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Farida Khelfa (born 23 May 1960) is a French-Algerian actress, documentary filmmaker, author, and model. A prominent figure in Parisian culture since the 1980s, she is recognized as one of the first models of North African descent to achieve international success.[1] She served as a long-term muse to designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaïa and was the brand ambassador for Sciaparelli from 2012 to 2017.[2]
Khelfa, one of nine children, was born in Lyon, France in the working-class suburb of Vénissieux to strict Algerian immigrant parents.[1][3][4] Her childhood was marked by severe trauma, including child abuse and incest.[4] Because of this, she ran away from her family at the age of 16, joining her sister in Paris.[5] There she befriended Christian Louboutin, who gave her a place to stay.[1] Khelfa decided to become a model "without [too much] ambition except being free."[2]
When Khelfa first arrived in Paris, she "wandered everywhere" before discovering the nightclubs Le Palace and Les Bain Douches, becoming a doorman at the latter.[6] She spent the next few years heavily involved in nightclub culture, where she would meet major figures of the fashion world.[6]
Career
While dancing at Le Palace in 1979, Khelfa was discovered by designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Gaultier would cast her in his 1980 fashion show, launching her modeling career.[7] In the following years, she would become the muse to many important figures in the fashion world, including Jean-Paul Goude, Azzedine Alaïa, and Thierry Mugler.[1]
In 2013 Khelfa was appointed as the brand ambassador for Schiaparelli.[8] Khelfa stepped down as brand ambassador in 2017, stating that she needed time to focus on her own projects, particularly filmmaking.[9] Despite this, Khelfa has continued to work with the brand, notably appearing on the Schiaparelli spring/summer 2020 Haute Couture runway in 2019.[10] Most recently (as of April 2026), she worked with them in December 2024 on a photoshoot for 7 Hollywood Magazine.[11]
In 1982, Khelfa became romantically involved with 44-year-old photographer Jean-Paul Goude. She cites Goude as the one to introduce her to "so many things, like the Bauhaus, Stravinsky, the Russian ballets."[6]
Khelfa married businessman and CEO Henri Seydoux in 2012. The couple has been together since 1989 and already had two sons together at the time of their marriage.[12] Khelfa became the step-mother of stylist Camille Seydoux and actress Léa Seydoux, Seydoux's children from his first marriage to actress Valérie Schlumberger.
Khelfa's mother died in August 2022.[4] Her mother's funeral inspired her to write her autobiography.
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