Princess Salwa Aga Khan (née Kendra Irene Spears; born August 5, 1988) is an American fashion model. She began her modelling career in 2008, participating in the

Ford Models Supermodel of the World Supermodel of the World (''Ford Supermodel of the Year'', formerly ''Face of the 80s'') is an international modeling contest established by Eileen Ford in 1980. The contest showcases young fashion model entrants from over 50 countries in order t ...

and walking in New York Fashion Week. She has walked the runway for Gucci,

Christian Lacroix Christian Marie Marc Lacroix (; born 16 May 1951) is a French fashion designer. The name may also refer to the company he founded. Lacroix's designs combine luxury and insouciance. He prefers artisanal trades, fringe, bead, and embroidery. He's ...

Lanvin Lanvin () is a French Luxury goods, luxury fashion house based in Paris. Founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, it is the oldest French fashion house still in operation. Since 2018, it has been a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Lanvin Group. Bruno Sialel ...

, Hermès, and Valentino. Salwa has appeared on the covers of '' Amica'', '' Cover Magazine'', '' Vogue China'', '' Vogue Japan'', ''

Vogue Germany Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...

'', '' Vogue México y Latinoamérica'', '' Elle'', '' Allure'', and '' Numero'' and in editorials in '' Dazed & Confused'', '' V'', and '' Vogue Italia''. She has been the face of

Prada Prada S.p.A. (, ; ) is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada. It specializes in leather handbags, travel accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear, and other fashion accessories. Prada licenses its name and branding t ...

, Armani's Code Fragrance, and

Moschino Moschino () is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1983 by Franco Moschino in Milan known for over-the-top, campy designs. The company specializes in ready-to-wear, handbags, and fashion accessories. History Founding and 1990s Franco Mosc ...

's Pink Bouquet fragrance and modelled in advertisement campaigns for

Calvin Klein Calvin Richard Klein (born November 19, 1942) is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc., in 1968. In addition to clothing, he also has given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and ...

, Etro,

Diane von Fürstenberg Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michele Halfin, 31 December 1946) is a Belgian fashion designer best known for her wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence in 1969 when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as ...

, Peek & Cloppenburg,

The Limited The Limited was an American clothing retailer that operated retail stores between the early 1960s and the late 2010s. After 2007, it became a brand, originally owned by the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, now owned by another private equ ...

. In 2013, she married

Prince Rahim Aga Khan Prince Rahim Aga Khan (; born 12 October 1971) is the second of the Aga Khan IV’s four children. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he has been actively involved for many years in the governance of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Early ...

, the eldest son of Aga Khan IV, at the Château de Bellerive in Switzerland. Upon her marriage, she converted to Islam and adopted the name Salwa, meaning "solace" in Arabic. She and Prince Rahim have two sons. They divorced in February 2022.

Early life and education

Kendra Irene Spears was born on August 5, 1988, in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from

South Kitsap High School South Kitsap High School is a public high school in the South Kitsap School District and is located at 425 Mitchell Ave Port Orchard, Washington. In 2018, the school had the largest student population in the state. History and facilities South K ...

with an Associate's Degree acquired through a dual-credit high school and college program (Running Start). She then attended Portland State University to study Sociology, and obtained a BA in sociology from the University of Washington. 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

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,

, Hermès, and Valentino. Shortly after the show season ended in October, Salwa appeared on a succession of covers of the

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

fashion magazine ''

Cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

'' and the Italian magazine '' Amica''. The covers were followed by a '' Dazed & Confused'' editorial featuring new faces of the season as well as editorials for '' V'' and '' Vogue Italia''. For the Fall 2009 season, Salwa was photographed by

Steven Meisel Steven Meisel (born June 5, 1954) is an American fashion photographer, who obtained popularity and critical acclaim with his work in ''Vogue'' and ''Vogue Italia'' as well as his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book, ''Sex''. He is n ...

as one of the faces of

. 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,

shot by Alasdair McLellan,

shot by Patrick Demarchelier, Etro, and

. Throughout Salwa's career, she has been photographed for the cover of a number of '' Vogue'' magazines worldwide, including ''Vogue China'', ''Vogue Japan'', ''Vogue Germany'', and ''Vogue Mexico''. She has also appeared on the covers of international editions of ''Elle'', ''Allure'', and ''Numero'' and in adverts for

, Peek & Cloppenburg, Etro, and ''The Limited''. Salwa was the face of Armani Code Fragrance and

Pink Bouquet Fragrance in 2012.

Married life

On April 26, 2013, Aga Khan IV announced the engagement of his eldest son, Prince

Rahim Aga Khan Prince Rahim Aga Khan (; born 12 October 1971) is the second of the Aga Khan IV’s four children. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he has been actively involved for many years in the governance of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Early ...

, to Kendra Spears. The couple married on August 31, 2013, at the Château de Bellerive, Geneva. This was formerly the home of

Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan ( ar, صدر الدين آغا خان, , 1933 – 2003) was a statesman and activist who served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1966 to 1977, during which he reoriented the agency's focus beyond ...

, his half great-uncle, and Princess Aliya. The bride has since been known as Princess Salwa. On October 29, 2014, it was announced that the princess was expecting her first child with Prince Rahim. 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. The name Irfan in Arabic means gnosis, or knowledge of the divine. A second son was born in London on January 2, 2017, and is known as Prince Sinan. The couple divorced in February 2022.http://heritage.ismaili.net/node/37545

References

External links

*
The Internet Fashion Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aga Khan, Salwa Living people 1988 births American Ismailis Female models from Washington (state) Portland State University alumni American female models University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences alumni Princesses by marriage Converts to Islam Noorani family