated for Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Alex Consani, who wore a corseted Dilara Findikoglu mini dress with a draped faded Union Jack design, accepted her award on the Royal Albert Hall stage in total excitement and awe.
“I am the first trans woman to win this award,” the model, who also became the first trans woman to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show back in October, began her speech. “But I can’t accept this award without thanking those who came before me, specifically the Black trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today … Dominique Jackson, Connie Fleming, Aaron Rose Phillips, and countless more who fought for the space that allowed me to flourish today.”
The model thanked her parents for their support and and encouraged other parents of trans kids to support them. “Change is more than possible; it’s needed.”
The starry Fashion Awards room, including Jodie Turner-Smith, Nicola Coughlan, Julia Fox, Venus Williams, and Rihanna and A$AP Rocky — who was awarded with this year’s Cultural Innovator honor — cheered for Consani as she accepted her award, but attendee Anok Yai seemed to have some other thoughts.
Later on her Instagram Story, Yai shared the now-infamous photo of Kanye West after interjecting Taylor Swift’s speech at the 2009 VMAs following her win for Best Female Video over Beyoncé. Astute social-media users took the photo to be a dig at Consani’s Model of the Year win.
Yai then addressed the speculation on “X” writing: “Alex, I love you and I’m so proud of you British Fashion Council, thank you but I don’t want it anymore.” But that wasn’t all. In another post, she added, “If you have seen the effort that I’ve seen Alex put in; you would understand how proud I am of her. But Alex can be proud and I can be exhausted at the same time. It doesn’t take away how much love we have for each other.”
Supportive or not? We’ll let you decide.
Other winners of the night included Tom Ford, who was given the Outstanding Achievement Award, Simone Rocha, who was given then Womenwear Designer Award, and Issa Rae was honored with the Pandora Leader of Change Award. The biggest award of the night to Jonathan Anderson for Loewe and JW Anderson, who won Designer of the Year.