Khadidiatou Donatelli Neumann

Khadidiatou Donatelli Neumann (born July 7, 1974 in M’Bour, Senegal) is a Senegalese model and entertainment personality. She is known primarily by her modeling moniker, Khadija, and occasionally by her initials, KDN. Notable designers and photographers have described Khadija as Senegal’s top model.

Personal life

Khadija was born in the City of M’Bour, Senegal, just 80 km south of the Capital Dakar. She moved from Senegal to Paris to begin a career in modeling.

She is married to German photographer, music mogul and entrepreneur, Andreas Neumann ("Dre"). The two met when Khadija appeared at a casting call for one of Dre’s Canon photo shoots. Khadija was selected to replace Naomi Campbell who had dropped out at the last minute. The couple currently lives together in Los Angeles, California, United States with their 6-year-old daughter, Khadija Emma Neumann.

Career

Khadija is represented by the agency Metropolitan Models in Paris, France. Metropolitan added her to their fashion roster in 2000 after a single, unsolicited meeting. As of 2012, they still represent her in all of her Asian and European business.

In a 2007 account that Khadija gave to the Swiss Publication Le Martin Geneva she described the serendipitous process of getting signed to Metropolitan’s roster:

“I woke up in the year 2000 one morning, got ready and left for Paris on the train. I called all the agencies for appointments and finally got somebody on the phone at Metropolitan Models…At all the other ones I could not even get through to speak to anyone. The lady on the phone said that they already had enough black models and it would make no sense to introduce myself…I said to her just give me an appointment and I persuaded her to see me. When I was in the elevator I ran accidentally into the owner of the modeling agency. He asked me if I was new there. I told him no, and that I was just having an appointment and he said, ‘See me right away. We will do your contract.’”

On Khadija’s first casting call with Metropolitan she met the European designer Ives Saint Laurent. Saint Laurent described Khadija a his artistic muse and has stated in interviews that she was the inspiration for many of his designs.

Since posing for Saint Laurent, Khadija has modeled for photo shoots and advertising campaigns for Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Versace, Pacco Rabanne, Louis Vuitton, Canon, Pasquale Bruni and many more.

In 2009 Khadija signed with New York Model Management in Manhattan to expand her North American presence. At the time, the agency had already set up a proposed itinerary of modeling events for Khadija including work with Nordstrom, J.C. Penny, Marek & Associates, Kohl's, Glamour Magazine, Art + Commerce, Target, Neiman Marcus Online, Saks.com, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Jon James Casting and Matrix.

Khadija was featured in the 2001 photography book Amazones of Soul, compiled by French artist and photographer Thierry Le Goués and Spanish designer Pacco Rabanne. Amazones includes Khadija as a prominent member of the rising generation of black divas celebrated in the book. The title is an allusion to Le Goués’ first book, Soul.

Entertainment

In 2011 Khadija began transitioning into a career as an entertainment and media personality in the vein of fellow black model, Tyra Banks.

References

  • Sisario, Ben (April 28, 2011). "A New Suitor Emerges for Warner Music” in the New York Times.
  • (June 14, 2007). "Je Veux Donne" in Le Martin Geneva.
  • (October 5, 2003). "Khadija Presents Christian Dior Collection for Charity" in Le Martin Geneva.
  • (June 6, 2002). "Model on The Top of The World" in Le Martin Geneva.
  • (2002). "Khadija in Dolce & Gabbana" in Bunte Magazine.
  • Buenzli, Valerie (January 25, 2004). "A Day in The Life of A Super Model" in Tribune de Geneva.
  • Photo: "Khadija & Her Husband Andreas" in Life Magazine Online (September 13, 2010).
  • http://thesmugger.com/2010/04/07/art-thierry-le-goues-“amazones”/