19-Year-Old Student Anok Yai Signs with Next Models After This Single Instagram Photo Goes Viral

This is the stuff internet dreams are made of! After taking a beautiful photo during Howard Homecoming, 19-year-old Anok Yai became an internet sensation, catching the eyes of several model scouts.

A teenager's life changed forever after a snap of herself at a university festival went viral.

Anok Yai, who was born in Egypt, was stunned when talent scouts signed her on the basis of that single picture.

The viral star, who is of Sudanese heritage, didn't even like the photo that swept the web.
She has previously described the image as "average", remarking she looked like a "deer in the headlights".
But despite her reservations, Anok's snap was liked by hundreds of thousands of people on social media.
After talent scouts caught wind of the striking picture, the teen was inundated with offers from agencies.

Some begged to meet the student, with others even offering to whisk her off to New York.
But it was Next Models agency who managed to clinch the deal, revealing the good news on Twitter earlier this week.
The company has worked with all manner of famous faces, from Lana Del Rey to Rita Ora.
Their talent has also graced the covers of some of the world's most iconic fashion publications, including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

On Tuesday, the Plymouth State University student signed with Next Models. Next Model President Kyle Hagler effused on Instagram, “From @instagram #sensation to the world of global top modeling, @nextmodels is pleased to announce that we now represent @anokyai globally!”

kylehaglerFrom @instagram #sensation to the world of global top modeling, @nextmodels is pleased to announce that we now represent @anokyai globally! #anokyai #nextmodels #global. 📷 of pic on the left is @thesunk



Anok, who has always dreamed of becoming a model, spoke to Washington Post about her new adventure.
She said: “When (the Instagram snap) got to a couple thousand and it just kept going higher and higher, I was surprised.
“And I was happy. I always wanted it to happen, but it was something I never expected.
“I got an email from a modelling agency.
"They said they were interested in having me and they had me call them. And they just set up tons of interviews and it just went on from there.”


Anok's new contract has also catapulted her social media status.
Staggeringly, she's amassed more than 50,000 followers on Instagram this week.
Announcing her delight at her new contract, she took to the social media platform to say: "Thank you to everyone that's supported me along the way; hope you follow me on this journey."

anokyaiExcited to announce that I am now signed with @nextmodels
Thank you to everyone that's supported me along the way; hope you follow me on this journey
#TheNextNext

Amazing! You never know what doors your photos could open!
Many people have changed their lives through modelling - and this is definitely the case for Jeremy Meeks.
The ex-con shot to viral fame after the Stockton Police Department posted his mugshot on Facebook.
Since his snap did the rounds on social media, Topman have hired him.
Jeremy then went on to work the catwalk at New York Fashion Week - while he now lives in a luxury mansion and drives a £120,000 sports car.

Remember Olajumoke the bread seller whose photo broke the internet after famed photographer TY Bello's lens caught her by mistake?