Yasmeen Ghauri’s 15 Fiercest ‘90s Runway Moments
The Canadian supermodel of Pakistani-German descent was a trailblazing runway icon.
Yasmeen Ghauri wasn’t just the average runway model—she was the moment.
In the 1990s, when runways favored a specific, Eurocentric standard of beauty, Ghauri’s striking presence and hypnotic walk shattered expectations and the perception of what counted as beautiful and feminine. (She even did her own makeup for shows backstage, as there weren't enough shades for her skin tone at the time.) The Canadian supermodel of Pakistani-German descent exuded a certain sensuality that made you enthralled with every step she took on the runway.
To many, to watch her walk the runway was to genuinely experience something not of the earth, be it Ghauri at Chanel’s ethereal presentations to her modeling in Thierry Mugler’s sci-fi fantasies. Ghauri didn’t just wear clothes—she became them. Even today, her signature strut remains one of the most memorable in fashion history, with none other than Tyra Banks calling it the “walk of life.”
Ghauri's rise to the top was as captivating as her runway presence. Discovered at the age of 17 after leaving a hair salon, she pursued modeling despite her parents' disapproval. Ghauri quickly became a muse for powerhouses like Azzedine Alaïa, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. By the early ‘90s, she had graced many a magazine cover, breaking barriers as one of the first South Asian women to do so at Vogue and Elle. Though she stepped away from modeling in 1997, her impact resonates in the diverse faces we see on today’s runways.
Click through the gallery below for a look at Ghauri’s most unforgettable runway moments from the '90s.
