Model Anok Yai, aged 28, diagnosed with congenital defect after 'coughing up blood'
A supermodel has revealed she was diagnosed with a congenital defect which is ‘overworking’ her heart and ‘destroying’ her lungs, after ‘coughing up blood.
28-year-old Anok Yai, who won Model of the Year at the 2025 Fashion Awards earlier this month, took to Instagram to reveal her health issue, which she has been battling for the last 12 months.
“For the past year I’ve been dealing with this silent battle,” the star wrote on her Instagram on Friday (December 19) alongside photos and videos of herself in hospital. “I incidentally found out I had a congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs.”
Explaining how she came to discover this, she said she had been “asymptomatic for the majority of [her] life” until she developled a lingering cough - and then began coughing up blood. “[The cough] turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times struggling to breathe,” she said. “I chose to work through this while trying to find the right doctor and the right time. I quickly realized there was never going to be a ‘right time’ —my health would continue to worsen.”
She continued to say that she has needed to have surgery, which has now been completed successfully. “I’ve always thought I could outwork or outrun anything but the universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up,” she reflected. “So, yesterday (Thursday December 18) I had a successful robotic lung surgery thanks to Dr. Robert Cerfolio and his gracious and talented team who I am forever indebted to for giving me more time.”
Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, designed to remove any diseased lung tissue or surrounding lymph nodes. It is used to treat lung cancer and other chest conditions, according to the NHS.
Yai concluded her statement to give more praise to her doctor and the medical team who cared for her. “I am forever grateful for Dr. Harmik Soukiasian and everyone at the @beverlyhillsconciergehealth for discovering my condition,” she said. “Thank you to all the doctors and amazing nurses at @nyulangone, and thank you to my friends and family for being the first thing I saw when I woke up.”
Yai, who has been walking catwalks since 2018 is now in recovery. Modeling icons Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell were among those who sent the star well-wishes in the comments. Naomi wrote: “Spending you love . light and healing .,, may God cover and protect you.”
Winnie Harlow wrote: “God Bless you in your healing. God bless your family and all of your strength. Everything will be here waiting for you. Your health never waits, proud of you for putting you first.” Make-up artist Pat McGrath wrote: “Sending you Love my Angel.”
She also received many messages from fans. One such follower said: “Queen you won model of the year, take a rest!!! we love you & wish all the best in your recovery.”