Since making her runway debut at Vivienne Westwood’s Spring 2011 show at the age of 22, Hanaa Ben Abdesslem has gone on to model some of fashion’s most influential collections, share the runway with some of the biggest names, and play muse to some of the best designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta, Anna Sui, and Jean Paul Gaultier. With her jet-black pixie cut, glass-cutting cheekbones, and mile-long legs, the Tunisian model has the ability to add instant elegance to a show. Ben Abdesslem‘s success has been something of a game changer. Not only was she the first Arab model to feature in a Pirelli calendar, but she was also the first Muslim brand ambassador for cosmetics maison Lancôme, who signed her in 2012. Additionally, the 26-year-old has also graced the pages of Vogue Paris, Italy, Netherlands, Thailand, Spain, and Germany.
In recent years, she’s taken a break from the runway to work with NGOs such as Esmâani, which offers emotional and psychological support to hospital patients in poverty-stricken areas, and the Youth Empowerment Development Association, which aims to inspire Tunisian youth. However, after her Vogue Arabia cover for the October 2017 issue, Ben Abdesslem is once again back in the spotlight, proving her continued relevance on and off the catwalk. Here, we look back at every one of her breathtaking turns down the runway in the gallery ahead.
