Kenza Fourati for Kabeah

Reducing Kenza Fourati to her plastic would be heresy, and for good reason. As a committed model, Kenza has made her silhouete a vehicle for ideas in order to emancipate herself from stereotypes and labels around the body, and a forori the female body. Thus, in 2011, the young woman made the front page of Tunisivisions magazine. By turning her plastic into a painting with strong messages, she gave a new symbolism to the body. Perceived as a contemplative object, an object of desire, she has made it active, expressive and militant.

A shot of inspiration

Now a young entrepreneurial mother, Kenza continues to prove that modeling is a formative experience that has allowed her to grow as a person, to go beyond her mental limits and to see bigger. She goes beyond, de facto, the “superficial” aspect, that is, the first degree of reading of this environment, taking us into its interstices, enlarging our visual spectrum. Instead of being satisfied with the podium, we plunge, with her, behind the scenes of the “most beautiful job in the world”.

Confessions of a role-model of the century

It is in an interview given to Dali Jnifen, that Kenza unpacks her bag of “advice”. If modeling rhymes with Glamour, the co-founder of OSAY, a high-end brand that pays homage to our babouche, this shoe emblematic of our habits and clothing customs, wanted to sweep away our “preconceptions” about the fashion world with a backhanded sweep. Self-taught, Kenza hammered out his answers of “hard work, sacrifice and ambition”, values which are dear to him and which allowed him “to reach his goals while continuing to progress”.

The young woman also stressed the importance of “keeping her head on her shoulders” and showing a steel mind. ConfeVs are all well and good, but what really counts is what you can do with it, how you can reappropriate it to make your dreams come true and fly on your own.
No, Kenza is not a “Social Barbie” modulated by a superficial industry but an accomplished woman who holds the strings of her destiny. She is the sole decision-maker.

Kabeah wanted to honor this woman and young mother with a portrait that does not lack bite. 3, 2, 1 ... it's questionable!

Hey Kenza, so, ready?

1 - How did you manage to go from the ethic of “daughter of” to the super status of Kenza, the accomplished woman?

Hello, to be honest I never thought about it.

I started my modeling career very young, I left very young.

My mother is my mother: protective and caring, she works with passion and care. And that's a big inspiration for me.

Accomplished woman? :))) I am not sure what that means … Everyone establishes their own success criterias. And then, each day is rather a battle, with its successes and its losses!

2 - Mom, model AND entrepreneur, how is the “cohabitaion” going?

Every day is different and we manage.

But the truth is that my children are still very young. We have a lot of friends around here in NY, but no family who can help with the kids. And that, I think a lot of young families can relate to this situation, is not easy.

OSAY is growing well. OSAY's values are becoming more and more “mainstream”, especially with the young population. And that makes me happy! I strongly believe that we will have to consume and think differently in the future.

Model has been my identity for years, this is where I am the most comfortable.

3 - What is your best memory as a model?

I have a lot of them but I'm enjoying being on a photoshoot more and more now. Also being a client now with OSAY, I understand even better all the dynamics that happen in a team on a fashion shoot.

4 - What advice would you like to give to young models?

Have a clear vision of how you want to be seen. It is above all a projection profession! Your image is seen in 1001 ways so always keep that in mind. For example, if you want to take sexy photos, that's great, but you have to be the one who wanted it in the first place.

5 - And to young women entrepreneurs ?

GOOD LUCK!!! :))

No seriously, surround yourself with a good team because it is a job of sharing and keep the integrity of your values intact.

6 - What is the biggest trigger you've had?

If you don’t stand for yourself, no one will. 

7 - What is your favorite historic period?

I love the freedom of the seventies

8 - What is your favorite place in Tunisia ?

Home! At my parents! In my garden with all my family!

9 - What do you miss the most in Tunis ?

My family and the sweetness of life which is difficult to describe.

10 - What is your “madeleine de Proust”?

The orange blossom. I can't live without it, I put it in essential oil everywhere at home, I use it as a spray for the face, I drink it….

11 - What is the Kabeah fragrance that most characterizes you?

I love Lily Chérie!

12 - Why?

It’s a smell that reminds me of the carelessness of being a teenager!!!!

13 - How do you see yourself in five (small) years?

My kids will be a little older so it will be a different life cycle. I hope I can spend more time in Tunis.

I dream of seeing OSAY expand into other products, other territories and other markets. I hope I have time to be able to develop the STORY part more.

But above all, it has been a difficult year for many people so more than anything I hope that in 5 years, things will be easier and above all that the health will be good!

