Kiara Kabukuru

Kabukuru was born as Alice Kabukuru in Kampala, Uganda to parents Moses Kabukuru and Erinah Kasabiti as one of four siblings.[5] Although her grandparents emigrated from Rwanda to Uganda in 1920, she identifies as Munyankole.[6] With the aid of Amnesty International and United Way, Kabukuru and her family emigrated to California when she was a child due to political unrest in their native country. Kabukuru was discovered by photographer Bill Bodwell in a Los Angeles shopping center when she was 16. She adopted the name Kiara at the suggestion of her then-agent at Ford Models.[2]

In 2000, Kabukuru was involved in an accident while riding her bicycle in New York City when an 18-wheel truck collided with her. She required intensive facial reconstructive surgery and physical therapy. Kabukuru made a brief return to modeling in 2008 when she appeared in the All Black issue of Vogue Italia.[7] In 2012, she returned to modeling full-time.[8][2]

Kabukuru is a long-time close friend of model Gisele Bündchen, whom she credits with helping her return to modeling. Kabukuru is the godmother of Bündchen's son Benjamin.[9]

Kabukuru has been represented by several of the world's top modeling agencies, including Women Management, Trump Model Management, and Why Not Model Agency,[10] As of February 2011 she is represented by Silent models in New York and Paris.[11] Kabukuru has walked for fashion houses including Dior, Versace, Calvin Klein, Chanel, and Balmain.[10] Her most notable editorial work includes covers for Vogue (Spain and United States) and Amica Italy. She has posed for advertising campaigns by Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, L'Oréal, Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and most famously CoverGirl cosmetics.[10]

She was featured in the Pirelli Calendar of 1998 and walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1999.[12][13]

• Kiara Kabukuru in the Fashion Model Directory