Fashion

‘You Don’t Need to Fit a Standard. You Can be the Standard’: Ameni Esseibi Talks Winning Model of the Year

BYYassine Hariss

February 4, 2026

Tunisian model Ameni Esseibi was crowned Model of the Year at the inaugural edition of the Global Fashion Awards this week, a breakthrough moment that formally recognizes her as one of the region’s most influential faces. During the official ceremony on Jan. 30, the Dubai-based catwalker chose to dedicate her win to all Arab women, while reflecting on the meaning of the victory as a plus-size model.

“For so long, girls who look like me weren’t even part of the conversation,” she tells MILLE. “So, being the first feels emotional, empowering, and honestly overdue. It feels like representation finally caught up,” she said, stressing how proud she is of her journey. “I didn’t expect it, but I also didn’t not expect it. I walked in proud of my work, and walking out with Model of the Year still feels unreal. It’s one of those moments where everything you’ve been through suddenly makes sense,” she explained.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Ameni Esseibi ~ أماني السايبي (@ameniesseibi)

The 25-year-old, who has walked for the likes of Weinstanto, described how much it means to be the recipient of such distinction, as well as how important it is for the industry to acknowledge women who, like her, have been sidelined for decades for arbitrarily labelling their bodies as unfitting for runways, campaigns, and other spaces where beauty is defined unilaterally.

Over the past few years, milestone moments in her career include making her debut— before becoming a regular sight— at Paris Fashion Week, and becoming French luxury house Jean Paul Gaultier’s first-ever Arab ambassador. She has since fronted major campaigns, walked for international designers, and steadily pushed the industry toward a more inclusive understanding of beauty.

She describes the timing of the win as arriving “right at the moment where I’m fully in my power.” For her, this phase of her career is the product of intentional work; “not just modeling, but speaking up, standing out, and refusing to blend in.” The award, she insists, “feels like a checkpoint, not the destination,” a reminder that “you don’t need to fit a standard to succeed. You can be the standard.” In her opinion, taking space is part of the job: “Be different, be loud, take up space, and don’t wait for permission.” What the win ultimately confirms, she says, is that “authenticity always wins.” And as far as she’s concerned, “this is only the beginning.”

‘You Don’t Need to Fit a Standard. You Can be the Standard’: Ameni Esseibi Talks Winning Model of the Year

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

‘You Don’t Need to Fit a Standard. You Can be the Standard’: Ameni Esseibi Talks Winning Model of the Year

Related Stories

More From Fashion

Suggestions

Articles

Topics

Newsletter

The only newsletter you won't unsubscribe from

Follow Us