Ubah Hassan: The New Face of Ralph Lauren

(Photo: TheFashionSpot.com)

Designer Ralph Lauren, has chosen Somalian stunner Ubah Hassan to be the new face of the Ralph Lauren Spring '09 campaign. Here's a little background info on this sista:

Twenty-one-year-old Ubah Hassan was born in Somalia and grew up in the city of Baidoa. In 1991, after a year of political unrest, Ubah's mother fled the country with her sisters, while Ubah and her younger brother stayed behind with her father. The three sought refuge in Kenya in 1994. Eventually, the family relocated to Canada, and in 2001, after 10 years of separation, Ubah tracked down her mother and sisters to learn that they were also living in Vancouver. The family was reunited.

When Ubah was 17, a photographer approached her to do test shots, which he then sent to an agency in Canada. In 2007, her travel restrictions were loosened and she obtained a working visa. Immediately, she was signed with Click Model Management in New York. By 2008, Franca Sozzani cast her in Italian Vogue's first-ever "Black issue," photographed by Steven Meisel. When casting his Spring 2009 collection, Lauren selected her as his new face and chose her to close the runway show a significant statement from the designer.

Click photos to enlarge

(Photos: TheFashionSpot.com)

Looks like the ads are a hit! Here's a quote from poster, Masquerade at theFashionSpot.com:

"The Ubah ad does everything an ad should do It makes me want the clothes, it makes me want the lifestyle. It makes me want to be in this scene right now looking like her wearing that dress and standing against that plane.
its just beautiful"

Amen, Masquerade. Amen.