Ubah Hassan facts for kids

Ubah Ali Hassan (Somali: Ubax Xasan, Arabic: اوبح حسن; born 27 August 1983) is a Somali-Canadian model, businesswoman, and TV star. She has worked with many famous fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Gucci. Ubah also created her own hot sauce brand called Ubah Hot. You might know her from the TV show The Real Housewives of New York City, which she joined in 2023. She also helps people through charity work.

Early Life and Moving to Canada

Ubah Hassan was born in Somalia in 1983. She grew up in a city called Baidoa. In 1991, her mother and three sisters had to leave Somalia because of conflict and moved to Ethiopia. Ubah, her father, and her brother stayed in Somalia until 1994, when they moved to Kenya.

Later, when Ubah was 15, she moved to Canada. There, she was reunited with her mother and sisters, who had also moved to Canada. For about a year after they arrived, Ubah's family lived in a shelter for people without homes.

Ubah's Career Journey

When Ubah was 17, a photographer noticed her at a park in Canada. This led her to start modeling in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Before becoming a full-time model, she even owned a restaurant in Vancouver! In 2007, she signed with a modeling agency in New York City. This is when she started doing big photoshoots and walking on fashion runways.

Modeling for Top Brands

Ubah Hassan quickly became a well-known model. In 2008, she was featured in Allure magazine. She was also named Model.com's Model of the Week. She appeared in Vogue Italia magazine twice, working with famous photographers like Steven Meisel and Bruce Weber.

Ubah was the face of Ralph Lauren's Spring/Summer 2009 clothing line. She has also worked with many other top designers and brands, including Oscar de la Renta, Gucci, CoverGirl, and Macy's. As of 2023, she still works with her first modeling agency, Richard's International Model Management in Vancouver, and Models 1 in London.

In 2015, a short documentary film called Ubah! was made about her. It was directed by Joe Berlinger and shown on CNN.com. In the film, Ubah talks about growing up in Somalia, her modeling career, and her charity work in Cambodia.

Starting Ubah Hot Sauce

Ubah Hassan is the founder and CEO of Ubah Hot. This is her own brand of hot sauce inspired by African flavors, and it's also vegan! The hot sauce first became available in June 2021. It was even chosen as one of Oprah's Favorite Things in November of that same year, which is a big deal!

Ubah also appeared on the Netflix show My Unorthodox Life. She talked about her hot sauce brand with the show's main star, Julia Haart. In 2023, Ubah worked with Serafina, an Italian restaurant chain in New York City, to create a special pizza called the Ubah Hot Pizza.

Becoming a TV Star

In October 2022, it was announced that Ubah Hassan would join the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City. This reality TV series shows the lives of women living in New York City. Ubah's first season on the show started on July 16, 2023.

Helping Others: Philanthropy and Activism

Ubah Hassan is very involved in helping people and making the world a better place. She supports many different charities.

Working for Women's Rights and Clean Water

Ubah is an ambassador for Oxfam's Sisters on the Planet. This group works to end unfair treatment against women and change laws that keep women in poverty.

In 2012, Ubah worked with Oxfam to create Maji Umbrellas. Maji means "water" in Swahili. Her company sold umbrellas and gave part of the money to projects that bring clean water to people in East Africa. Ubah even won an Elle magazine Genius Award for her work with Maji Umbrellas.

Promoting Diversity in Fashion

Ubah is a strong supporter of having more variety in the modeling world. She wants companies to hire models of all races, ages, and body types. In 2009, she was interviewed by another famous Somali model, Iman, for New York Magazine. They talked about Ubah's experiences as a Black woman working in modeling.

Supporting Children and Disaster Relief

Ubah works closely with the shoe brand Toms Shoes and their global charity. She has traveled to places like Cambodia to give shoes and other important items to people who need them. In the documentary Ubah!, she is shown raising money for the Cambodian Children's Fund. She felt strongly that she needed to help the children there after her visit. Ubah also works with All Hands and Hearts, a group that helps people affected by natural disasters.

Fighting Cancer

In June 2023, Ubah Hassan was honored by the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. She was recognized for helping to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Ubah shared that she was motivated to join this cause after her mother passed away from leukemia in 2012.

Ubah has also modeled several times for Talbots and Dress for Success. These companies work together on a yearly charity campaign that raises money to help women around the world who are looking for jobs.

Ubah's Personal Life

Ubah Hassan is a Muslim. She is a cousin of fellow model Chanel Ayan, who is also a star on the TV show The Real Housewives of Dubai. Ubah is currently in a relationship with an investment banker named Oliver Dachsel, whom she started dating in 2022.

Ubah loves to travel and says it's one of her favorite things to do. She has named famous people like Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, Naomi Campbell, and Iman as some of her inspirations.