Allure’s September issue brings friendship, not competition, to the forefront with Alex Consani and Anok Yai sharing the cover. The two supermodels, often portrayed as industry rivals, use the platform to push back against those narratives and celebrate the solidarity they’ve built.
The cover story, written by Tyler McCall, captures the pair quite literally intertwined, a visual representation of a bond that has been mischaracterized as friction. Instead, Consani and Yai highlight how they’ve leaned on each other while breaking barriers as a trans woman and a Black woman navigating fashion’s shifting landscape.
Breaking the “Feud” Myth
When Consani was named Model of the Year at the 2024 Fashion Awards, tabloids attempted to pit her against Yai. The models say the supposed tension was never real.
“We’ve cried together, supported each other, and celebrated each other from the start,” Yai said. “The narrative was really spun for us.”
Consani agreed, adding that the fixation on their identities over their accomplishments was frustrating: “There’s value in giving girls their flowers, especially ones who are so often mistreated. The story should have been about supporting one another, not inventing beef.”
Talking Identity and Representation
Both women are frank about how identity shapes their careers, while also resisting the industry’s urge to reduce them to labels.
Yai reflected on feeling tokenized early on: “I was always the Black model or the Black artist. If you made one mistake, it was like you represented the whole race.”
Consani underscored Yai’s influence as a dark-skinned model reaching a rare level of visibility: “The mistreatment towards dark-skinned girls in fashion is really upsetting. It makes what Anok has done that much more powerful.”
For Consani, conversations about her trans identity require balance: “I never want to be seen only as a trans woman. I want to be seen as a woman whose story includes that, but doesn’t end there. Sometimes existence itself is the message.”
Defining Legacy
Both models are already shaping how the next generation views beauty, but they’re mindful of what they want their legacies to reflect.
“I want people to see that I came from nothing, worked hard, and made it here,” Yai said. “If I can do it, they can too. Whether I become one of the greats, that’s up to the public.”
Consani echoed the desire for relatability: “I just want to be the girl I was searching for when flipping through magazines. Someone who felt real.”
Their words reveal the weight of being both symbols and trailblazers. At the same time, they return again and again to the theme of being recognized as human first, models second.
Sisterhood First
By sharing the Allure spotlight, Consani and Yai turn away from rivalry headlines and toward what actually sustains them, a shared sense of sisterhood. Whether offering comfort in private or dismantling stereotypes in public, their relationship proves that the most radical act in fashion might just be friendship itself.
