Nour Yahya

Yahya was born and grew up in Sudan. She went to the University of Khartoum, where she studied economics, focusing on statistics and political science. After she graduated she took a conventional, steady job, which gave her financial security and work experience. She has said that she never felt she belonged in that job, and she eventually resigned without another plan in place.

The turning point, she has said, was an informal photoshoot with friends, which convinced her that fashion suited who she was. She then moved to the UAE with the aim of building a modelling career.

Her first period in Dubai was difficult. She went to job interviews and to one casting call after another, often walking across the city with her portfolio, while sharing her progress with a growing online following. When the offers were slow to arrive, friends and family urged her to keep a stable job and model on the side. She has also spoken publicly about once using skin-lightening products to fit beauty expectations, then stopping and embracing her natural look, a theme that runs through her coverage in regional fashion media.

Her breakthrough came in 2026. After several runway evaluations and a fitting, she was cast in Chanel's show at Paris Fashion Week in March. She later called the moment she learned she had been booked one of the most memorable of her life. Khaleej Times profiled her in July 2026 as a milestone for Sudanese models working out of the Gulf.

Later in 2026 Netflix confirmed her as a member of the Love Is Blind, Habibi season two cast. When the cast was revealed, The National highlighted the Chanel booking as her best-known achievement and reported that she had described herself as honoured to have taken part.