Kabeah around the World

Kabeah is… an adventurer who quickly swapped her favorite handbag for a backpack. Her goal ? To go on an adventure and to share her magical and enchanting universe across the world. With her granny's scarf, her jeans and a pair of sneakers, Khedija, Kabeah founder, traveled the world and its magical scents.  

Kabeah has brought together influencers from diffrent universes at the Beverly Hills Hotel, an iconic and fashionable place in L.A. The rock'n'roll and rebel Luanna was there as well as the gypsy spirit Rosacespo. All these « girls next door » had the chance to exchange, laugh and share a unique moment during a sophisticated cocktail party among the flowers.

Then, she headed to Paris, more precisely to rue Furstemberg in the 6th « arrondissement » where Khedija decided to open her POP UP store. Surrounded by flowers, in the effervescence of the French capital, she managed to immerse her Parisian friends into the Kabeah universe. Lea Platz, Ophelie Poppie, Marine Breadwhite… they all fell in love with the Secret collection’s vibe.

What’s next ?

It was then time for the young woman to go back home. With the help of her childhood memories, she was able to reproduce a way to her childhood memories back to her Grandma’s garden thanks to jasmine, rose, geranium leaves and honeysuckle delicate scents.  

What could be better than to surround yourself with your friends and family to recharge your batteries in your native land? In Chebedda, influencers, journalists and relatives (re)discovered Kabeah fragrances and story around an authentic and homemade meal in the very heart of Kabeah story : the childhood garden.

Bonus : This time, all the family gathered to help organize this beautiful event. Above all, Kabeah, is a family affair!

Even the influencers are now part of this big family : Jess and Ness sisters as well as the fashionistas Mayssa Ferchichi, Fatma Zahi et Amina Khedir were welcomed as family members at the very begining. Few months later, in Dar Said, at Marsa, they met again around a cocktail prepared for the summer reunion of the (large) Kabeah family.


Back home

After her native country, her thirst for knowledge and her odyssey across the world, Khedija (finally?) lands at home. She looks at photo albums but is soon tempted to go back to the adventure again, this passion that has been loving so much for years now.

So she decide to put her sneakers back, she takes her old backpack and adventurer cap and she goes on a new olfactiv adventure where she always highlights the complexity of female paradigms.

Fatma Souiri

Woman Flower forever and ever ... 

The Woman Flower is the writing of an artist, a muse, a woman entrepreneur, a dreamer, an enchantress and finally a woman of many facets.

Each month, we will share our online encounters via a Chinese portrait made in Kabeah of inspiring women to continue dreaming and believing in her dreams.

Aziza Guermazi caught the eye of the Kabeah team with his colorful, deceptively childish and resolutely arty universe.

Surrounded by his paintings, we find Aziza on... Instagram. A real breeding ground for expression, Aziza has turned this social network into a creative tool where she shares her creations and even the backstage of her world.

Warm colors and generous curves, it is these feminine figures, heiresses of the Demoiselles d'Avignon that seduced us.

Childlike, mutinous and assertive, they embody the Flower Power universe and are Aziza's outgrowth.

Sending the young woman to pose in her studio, in a setting as intimate as it is vibrant, we understood that the crumpling of the paper, the color red and Aziza's piercing gaze were only the metaphor of a divine night, a night where art and artist become one.

Today, we wanted to draw the Chinese portrait of a woman with a strong artistic DNA and undisputed talent, a woman who was not afraid to live from her passion, against all odds.

3,2,1, questions and answers!

- If you were a flower, which one would you be?

“Queen of the night”, it's a rare flower...

- If you were a scent, which one would you be?

Secret de K. 
This perfume is very special to me...the woman it embodies reminds me of someone very dear to me in short, this fragrance is a compendium of memories.

- If you were a painting, which one would you be?

“Ciphers and constellations in love with a woman” by Miró.

- If you were a style, you'd be...

Classic chic.

- If you were a destination, which one would you be?

Italy!

- If you were a time, you'd be...

The Roaring Twenties.

- If you were a season, you'd be...

Spring, of course!

- If you were a mood, you'd be...

My mood :)

- If you were an exhibition, which one would you be?

Without any doubt: My Eternal Soul by Yayoi Kusama in Tokyo.

- If you were a museum, which one would you be?

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

- If you were an artist, you'd be...

Leonardo da Vinci, the best of all time!

- If you were a planet, which one would you be?

Probably Venus, the planet of love!

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