Estée Lauder adds Anok Yai to star roster

Model Anok Yai has joined Estée Lauder's family of increasingly diverse faces.

The Egyptian-born Sudanese model has kickstarted her tenure with the beauty giant with a starring role in its ongoing Double Wear foundation campaign, rocking shade 8N1 Espresso in images published on the brand's Instagram account. It was recently reported by PopSugar that Estée Lauder is expanding the foundation's shade range from 42 to 56 hues.

"To be a woman of color representing an iconic brand that has continuously been at the forefront of beauty, is an honor," Yai said in a statement. "I hope to be an inspiration to young girls and women and encourage them to feel undeniably beautiful."

The move marks the first major beauty deal for rising star Yai, who shot to fame this year with multiple campaigns for Prada, in addition to taking to the catwalk for several of the Italian house's fashion shows. She also featured in a Nike Spring/Summer 2018 campaign, and has appeared in editorials for British and Italian Vogue.

Estée Lauder has been steadily building up its stellar lineup of famous brand ambassadors, with Yai joining a cast that includes supermodels Karlie Kloss, Kendall Jenner, Fei Fei Sun and Joan Smalls, as well as Misty Copeland, principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theater.