Yasmeen Ghauri
Encyclopedia
Yasmeen Ghauri is a Canadian model
.
i father, Moin Ghauri, and a German mother, Linda Ghauri. Early on in her life, Ghauri had a difficult childhood often being teased by her classmates at school for being too thin and for her ethnicity. Biography|url=http://www.askmen.com/women/models/26_yasmeen_ghauri.html|accessdate=2008-06-08}} Ghauri was reportedly working at a McDonalds restaurant at the age of 17 when she was discovered by Montreal hairdresser and salon artistic director of Platine Coiffure Edward Zaccharia. At the restaurant, she often turned up dressed in black from head to toe and people described her as having a rebellious nature. Despite this, she was named Employee of the Month. Soon after her discovery, there was a shift in mentality within the fashion industry, moving from predominantly all-American models to more "ethnic" models, a trend which Ghauri fit.
Her father disapproved of her new-found interest and career as a model. Nonetheless, she pursued a modeling career first spending time in Milan and Paris before moving to New York in 1990. Here she was noticed by the "fashion police
", critics and labels alike. She was praised for her poise and an exaggerated walk on the runway. The New York Times quoted her walk as a "ball-bearing swivel of her hips." Her appearance on the catwalks prompted part of what is now termed in fashion the "Canadian invasion."
and Jil Sander
. By the end of 1990, she had 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.
In 1992, she landed a contract with Victoria’s Secret and became a face of Valentino
couture and Versace. Later, she walked the controversial Gianni Versace "Bondage" show in Milan. 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
. She walked the 1996 annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show,.
show in 1996 at the last minute, speculations arose that she was retiring. She did indeed retire to start a family with her husband Ralph Bernstein. She now has a daughter named Maia and a son named Victor.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
.
Early life
Yasmeen Ghauri was born in Montreal, Quebec to a PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i father, Moin Ghauri, and a German mother, Linda Ghauri. Early on in her life, Ghauri had a difficult childhood often being teased by her classmates at school for being too thin and for her ethnicity. Biography|url=http://www.askmen.com/women/models/26_yasmeen_ghauri.html|accessdate=2008-06-08}} Ghauri was reportedly working at a McDonalds restaurant at the age of 17 when she was discovered by Montreal hairdresser and salon artistic director of Platine Coiffure Edward Zaccharia. At the restaurant, she often turned up dressed in black from head to toe and people described her as having a rebellious nature. Despite this, she was named Employee of the Month. Soon after her discovery, there was a shift in mentality within the fashion industry, moving from predominantly all-American models to more "ethnic" models, a trend which Ghauri fit.
Her father disapproved of her new-found interest and career as a model. Nonetheless, she pursued a modeling career first spending time in Milan and Paris before moving to New York in 1990. Here she was noticed by the "fashion police
Fashion police
Fashion police jokingly refers to individuals belonging to an imaginary police force that ensures whether people dress according to good taste or to fashion. It may imply a narrow, rigid or uncreative sense of style or propriety...
", critics and labels alike. She was praised for her poise and an exaggerated walk on the runway. The New York Times quoted her walk as a "ball-bearing swivel of her hips." Her appearance on the catwalks prompted part of what is now termed in fashion the "Canadian invasion."
Career and achievements
Ghauri enjoyed fame in the early 1990s after landing her first major cover with Elle Magazine in January 1990. Soon after, she became the face of both ChanelChanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
and Jil Sander
Jil Sander
Heidemarie Jiline 'Jil' Sander is a minimalist German fashion designer and the founder of the Jil Sander fashion house....
. By the end of 1990, she had appeared on the cover of French Elle in July and December. In September, she graced the catwalk for Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
's show in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and by the next month she was walking for Chanel, Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang (fashion brand)
The Helmut Lang fashion brand was created by Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang in 1986. One of fashion’s most independent and visionary minds, Helmut Lang’s utilitarian designs came to define the 90’s...
, Jean Paul Gaultier and Lanvin
Lanvin (clothing)
Lanvin is a high fashion house founded by Jeanne Lanvin.-History:Lanvin made such beautiful clothes for her daughter that they began to attract the attention of a number of wealthy people who requested copies for their own children...
in Paris. She became the face of Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
and Anne Klein
Anne Klein
Anne Klein was an American fashion designer who founded her own women's sportswear and apparel label.-Biography:Anne Klein was born as Hannah Golofski in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on August 3, 1923...
in 1991. In January, she was photographed by Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel
Steven Meisel is an American photographer, who obtained popular acclaim with his work in US and Italian Vogue and his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book Sex...
for the cover of Italian Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
and toward the end of the year, she appeared in British and Italian Vogue editorials. Photographer Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier
Patrick Demarchelier is a French fashion photographer.-Life:Born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, he spent his childhood in Le Havre with his mother and four brothers. For his seventeenth birthday, his stepfather bought him his first Eastman Kodak camera...
, who photographed her for the Italian issue, called her his favourite subject.
In 1992, she landed a contract with Victoria’s Secret and became a face of Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
couture and Versace. Later, she walked the controversial Gianni Versace "Bondage" show in Milan. Ghauri became the face of Hermès
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
and Lanvin
Lanvin (clothing)
Lanvin is a high fashion house founded by Jeanne Lanvin.-History:Lanvin made such beautiful clothes for her daughter that they began to attract the attention of a number of wealthy people who requested copies for their own children...
in 1993 and was photographed by Gilles Bensimon
Gilles Bensimon
Gilles Bensimon is a fashion photographer and the former International Creative Director of Elle magazine. He has also been the photographer on the reality television series America's Next Top Model....
for Elle.
She appeared in the 1995 documentary Unzipped
Unzipped (film)
Unzipped is a 1995 documentary film, directed by Douglas Keeve. It follows fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, Keeve's then boyfriend, as he plans and ultimately shows his fall 1994 collection...
by Isaac Mizrahi
Isaac Mizrahi
Isaac Mizrahi is an American TV presenter, fashion designer, and was the creative director of Liz Claiborne. He is best known for his eponymous fashion lines.-Early life:...
. She walked the 1996 annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show,.
Retirement
When Ghauri stepped out of the Yves Saint LaurentYves Saint Laurent (brand)
Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
show in 1996 at the last minute, speculations arose that she was retiring. She did indeed retire to start a family with her husband Ralph Bernstein. She now has a daughter named Maia and a son named Victor.