Fatima Siad

Fatima Siad (Somali: Fadumo Siyaad, Arabic: فاطمة سياد‎) (born December 17, 1986) is a Somali-Ethiopian fashion model.^[1] Raised in Boston, Massachusetts, she placed third on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10.

Biography

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia to a Somali mother and an Ethiopian father,^[1] Siad grew up in Somalia with her mother and two sisters. Her parents divorced at a young age. She underwent female genital cutting when she was seven years old. Her two sisters were killed by the Somali army during the civil war. After her sisters’ deaths, Siad and her mother fled to the United States when she was thirteen for safety.^[2] Siad states that she lived in a shack and had low self-esteem when she was younger. While in high school she participated in the Boston University Upward Bound TRIO program. She was a Posse Scholar and went to Bryn Mawr College in 2004.^[3] She transferred to New York University to study pre-med and political science.^[2] She eventually transferred back to Bryn Mawr College to finish her education.^[4]

Career

Agency affiliation

Siad is currently signed with IMG Models, New York Model Management in New York City under the editorial division, L.A. Model Management in Los Angeles placed in the women's division, Oui Management in Paris, France, Ace Models in Athens, Greece, and Ice Models in Milan, Italy, as well as with Munich Models In Munich, Germany.^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

Print work

Siad has done a photo shoot for the Boston Globe and has had spreads in Essence Magazine in November 2008 and September 2010.^[10][11][12] She was also featured in Look Magazine UK, October 2008.^[13] She has appeared in CosmoGirl twice, issues November 2008 and the Prom Winter/Spring 2009.^[14][15] She has modeled for Style Bermuda in a shoot called Dusk til' Dawn and has Cosmopolitan work.^[16] Siad has also modeled for Maggie Norris Couture.^[17] She appeared in Ebony Magazine, December 2008 and the December 18, 2008 issue of Women's Wear Daily.^[18][19] She has been in In Fashion Magazine and Elle, March 2009 and July 2009.^[20][21][22] Siad has been on the covers of French magazines, The Amuser, issue two and Profil Femme, April 2009.^[23] Siad has a contract with the Swiss cosmetic company, Arbonne and is one of the new faces for Arbonne FC5, appearing in ads for the products.^[24][25] She has appeared on the cover of Colures Magazine.^[26] She has been on the cover of Front Page Style the May 29, 2009 issue.^[27] She had a ten page spread in D la Repubblica Delle Donne, issue 637 and appeared in Avon's Mark Catalog.^[28][29] She was in Marie Claire in July 2010. In addition, Siad had an ad campaign with BCBG Max Azria for their Spring/Summer 2010 campaign. In 2011, she was chosen for an ad campaign for Aveda and Makeup Forever. In 2012, she was in an editorials for Harper’s Bazaar Indonesia and Flaunt Magazine. She was also chosen for the Spring 2012 Herve Leger campaign by Max Azria.^[30]

In 2013, she had an ad campaign with Wildfox's "We're The Kids in America" Spring Collection, Armani Exchange and Doncaster's Winter 2013 Collection. In 2014, Siad also had a campaign with Jonathan Simkhai Pre-Fall 2014 collection.

Runway work

Siad did a presentation for Gemma Kahng at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2009.^[31] She also walked in the Dazzle Your Senses fashion show at Club Sol.^[32] Siad was included in NYMM's show package for fall/winter 2009 New York Fashion Week and received a showcard.^[33] She walked for Stærk, Boy by Band of Outsiders, Betsey Johnson and Michael Angel at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009/2010,^{[34][35][36][37]} for Lublu K. Plastinina in Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010,^[38] and for a designer in the Project Runway Season 7 finale.

Siad walked for Dries Van Noten, Andrew Gn, Moncler Gamme Rogue and Hermès during the Spring/Summer 2012 Paris Fashion Week. In New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014, she walked for Emerson by Jackie Fraser-Swan, Kaufmanfranco and Ralph Lauren and then subsequently walked for Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall. Fatima also walked in Armani's "One Night Only" runway show in Fall 2013. She also closed for designer Thierry Colson.

Television work

America's Next Top Model

Fatima Siad came into the competition with a powerful story to tell and a chance to inspire others. She placed third in her cycle. She received three first call-outs and four bottom-two appearances, the same number as winner Whitney Thompson. She won one challenge, in which she received 50 extra frames for her photo shoot. Siad was criticized for not being able to take direction well. She was given long, chestnut brown extensions as part of her makeover. Siad missed a photo shoot, unable to get travel documents which she allegedly lost in Atlanta. That almost cost her the competition, as she landed in the bottom two along with Stacy-Ann Fequiere, but a stronger, improving portfolio saved her.

In one interview, Siad stated that she felt that the show was a joke and thought Claire Unabia, Lauren Utter, Katarzyna Dolinska or Anya Rozova should have won or at least not have been eliminated as early as they were. She also stated that the show may be based on politics.^[39]

Siad was the last girl featured in the Top Models in Action segment that aired during Cycle 12.

Other

Siad has appeared on the Tyra Banks Show for episodes titled Tyra's Pay It Forward with Joanie Dodds,^[40]Recessionista: Queen of Cheap where she modeled clothes with Anya Rozova and Katarzyna Dolinska^[41] America's Next Top Model Reunion for the Cycle 10 Reunion,^[42] Modelville Introduction,^[43] Modelville 2,^[44] Modelville 3,^[45] Modelville 4,^[46] and Tina Knowles modeling in a House of Dereon fashion show.^[47][48]

Siad starred in Modelville and she placed third in the competition.

Recently, Siad appeared briefly in the Season 1 finale of Kell on Earth (Episode "Sunny Days") as a hired model for the DKNY Cozy promo shoot.^[49][50]

Other

In addition, in an autobiographical essay she wrote for Orato.com titled Vulnerable Beauty: Finding My Voice, she spoke openly about female genital circumcision and her hopes for changing the practice to make it "less horrendous" for young girls.^[51]

References

External links

• Fatima Siad at the Fashion Model Directory
• Fatima's Blog on Modelville
• "America's Next Top Model portfolio". cwtv.com. Archived from the original on December 2008.