We may already be familiar with Elton Ilirjani , the pioneering supermodel trailblazer for gender inclusivity in the fashion world. Making history as the first genderless model to walk the runway at Seoul Fashion Week in 2023, Elton has since walked for runway shows at Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, Tokyo Fashion Week, and more. A truly pioneering spirit in the modeling world, Elton’s modeling alias is HANKO, which is his mother’s first name.
Known for his creative flair and commitment to pushing boundaries, Ilirjani’s choice of using HANKO as his modeling name is deeply personal. This is a homage to his mother, the woman who significantly influenced his journey. HANKO isn’t just a mere name; it embodies a transformative journey that interconnects a bridge between history alongside professional evolution.
Ilirjani chose this name as a tribute to his mother, whose values and teachings have been a guiding force throughout his life. By adopting HANKO, he seeks to possess the strength, resilience, and compassion that his mother instilled in him. “My mother was always singing, calling me ‘my HANKO,’” said Elton.
She would say: “‘Oh, you are beautiful, you are different, you are both; you are a girl and a boy at the same time. You are more.’ She said to me: ‘Be proud of that, because you are both at the one.
You are two in one.’” That gave Elton an ethos to start modeling, as her voice came into his head, saying to him, “Elton, go walk, becaus.
