Supermodel Anok Yai Diagnosed with 'Congenital Defect' That Was 'Destroying' Her Lungs and Left Her 'Struggling to Breathe'
- - Supermodel Anok Yai Diagnosed with 'Congenital Defect' That Was 'Destroying' Her Lungs and Left Her 'Struggling to Breathe'
Charlotte PhillippDecember 22, 2025 at 8:35 AM
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Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty; Anok Yai/Instagram
Anok Yai. -
Supermodel Anok Yai, 28, is opening up about discovering she has a congenital defect that was "overworking" her heart and "slowly destroying" her lungs
She said the condition left her "struggling to breathe"
"What started as something asymptomatic for the majority of my life turned into a lingering cough, which turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times, struggling to breathe," Yai shared
Supermodel Anok Yai is opening up about a serious health diagnosis that she says was "overworking" her heart and "slowly destroying" her lungs.
On Friday, Dec. 19, the 28-year-old Model of the Year winner shared a candid post on Instagram, detailing her "silent" health battle.
"For the past year, I've been dealing with this silent battle," she began the lengthy caption. "I incidentally found out I had a congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs."
Photos and videos included in the post show Yai resting in a hospital bed at New York University Langone Health in New York City, reading books and inhaling from an oxygen machine as she recovered from surgery.
"What started as something asymptomatic for the majority of my life turned into a lingering cough, which turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times, struggling to breathe," Yai continued.
"I chose to work through this while trying to find the right doctor and the right time," she wrote. "I quickly realized there was never going to be a 'right time' — my health would continue to worsen."
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Although the model did not disclose her exact diagnosis, she revealed that she underwent robotic lung surgery — a minimally invasive lung operation technique that utilizes small incisions and a robotic system to perform the surgery, according to the American Lung Association.
"I've always thought I could outwork or outrun anything," she added, "but the universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up."
In her post, Yai also took a moment to thank her surgeons, as well as the facilities where she has received treatment for her condition.
"[Thanks] to Dr. Robert Cerfolio and his gracious and talented team who I am forever indebted to for giving me more time," she wrote. "And I am forever grateful for Dr. Harmik Soukiasian and everyone at the @beverlyhillsconciergehealth for discovering my condition. Thank you to all the doctors and amazing nurses at @NYULangone."
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"And thank you to my friends and family for being the first thing I saw when I woke up," she concluded. "For now I’m healing … but I’ll be back. See ya ❤️."
Other videos included in the Instagram post show the model waking up for surgery, and her family chuckling as she asked, "Does my hair look good?"
Lucy North/PA Images via Getty
Anok Yai attending the 2025 Fashion Awards in London on Dec. 1.
A number of celebrities and fellow models shared their well-wishes in the comments, including Naomi Campbell, who wrote, "Sending you love, light and healing... may God cover and protect you ❤️❤️🩹."
"Get well soon ❤️," added Heidi Klum, as Iman chimed in, "Sending you much love & prayers ❤️."
"Praying for you my sweet love. you are strong & will win this battle. i love you sister 💗," WNBA star Angel Reese wrote.
Just weeks ago, Yai accepted the coveted title of Model of the Year at the 2025 Fashion Awards, which took place at London's Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 1.
The event, which is presented by the British Fashion Council and Pandora, "recognizes the global impact of a model who has dominated the industry over the last 12 months," per a press release.
In the release, Yai shared what the award means to her.
“Being named Model of the Year is such an honor," she said. "My journey — from Egypt to South Sudan to the U.S. — is one of resilience and community. This recognition is for everyone who’s ever seen their story in mine. Thank you for celebrating us.”
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