Ahead of the 2026 Fashion Awards, happening on Monday, 30th November in London, we’ve been wondering who will be nominated - and crowned - as this year’s Model of the Year.
In the past two years, models Alex Consani (Model of the Year 2024) and Anok Yai (Model of the Year 2025) have been awarded the title, so we can rest assured that the standard remains extremely high. Who among the top models on the runway this season might be contenders?
While the nominees have yet to be announced for The Fashion Award’s 2026 Model of the Year, here are a few of our guesses as to who will be in the running…
Mona Tougaard
24-year-old Danish model, Mona Tougaard first debuted in 2019, and has since walked on plenty of runways, including Prada, YSL, CELINE, Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga and more. Mona’s been on the cover of W Magazine, Vogue Italia, and Harpers Bazaar US. She was nominated for Model of the Year in 2024, and lost to Alex Consani, but perhaps 2026 is her year.
Bhavitha Mandava
26-year-old Indian model, Bhavitha Mandava has been capturing global attention ever since she was scouted by designer Matthieu Blazy on a New York City subway. Her crazy success story saw her go from an average grad student to the first Indian model to open a Chanel show almost overnight, and people can’t get enough. Bhavitha’s 2026 has already been so crazy; maybe it makes sense she wins Model of the Year too?
Angelina Kendall
21-year-old Brazilian-New Zealand model, Angelina Kendall has been labelled a “baby Gisele [Bundchen],” and for good reason. This season alone, she walked for Chloé, Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, Balenciaga, and more, and has recently been featured on the cover of Vogue Spain and Pop Mag. Angelina might be young, but her look and walk are already instantly recognisable. She’s certainly a contender.
Awar Odhiang
26-year-old Canadian-South Sudanese model, Awar Odhiang is known for her viral moment closing the Spring/Summer 2026 Chanel show, where she hugged Creative Director Matthieu Blazy on the runway. When she graced the cover of Vogue Italia earlier this year, they called her “the topmodel of the moment”. Maybe that statement will reign true…
Luiza Perote
21-year-old Brazilian model, Luiza Perote is everywhere right now, from runways to covers to campaigns. This season alone she walked Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier, The Attico, Chanel, and more, and she’s recently appeared on the covers of many magazines, including Vogue Latinoamérica, M Magazine, Vogue Brazil, The Ballroom, Harpers Bazaar Brazil, and more. Maybe it’s Luiza’s time to get her flowers.
Stay tuned to find out who is nominated for — and who will win — The Fashion Awards’ 2026 Model of the Year.
