Yasmeen Ghauri
Yasmeen Ghauri (; born March 23, 1971) is a Canadian former supermodel. Early life and career. Yasmeen Ghauri was born in Montreal, Quebec to a German mother Linda and a Pakistani father, Moin. She grew up speaking English with a rudimentary knowledge of French that improved when she started modeling in Paris. Ghauri who was raised Muslim had a difficult childhood and was bullied by her classmates at school for her Pakistani heritage. Ghauri went with her parents for the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca when she was 12. When she was 17, Ghauri was discovered while working at  a McDonald's restaurant by Montreal hairdresser and artistic director of Platine Coiffure, Edward Zaccaria. Soon after her discovery, there was a shift in mentality within the fashion industry, moving from predominantly Nordic-looking models to more models of color, a trend which Ghauri helped to inspire. Despite her parents' disapproval, Ghauri actively pursued a modeling career, debuting in Milan and Paris before moving to New York in 1990. Here, she was noticed by fashion critics and labels alike. The "New York Times" described her runway walk as a "ball-bearing swivel of her hips". Her appearance prompted part of  what is now termed in fashion the "Canadian invasion". Achievements. Ghauri enjoyed fame in the early 1990s after her first major cover with "Elle" Magazine in January 1991. Ghauri 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" magazine 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" magazine 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. 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, and walked the 1996 annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Retirement. When Ghauri stepped out of the Yves Saint Laurent show in 1997 at the last minute, speculations arose that she was retiring. She did indeed retire to start a family with her husband, lawyer Ralph Bernstein. They have a daughter named Maia. References in other media. Ghauri was the inspiration for the character Jasmine  in the comic book series Jonathan Steele. Just like the real person, the comic book character is a former model, born in Montreal to a Pakistani father and a German mother.