South Sudanese-American supermodel Anok Yai casually named Oyindamola Tinubu her bestie in a British Vogue video. Now, the internet, particularly its Nigerian corners, has gone into rage mode, dragging Anok Yai.
Anok Yai was announced as British Vogue’s June 2026 Cover Star on May 14, and in a light-hearted British Vogue clip promoting the stunning cover, Anok introduced her inner circle:
“These are my best friends, Oyinda and Renell. Renell was the one who forced me to go to Howard homecoming… If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I would have been a model.” 
That “Oyinda” is none other than Oyindamola Habibat Tinubu, the youngest daughter of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. On seeing the video, Nigerians had hot takes because, apparently, the country her father is ruling is bleeding hot.
SEE ALSO: 5 Nigerian Celebrity Friendships Everyone Enjoys Watching
The Reason for the Backlash on Anok Yai and Tinubu’s Daughter
Nigeria is currently navigating some tough economic realities. Inflation, fuel prices, and security concerns remain hot-button issues. For many, seeing the president’s daughter flexing with a global fashion star feels tone-deaf amid the daily struggles of citizens. For some reason, they expect her to be sober about what is happening at home and show solidarity, instead of living it up in the UK.
Critics have also flooded the comments, accusing Anok Yai of hypocrisy, especially because of her past advocacy on issues affecting Sudan and South Sudan.
Yai has a background as a South Sudanese refugee; hence, she uses high-profile platforms to highlight peace, resilience, and humanitarian issues. When she won the Model of the Year award in 2025, she made an emotional speech appealing for better governance and peace in Sudan amid ongoing conflict and violence. In the speech, she added variations of “My family is dying, and I don’t know what to do.”
The knowledge of this made the critics angry about her being tone-deaf to the brutal killings and kidnappings in Nigeria. But all she did was call Oyinda, who is a fellow model, her bestie; nothing more.
All of this emphasises that the timing of the clip by British Vogue didn’t help. Nigerians were already fuming with anger, and the video gained traction alongside stories of hardship back home, which amplified class resentment narratives.
Some reactions segued into colourism territory and questioned Anok’s choices, while others dragged Oyinda’s public persona as a fashion-forward, openly queer woman living abroad.
On the flip side, though, many argue it’s just friendship between Anok Yai and Tinubu’s daughter. They pointed out that Anok Yai’s personal circle should not be policed by another country’s politics.
Anok Yai is South Sudanese-American, not Nigerian. It’s a known fact that celebrities and creatives build bonds in fashion capitals like New York and London based on shared experiences, and not presidential lineages.
Yai was named in Time’s 100 Most Influential People in April. She recently opened up in the Vogue interview about a serious health battle, including lung surgery, which she kept private while winning Model of the Year honours and slaying runways.
Whether this drama fades or lingers, her career trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.
ALSO READ: Oyinda Tinubu & 5 Openly Queer, LGBTQ Children of African Politicians
About The Author
Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News
