Background
Yasmeen Ghauri was born in Montreal, Quebec to a German mother, Linda and a Pakistani father, Moin Ghauri.
Yasmeen Ghauri was born in Montreal, Quebec to a German mother, Linda and a Pakistani father, Moin 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. Ghauri was reportedly working at a McDonald"s restaurant at the age of 17 when she was discovered by Montreal hairdresser and salon artistic director of Platine Coiffure Edward Zaccharia. While working 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 Nordic-looking models to more "ethnic" models, a trend which Ghauri helped to inspire. Despite her father"s disapproval, Ghauri pursued a modeling career, premiering in Milan and Paris before moving to New York in 1990.
Here, she was noticed by fashion 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 appearances prompted part of what is now termed in fashion the "Canadian invasion". When Ghauri stepped out of the Yves Saint Laurent show in 1996 at the last minute, speculations arose that she was retiring.