Salwa Aga Khan
| Princess Salwa Aga Khan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kendra Irene Spears August 5, 1988 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Noorani (by marriage) |
| Father | Gregory J. Spears |
| Mother | Susan Mapes |
| Religion | Nizari Ismaili Shia Islam |
| Occupation | Fashion model |
 |
|
Princess Salwa Aga Khan (born August 5, 1988) is an American fashion model and aristocrat. She is the wife of Prince Rahim Aga Khan.
Early life and education[]
Kendra Irene Spears was born on August 5, 1988, in Seattle, Washington.[citation needed] She graduated from South Kitsap High School with an Associate's Degree acquired through a dual-credit high school and college program (Running Start).[1] She then attended Portland State University to study Sociology,[1] and obtained a BA in sociology from the University of Washington.[2] In January 2008, Salwa began her modeling career in New York City and went on to become a successful fashion model.
Career[]
In January 2008, Salwa participated in the Ford Models Supermodel of the World competition, after winning a modeling contest via MySpace. After the competition ended, she gained a contract with Ford Models of New York and debuted at New York Fashion Week in September 2008. After success in New York, Salwa went on to walk for the most prestigious designers in Milan and Paris, including Gucci, Christian Lacroix, Lanvin, Hermès, and Valentino.[3]
Shortly after the show season ended in October, Salwa appeared on a succession of covers of the Danish fashion magazine Cover and the Italian magazine .[4] The covers were followed by a Dazed & Confused editorial featuring new faces of the season as well as editorials for V and Vogue Italia.[4]
For the Fall 2009 season, Salwa was photographed by Steven Meisel as one of the faces of Prada. Shortly afterwards, she moved back to Seattle to complete her degree at University of Washington. Although the move limited her ability to work, she still managed to shoot advertising campaigns including Stefanel shot by Mario Testino, Calvin Klein shot by Alasdair McLellan, The Limited shot by Patrick Demarchelier, Etro, and Diane von Fürstenberg.[4]
Throughout Salwa's career, she has been photographed for the cover of a number of Vogue magazines worldwide, including Vogue China, Vogue Nippon, Vogue Germany, and Vogue Mexico. She has also appeared on the covers of international editions of Elle, Allure, and Numero and in adverts for Calvin Klein, Diane von Fürstenberg, Peek & Cloppenburg, Etro, and The Limited.[5]
Salwa is currently the face of Armani Code Fragrance and Moschino Pink Bouquet Fragrance.[citation needed]
Married life[]
On April 26, 2013, Aga Khan IV announced the engagement of his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, to Kendra Spears.[6] The couple married on August 31, 2013, at the Château de Bellerive, Geneva. This was formerly the home of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, his half great-uncle, and Princess Aliya.[7] The bride has since been known as Princess Salwa.[citation needed]
On October 29, 2014, it was announced that the princess was expecting her first child with Prince Rahim.[citation needed] On April 14, 2015, His Highness The Aga Khan announced to the Ismaili community that on April 11, 2015, Princess Salwa had given birth to a healthy baby boy, her first child, Prince Irfan Aga Khan, in Geneva.[citation needed] The name Irfan in Arabic means gnosis, or knowledge of the divine.[8] A second son was born in London on January 2, 2017, and is known as Prince Sinan.[citation needed]
References[]
- ^ a b "Profile of Kendra Spears at NYMAG.com". New York Magazine. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ p. 1176 at akdn.org
- ^ "Designer Fashion - Farfetch. The World Through Fashion". www.farfetch.com.
- ^ a b c "Kendra Sprears at Models.com". Models.com. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ "Fashion model Directory Profile of Kendra Spears". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ^ "Kendra Spears Engaged: Model To Become Princess After Upcoming Nuptials! (PHOTOS)". article.wn.com.
- ^ "The wedding of Prince Rahim and Miss Kendra Salwa Spears". The Ismaili.
- ^ http://www.theismaili.org/news-events/prince-rahim-and-princess-salwa-announce-birth-baby-boy.
External links[]
- Living people
- 1988 births
- American Ismailis
- Female models from Washington (state)
- Portland State University alumni
- People from Seattle
- University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences alumni
- Princesses by marriage
- Converts to Islam
- Noorani family