American transgender model Alex Consani has made history by becoming the first person in her community to be crowned Model of the Year. This accolade follows her impressive appearances on the runway for renowned fashion houses such as Chanel, Stella McCartney, and Victoria's Secret. The highly sought-after 21-year-old, recognized for her unique bleached hair and eyebrows, secured the prestigious title at the 2024 Fashion Awards held in London on a recent Monday evening.

During her acceptance speech at the Royal Albert Hall, Consani addressed the audience of fashion and entertainment elite, stating that her achievement signifies a "significant stride in the right direction." She emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within the fashion industry, particularly for those who have been marginalized, and received enthusiastic applause for her remarks. Consani was presented with the award by model and body activist Ashley Graham and "Baby Reindeer" star Nava Mau, who both contributed to the evening's festivities.

Consani's journey to stardom began when she signed with IMG Models in 2019, an agency that represents a plethora of supermodels, including Claudia Schiffer, Hailey Bieber, and the Hadid sisters. Her rise to prominence was further accelerated by her presence on TikTok, where she has garnered nearly 4 million followers. In 2021, she made her runway debut for Tom Ford and subsequently walked for other top-tier brands such as Alexander McQueen and Versace. October saw Consani and Valentina Sampaio create history as the first transgender models to grace the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway. Dressed in a striking Union Flag dress designed by Turkish-British designer Dilara Findikoglu, Consani used her acceptance speech to honor the Black transgender women, including fellow models Connie Fleming and Aaron Rose Philip, who have fought for the space that has allowed her to thrive today. She also expressed her gratitude to her parents for their unwavering support of her modeling career.

The Model of the Year award, which recognizes an individual who has had a significant impact on the fashion industry over the past year, is determined by a combination of an industry panel's opinion and the results of a public vote, as per the British Fashion Council, the organizers of the awards. Last year, Black trans model Kai-Isaiah Jamal was among the nominees for the award, which was ultimately won by plus-size model Paloma Elsesser.

The Fashion Awards ceremony was a star-studded event, with Jonathan Anderson, the creative director of Loewe and founder of JW Anderson, winning the highly coveted Designer of the Year award for the second year in a row. Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour presented Tom Ford with the Outstanding Achievement Award. The evening was filled with performances by music icons such as Blondie's Debbie Harry and Afrobeats sensation Wizkid, and saw prominent figures from the fashion, entertainment, music, and sports industries mingle, including Rita Ora and tennis star Venus Williams. Rihanna, who made a statement with her eye-catching blue furry hat, was also in attendance, as her partner A$AP Rocky received the Cultural Innovator Award.

The awards for the best British menswear and womenswear designers were given to Grace Wales Bonner and Simone Rocha, respectively. Rocha's acceptance speech was one of several politically charged moments during the event, as she took the stage to advocate for the freedom of Palestine. Earlier in the evening, an animal rights protester disrupted the red carpet to voice their opposition to the fashion industry's use of feathers, just days after London Fashion Week announced its intention to become the first of the "big four" fashion weeks to prohibit the use of exotic animal skins on its runways.

This year's Fashion Awards not only celebrated the achievements of individuals within the fashion industry but also served as a platform to address and promote important social and political issues. The event highlighted the industry's commitment to inclusivity and its role in driving change, both within and beyond the world of fashion.