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Yasmeen Ghauri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yasmeen Ghauri
Born
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
OccupationModel
Years active1988–1997
SpouseRalph Bernstein
Children2

Yasmeen Ghauri is a Canadian former fashion model.[1] Ghauri is known for her walk also quoted as the "walk of life" by Tyra Banks.[2] She is one of the first women of South Asian descent to appear on the cover of Vogue.[3]

Early life and career

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Ghauri was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to a German mother and a Pakistani father who was born in Hyderabad, India and immigrated to Karachi when he was young. According to Ghauri, her paternal family ultimately has origins in Ghor, Afghanistan, and she has identified as being "half South [and] Central Asian.[4] Raised Muslim, Ghauri had a difficult childhood and was bullied by her classmates at school for her Pakistani heritage. She did her Hajj with her parents at age 12.[5]

Career

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At age 17, Ghauri was discovered after walking out of a hair salon and being approached in Montreal by artistic director of Platine Coiffure, Edward Zaccaria.[6] Despite her parents' disapproval, she actively pursued a modelling career, debuting in Milan and Paris before moving to New York City in 1990. Here, she was noticed by fashion critics and labels alike.[6] The New York Times described her runway walk as a "ball-bearing swivel of her hips".[7] Her appearance prompted part of what is now termed in fashion the "Canadian invasion".[8]

Ghauri's first major cover was for Elle Magazine in 1991 and was later booked to walk for high fashion brands.[9] Ghauri did her own makeup because there weren't enough shades for her skin tone.[10] In 1992 Yasmeen also walked the infamous Versace ‘Bondage’ show and became the face of Hermès and Lanvin.[11]

Ghauri enjoyed fame in the early 1990s after her first major cover with Elle in January 1991. She was also seen in Elton John's music video for the song "Sacrifice", in which she starred opposite Chris Isaak. Soon after, she became the face of both Chanel and Jil Sander. By the end of 1990, Ghauri appeared on the cover of French Elle in July and December. In September, she graced the catwalk for Gianni Versace's show in Milan and by the next month, she was walking for Chanel, Helmut Lang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Lanvin in Paris. She became the face of Christian Dior and Anne Klein in 1991. In January, she was photographed by Steven Meisel for the cover of Italian Vogue and toward the end of the year, she appeared in British and Italian Vogue editorials. Photographer Patrick Demarchelier, who photographed her for the Italian issue, called her his favourite subject.[12]

In 1992, Ghauri became the face of Valentino couture and Versace. According to an NYMag.com online model profile, Ghauri walked the controversial Gianni Versace "Bondage" show in Milan in February 1992. Ghauri became the face of Hermès and Lanvin in 1993 and was photographed by Gilles Bensimon for Elle. She appeared in the 1995 documentary Unzipped by Isaac Mizrahi. Yasmeen became a frequent face in Victoria’s Secret catalogues and the iconic swimsuit issues, this served to further heighten her success. In 1996 she began to walk in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Ghauri retired in 1997, confirming speculations that arose after she stepped out of the Yves Saint Laurent show at the last minute.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Ghauri is married to lawyer Ralph Bernstein, with whom she has a daughter[13] and a son. The family live in Bedford, New York.[14]

References in other media

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Ghauri was the inspiration for the character Jasmine in the comic book series Jonathan Steele.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Sevencan, Selda (April 14, 2022). "Yasmeen Ghauri: Dieses ehemalige Laufsteg-Model schrieb Geschichte". Vogue Germany (in German). Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Journal, The Urban (January 3, 2024). "How Yasmeen Ghauri Trailblazed Her Way to the Top". THE URBAN JOURNAL. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Sevencan, Selda (April 14, 2022). "Yasmeen Ghauri: Dieses ehemalige Laufsteg-Model schrieb Geschichte". Vogue Germany (in German). Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. ^ @yasmeenghauri (June 12, 2022). "... People often ask if I'm Pakistani or Indian. I identify with both as my father was born in Hyderabad, India but moved to Karachi at a young age due to religious intolerance. If you go back a few more generations, my father's family actually came from Ghōr, Afghanistan ... I'm proud to be half South + Central Asian". Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ "THE MODEL CITIZEN: YASMEEN GHAURI – Melody Ehsani". melodyehsani.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Yasmeen Ghauri – Biography". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  7. ^ La Ferla, Ruth (June 2, 1991). "Fashion; Striking poses". New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  8. ^ Silva, Horacio (October 16, 2005). "The 'Eh' list". New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  9. ^ Journal, The Urban (January 3, 2024). "How Yasmeen Ghauri Trailblazed Her Way to the Top". THE URBAN JOURNAL. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Journal, The Urban (January 3, 2024). "How Yasmeen Ghauri Trailblazed Her Way to the Top". THE URBAN JOURNAL. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  11. ^ "THE MODEL CITIZEN: YASMEEN GHAURI – Melody Ehsani". melodyehsani.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "Yasmeen Ghauri – Model Profile". New York. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  13. ^ "Brotherly Roadblocks? Bernstein's Key to New Market". Daily News (New York). November 16, 1998. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  14. ^ Okwodu, Janelle (August 31, 2015). "'90s Models: A Look Back at the Faces—Famous and Slightly Less So—That Defined a Decade". Vogue. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  15. ^ "Jonathan Steele: Jasmine e Myriam" (in Italian). Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
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