Zahia Dehar

Zahia Dehar was born on 25 February 1992 in Ghriss, Algeria, before moving to Champigny‑sur‑Marne, France with her mother and sister at the age of ten, a migration that would later frame her bicultural identity as both Algerian and French. At sixteen she entered the world of high‑end prostitution, reportedly earning up to €20,000 a month, a chapter that thrust her into the international spotlight when, in 2009, she alleged that French football stars Franck Ribéry and Karim Benzema had paid for her services while she was still a minor, igniting a scandal that dominated French media during the lead‑up to the 2010 World Cup. The ensuing legal battles, which saw the players indicted for solicitation of a minor and later acquitted, turned Dehar into a media phenomenon; she embraced the notoriety, declaring herself an escort rather than a prostitute and refusing to be portrayed solely as a victim. Capitalising on her newfound fame, Dehar transitioned into fashion, modelling for iconic artists such as Pierre et Gilles and Karl Lagerfeld, and launching a personal website in March 2011 that showcased her provocative image. Her first lingerie collection debuted on 25 January 2012 at Paris Fashion Week, featuring delicate pink fabrics, tulle wedding dresses embroidered with Swarovski crystals, and earned support from Hong Kong‑based First Mark Investments. Subsequent collections and exhibitions, including the “Zahia de 5 à 7” lingerie showcase and a Pierre et Gilles portrait exhibition at the Galerie des Gobelins, cemented her status as a designer with a bold, avant‑garde aesthetic. Beyond fashion, Dehar became a vegetarian spokesperson for PETA in 2015, appearing in a Bryan Adams‑shot campaign that highlighted animal rights. Her journey from a contentious legal figure to a multifaceted artist, model, actress, and designer illustrates a complex narrative of redemption, entrepreneurship, and cultural influence that continues to evolve in the contemporary French‑Algerian landscape.