Kenza Fourati Biography
Kenza Fourati is a Tunisian–French model and social entrepreneur who is also famous as the wife of NBC journalist Ayman Mohyeldin. She was born on May 13, 1987, in Lille, France, she was raised in La Marsa, Tunisia. At age 15, she placed third in the Elite Model Look competition, launching her modeling career
Kenza Fourati Education
She earned a Bachelor’s in Literature and Fine Arts from Sorbonne University in 2008 and a Master’s degree in Film Studies from Kingston University in 2010. She has also studied acting at the New York Film Academy
Kenza Fourati Age/Birthday
As of 2025, Kenza is 38 years old. Her date of birth is May 13, 1987
Kenza Fourati Nationality and Ethnicity
She holds dual Tunisian and French citizenship, reflecting her upbringing in both countries. She is of Middle Eastern / Arab heritage
Kenza Fourati Family
Her mother, Dora Bouchoucha, is a noted Tunisian film producer, and her father, Kamel Fourati, is a radiologist. She has a younger sister named Maleke, who earned a PhD in Development Economics
Kenza Fourati Height
Kenza stands at approximately 5 ft 10½ in (around 1.79 m)
Kenza Fourati Husband / Wedding
She married American-Egyptian NBC News journalist Ayman Mohyeldin in a private ceremony on April 26, 2016, in Georgia. The event featured a mix of traditional and designer fashion, including a custom bridal burnous and a Balenciaga gown.
She later shared glimpses of their special day on social media. For the wedding in Marietta, Fourati wore a chic ivory Balenciaga mini-dress, elegantly draped with a traditional ivory bridal burnous. During a photoshoot in Savannah, she donned a custom “Moss” gown by Houghton, blending modern style with classic romance.
In a 2017 interview with Vogue Arabia, Fourati revealed she was expecting her first child with Mohyeldin. Their daughter, Dora, was born in New York on March 12, 2017.
Kenza Fourati & Ayman Mohyeldin
Their union represents a fusion of journalism and fashion. They reside in New York and share a life grounded in both their careers and their cultural heritage
Kenza Fourati Children / Baby
The couple’s first daughter, Dora, was born on March 12, 2017, in New York. They have since welcomed a second child, though publicly available details are limited
Kenza Fourati & Ryan Leslie
Kenza was previously in a relationship with R&B singer Ryan Leslie, dating from 2011 to 2012, and appeared in several of his music videos
Kenza Fourati & Johan Lindeberg
She has appeared publicly with fashion designer Johan Lindeberg, such as attending the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards together
Kenza Fourati Model
In 2002, at just 15 years old, Kenza Fourati secured third place in the prestigious Elite Model Look competition, launching her professional modeling career with Elite Model Management. Since then, she has graced the pages of top international fashion magazines including Vogue Paris, Elle, Marie Claire, L’Officiel Voyage, Grazia, and GQ. Her runway résumé features a roster of iconic designers and fashion houses such as Armani, Dior, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Céline, Gianfranco Ferré, Stella McCartney, Tommy Hilfiger, Valentino, and Vivienne Westwood.
Beyond the runway, Fourati ventured into film, appearing alongside Diane Kruger in the 2005 French film Frankie. In 2010, she co-hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the Carthage Film Festival with Tunisian actor Dhaffer L’Abidine.
In addition to modeling and acting, Fourati has become an advocate for change within the fashion industry. She is actively involved with the Model Mafia and the Model Alliance, organizations focused on labor rights, ethical practices, and empowerment for models.
Expanding her creative reach, Fourati launched her own women’s fashion line in November 2013 in Tunis, Tunisia. The line featured a mix of edgy, stylish pieces including printed T-shirts, sheer dresses, and oversized tops. The collection was designed in New York, where Fourati worked with a pattern-maker, and manufactured in her home country. Although the blog By Kenz and its accompanying Facebook page are no longer active, her entrepreneurial spirit lives on.
Most recently, she co-founded the shoe brand Osay alongside Simone Carrica, marking her continued evolution from fashion model to fashion mogul.
Kenza Fourati Body Paint
In 2011, she made headlines as one of the first Arab Muslim models featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, notable for her body-painted appearance.
Kenza Fourati Movies
Kenza has screen credits including the French film Frankie (2005), where she appeared alongside Diane Kruger, and Baby, Baby, Baby (2015)
Kenza Fourati Sports Illustrated
In 2011, Kenza Fourati made headlines as the first Arab Muslim model to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, breaking barriers and sparking conversations worldwide. Speaking to Global Grind, she addressed the intersection of her cultural background and her modeling career, stating:
“I grew up in a Muslim culture, but I can still be a swimsuit model too! Why should the two be exclusive? It is not… I am very supported back home.”
Following the Tunisian Revolution, Fourati emerged as a vocal advocate for artistic freedom in her country. She emphasized the importance of open, peaceful dialogue in Tunisia’s new era of self-expression, saying:
“We are at a point now in Tunisia where we are free. We should be able to portray art like this if we want to, as the extremists are allowed to express themselves, too. That is a debate that we want to create, but it must be a peaceful one.”
Her appearance in Sports Illustrated not only challenged traditional norms within her own society but also ignited broader discussions about identity, religion, and diversity within the Muslim world.
Kenza Fourati Net Worth
While exact figures vary by source, her successful modeling career and entrepreneurial ventures suggest she worth $5m in 2025. However, no specific estimate was found in the sources reviewed.
