INTRODUCING ELTON ILIRJANI:
EXPERT VOICE ON FASHION, GENDER & CULTURAL CHANGE
"Elton Ilirjani, professionally known as HANKO, is a fashion model, activist, and cultural force redefining what visibility and leadership look like in both fashion and the modern workplace.”
Based in New York City, Ilirjani has emerged as a powerful spokesperson for inclusion, using the runway, media platforms, and corporate leadership to challenge norms around gender, beauty, and equity.
Based in New York City, Ilirjani has emerged as a powerful spokesperson for inclusion, using the runway, media platforms, and corporate leadership to challenge norms around gender, beauty, and equity.
Photo credit: Fadil Berisha
Known for an eccentric, fearless sense of style and a commanding presence, Ilirjani is a regular fixture in the global fashion scene. They have walked for some of the most cutting-edge designers at every global fashion week, including Jimmy Choo, Malan Breton, Greedilous, PoetLab, and Besfxxk. Their work spans runway shows, street style moments, and high-profile fashion protests, including a scene-stealing appearance at Art Basel Miami Beach that drew international attention. Ilirjani’s fashion career is not performative, it is purposeful.
“Fashion and activism are very much connected,” Ilirjani has said, pointing to the lack of organically celebrated queer supermodels and the narrow definitions of beauty that dominate the industry. By occupying space on the runway, Ilirjani challenges these limitations and asserts that queer, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming identities belong not as tokens, but as leaders shaping fashion’s future.
That philosophy extends into Ilirjani’s advocacy and executive work. They are the founder of the Dignity Global Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to combating workplace discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ communities, with a particular focus on hiring and interview practices. Through the Foundation, Ilirjani also launched the Lipstick Movement and the Nobody Is Straight Movement, initiatives advocating for equal rights for transgender people of color in the United States.
This philosophy extends beyond fashion into Ilirjani’s advocacy work. They are the founder of the Dignity Global Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting workplace discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ communities, particularly during hiring and job interview processes. Through the Foundation, Ilirjani also launched the Lipstick Movement and the Nobody Is Straight Movement, both of which advocate for equal rights for transgender people of color in the United States, one of the most marginalized and targeted communities in the country.
“Fashion and activism are very much connected,” Ilirjani has said, pointing to the lack of organically celebrated queer supermodels and the narrow definitions of beauty that dominate the industry. By occupying space on the runway, Ilirjani challenges these limitations and asserts that queer, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming identities belong not as tokens, but as leaders shaping fashion’s future.
That philosophy extends into Ilirjani’s advocacy and executive work. They are the founder of the Dignity Global Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to combating workplace discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ communities, with a particular focus on hiring and interview practices. Through the Foundation, Ilirjani also launched the Lipstick Movement and the Nobody Is Straight Movement, initiatives advocating for equal rights for transgender people of color in the United States.
This philosophy extends beyond fashion into Ilirjani’s advocacy work. They are the founder of the Dignity Global Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting workplace discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ communities, particularly during hiring and job interview processes. Through the Foundation, Ilirjani also launched the Lipstick Movement and the Nobody Is Straight Movement, both of which advocate for equal rights for transgender people of color in the United States, one of the most marginalized and targeted communities in the country.
Photo credit: Fadil Berisha
Ilirjani’s influence is amplified by a strong media presence. Their style, interviews, and runway appearances have been featured in Forbes, V Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, Daily Front Row, Fashion Week Online, Korea JoongAng Daily, TMZ and more. With over 11 million followers on Instagram, they are frequently sought out as an expert voice on fashion, culture, and social change.
In addition to their creative and activist work, Ilirjani is also the CEO of The HeadHunter Group Inc., a global executive search firm that brings their commitment to equity and inclusion directly into the corporate sphere. Whether on the runway or in the boardroom, Elton Ilirjani – HANKO – stands at the intersection of fashion, activism, and leadership, advocating for a future where individuality is not only accepted but celebrated.
In addition to their creative and activist work, Ilirjani is also the CEO of The HeadHunter Group Inc., a global executive search firm that brings their commitment to equity and inclusion directly into the corporate sphere. Whether on the runway or in the boardroom, Elton Ilirjani – HANKO – stands at the intersection of fashion, activism, and leadership, advocating for a future where individuality is not only accepted but celebrated.