Yasmeen Ghauri

On E!

In 1989, Yasmeen Ghauri was McDonald’s employee of the month. A year later, she was the fashion industry’s flavor of the month. But she lasted a lot longer, appearing on virtually every major fashion-magazine cover.

At 17, the dark-eyed beauty made an appointment at a Montreal modeling agency, and her career began. Her father, a strict Muslim, and her German mother both discouraged their daughter, describing the field as unsanitary and evil.

But she followed her calling, moving to New York in August 1990 to model full-time. Within months, she became one of the select Versace faces. Her natural beauty–not to mention her amazing ability to wear clothes–quickly won her regular work for Isaac Mizrahi, Chanel and Givenchy. And her height made her the star of Donna Karan’s fall debut.

Ghauri spent most of ‘94 and ‘95 on the runways of Milan, Paris and New York, not delving into print work until late ‘95. In June ‘96, she pulled out of a major runway show for Yves Saint Laurent at the last minute, igniting rumors of retirement.

The rumors were actually well informed. Although she continues to work in modeling, Ghauri is determined to get her business degree. And though she doesn’t share her father’s strict philosophies, she does adhere to the Muslim teachings of modesty by shunning the limelight. We hope she doesn’t completely lose sight of the runway.

• Born: March 23, 1971, in Montreal
• Height: 6′2″
• Hair: Dark brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Resides: New York
• Trivia: Refuses to model underwear–for modesty’s sake and because she says she has a big butt.