Awar Odhiang Named Model of the Year for 2026
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
- Style
- Fashion
- Model Of The Year
- British Fashion Council
WebWire reports the British Fashion Council will honour Awar Odhiang as Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards 2026 in London on November 30.
The announcement: a defining face of 2026
According to WebWire, the British Fashion Council has announced that Awar Odhiang will receive the Model of the Year honour at The Fashion Awards 2026, set for Monday, November 30, 2026, at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The award, as WebWire describes it, recognises a model whose global impact has defined the industry over the last year, with influence extending beyond the catwalk.
WebWire notes Odhiang has appeared on eight international magazine covers this year and fronted campaigns for Chanel, Chloé, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Loro Piana and H&M.
Why the pick stands out
The choice is striking on several fronts. WebWire reports Odhiang was born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia and raised in Canada, and has been central to standout moments since closing Matthieu Blazy's debut at Chanel.
Beyond her bookings, WebWire says she has used her platform to champion greater representation for Black models, speaking openly about barriers that persist in the industry.
BFC chief executive Laura Weir, quoted by WebWire, said Awar reminds us the industry is at its best when individuality, authenticity and joy are celebrated.
Who decided, and what she said
WebWire reports the Model of the Year Award was evaluated by a panel of industry experts chaired by casting director Anita Bitton, including Campbell Addy, Carlos Nazario, Edward Buchanan, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julia Sarr-Jamois, Lynette Nylander and Rosie Vogel, among others.
Odhiang told WebWire the recognition is an incredible honour, saying you never have to dim your light to belong. Bitton, per WebWire, said the winner earned it through hard work without losing the joy and curiosity that brought her here.
The stakes and the season ahead
WebWire describes The Fashion Awards as the world's biggest fashion fundraiser, a defining global moment for British fashion backed by presenting partner Pandora and official partners Johnnie Walker and The Peninsula London.
It lands in a season crowded with emerging-talent showcases: KSNV reports the second annual Vegas Fashion Week runs November 12 to 15 across AREA15, The Shops at Crystals, Keep Memory Alive Event Center and The Mayfair Supper Club, pairing fashion with philanthropy.