At the age of 5, Hanaa would tip-toe through her house, pretending she was walking on a catwalk. Her mother was the first to claim her daughter would one day become a model. Throughout Hanaa’s childhood, fashion & modeling fascinated her.

In Tunisia, Modeling was not considered a profession. There were no Modeling agencies and opportunities were scarce. In her youth Hanaa exchanged creative ideas and practiced facial expressions at home with her older brother Walid, who was studying Drama and acting. Walid encouraged Hanaa to pursue her dream, emphasizing how photogenic she is. He took her along to castings where she observed poses and imagined replicating them in photo shoots in front of photographers.

One day while in high school, Hanaa saw a Lebanese TV program called “Mission Fashion”, which is similar to “Project Runway” in the US. Hanaa had always felt awkward & insecure about being tall and thin but then she realized that they were looking for applicants who were tall and thin and decided to participate.

The three month experience leading up to winning second prize was Hanaa’s debut into the Middle East Modeling industry. Hanaa soon realized that there was more to the Modeling profession than her region had to offer and found herself back at square one but with a precise idea of what she could accomplish if she put her mind to it.

Hanaa decided to study Civil Engineering but was always on the lookout for opportunities to further her modeling career.

Several Tunisian journalists interviewed her and invited her to speak about her experience in Lebanon but she realized that their interest, questions and understanding of modeling was completely ambiguous. It was this ambiguity in her country’s understanding of the modeling profession that Hanaa decided one day to change.

Soon Hanaa gained fame in Tunisia through her small modeling experience at the time. She was approached by local artists and event organizers to contribute, help improve and develop their presentations of local designers. Through Hanaa’s participation in these events which received French media attention, she met several renowned international figures who encouraged her to take her talents to Europe but again it was the steps to reach that goal which was a challenge. Among those encounters was her chance meeting with another Arab women, Sophie Galal who shared Hanaa’s views and ideas about changing and exposing the challenges of the modeling profession in the Arab world. Together, they took Hanaa’s talent beyond the borders of the Middle East and North Africa into the international arena.

Hanaa’s desire to represent Arab women in the international modeling industry is very strong & deep in her heart. The reputation & image she wants to be recognized for in her professionalism & dedication makes her more determined than ever to give her very best and through her success, become an example to Arab women sharing the same dream. Her mission is to create awareness and respect in the Arab world for modeling as a profession and as a career choice. On the 10th of July 2010, Sophie Galal Introduced Hanaa to IMG World in Paris. The following day they presented her to French Vogue Editor in Chief Carine Roitfeld who facilitated a meeting with Givenchy’s Ricardo Tisci. He decided to use Hanna on an exclusive basis for his A/W 10-11 PAP presentation.

Hanaa says she has a lucky star above her and is thankful for all those who come across her path and that play a role in the pursuit of her dream.

I dream the same lucky star to shine above Tunisia, a country of banished Utopias, where women, mothers, sisters, widows, daughters and models are affirming their beliefs against violence everyday.

Hrayer Tounes, the free femmes, remain the ultimate thread.