Once upon a time, Anok Yai wasn’t the world famous model we know her as. She was an insecure kid who others would say “looked like an alien.” Now, that label doesn’t bother her. In fact, she sees being considered otherworldly as a compliment.
As the face of Mugler’s new Alien Pulp fragrance, Anok’s accepted that being different is what makes her beautiful. We sat down with Anok to find out where she thinks beauty really comes from, how she stays her most confident, and how Mugler makes her feel. The short answer: alien, in the best way.
You’ve said that, growing up people would say you looked like an alien, but that it’s something you no longer mind. How much do you think beauty is about other people’s perceptions vs. how you see yourself?
“I used to think as a kid that beauty was something that was given to you by other people [but] I don’t believe in that anymore, because if it’s something that someone can give to you, they can also take it away. I decided for myself that beauty has nothing to do with the outside world. It’s completely personal. It’s about finding a sense of yourself, and really leaning into what makes you different and what makes you special. I feel like once you find that thing about yourself you’re able to shine, and glow, and you stand out, and then that’s when the world accepts you, and decides that you’re beautiful.”
Is there a recent time you felt your most beautiful?
“Honestly, when I saw the Alien Pulp campaign came out I was so excited because when we were shooting it the vibe was like, sexy siren – I was like playing in the water – and I loved how feminine and flirtatious and sexy I was in the campaign. I felt really beautiful.”
Modelling can put a lot of pressure on someone’s personal image. How do you stay confident in this industry?
“Modelling is a very fickle industry. You’re judged very harshly on every single aspect of your face and your body and everything, but I’ve learned to have quite thick skin and I surround myself with positive people who pour into my cup. I don’t really focus on negative energy at all, because I don’t have time for it. I work with people who inspire me and who give me confidence in my artistry and make me feel excited to be on set. That’s honestly the Mugler team. I think surrounding yourself with positivity is the way to go.”
What do you think your childhood self would say if they could see you now?
“She would be like, ‘is this really happening?’ When I was a child I was so deeply insecure about the way that I looked, and I just never imagined that I could be in the position where I am now, where I feel confident in my skin and I feel confident about who I am as a woman and a human and an artist. Honestly, it’s truly been a blessing.”
You’ve been the face of Mugler’s fragrances since 2024. What about the brand aligns with your personal ethos?
“I’ve been obsessed with Mugler even before I started [in] fashion. I remember being a kid and watching all of the Couture shows and seeing all the ads. I was just obsessed with the confidence that all of the Mugler women exuded, and how sexy they were and how different they were. Being a part of the Mugler family, the thing that we [align on] is having confidence within ourselves but also teaching other people it’s OK to be different, and it’s good to be different, and that’s what makes you special, that’s what makes you beautiful.”
You also walk Mugler’s shows each season, in iconic looks. How does wearing Mugler make you feel?
“It makes me feel- I feel so corny, but like it makes me feel like an alien. I feel out of this world. I remember this show I did where I had the mask and the wind machine, I just remember the feeling that I felt when I was walking – well, first of all I was terrified – but this otherworldly feeling of so much confidence within myself and so much love for how far I’d come, and the drama of it all. Just walking the show, there’s no way to describe it, it’s just one of those things you have to experience. But the adrenaline rush you feel when you walk a Mugler show is like nothing I’ve ever felt.”
Can you describe what Alien Pulp smells like to you?
“For me, I love the fruity raspberry notes. I love how sweet it is, but it’s not overly sweet, there’s still something seductive and sensual about it. Genuinely, it’s gonna be my summer 2026 scent. I feel like when you wear it you want to flirt, you wanna be in the sun, you wanna be on the beach, you wanna be on the boat – you just want to have fun. I was also so excited when I saw the bottle: I love the pink. I think it’s so cute – it’s so fun and flirty. I feel like when you pull it out in the summer you just wanna be in the sun having fun.”
Rather than having one signature scent, a lot of people prefer to wear a different scent based on my mood/vibe. What vibe would you say Alien Pulp fits best?
“The sun is beating down on you, you’re at a beach club with the girls, and then some cute guys walk by and y’all spray each other, and they turn around. The vibe is honestly like, you know when you walk by someone and they’re like ‘oh my god, who smells like that?’ That’s the vibe of [Alien Pulp].”
Who inspires you to feel your most confident?
“Honestly, I feel really inspired just being surrounded by artists. Like when I’m on set, I love the back and forth with artists, I love collaborating, it inspires me so much. I remember when I was on the Mugler set shooting this [campaign], everyone on the team was excited to be there. They were all really gracious and kind, and we were just focused on getting the best image and making the best art that we could. That was really the moment for me.”
As 2025’s model of the year, you’re on an insane run right now. What future goals are you still working towards?
“Right now, I’m really trying my best to get five to ten paintings done, so I can finally have my first art exhibition. The only problem is that I’m a super super slow painter, and I try to paint in between bouncing around from sets to shows. It’s hard for me! I used to actually travel with my paintings and then I would have an extra room set up at my hotel so I could paint overnight, but it was really hard travelling with different paint set ups and the huge canvases. The goal is to paint as fast as possible but I’m just such a slow painter.”
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