Born as Maria Gaspar, Argentine supermodel Kouka Denis began as a child to look at fashion magazines that came from Spain to her mother, who was born there. To have fun, that 8-year old girl used sheets and blankets to play a model and copy the poses she saw in the photographs.
| Kouka Denis in the 1950s |
At age 15, Denis won a beauty contest organized by a French newspaper in Argentina. It had been written by Jacques Dorian, an Italian family friend and designer. She left the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Flores and left for Europe where she ended up staying for three decades.
The world of haute couture in Paris was amazed with her arrival at age 15. From there, Denis conquered great designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Hubert de Givenchy, and became one of the great references of the catwalks during the 60s. She thus became the first Argentine supermodel that was an icon of French fashion.
With her hair as her trademark, Denis captivated great fashion leaders such as Yves Saint Laurent and became his muse when he first took over for Christian Dior after his untimely death. She also worked for the prestigious house of Hubert de Givenchy.
Denis died in 2020 at age 79 in Buenos Aires. Here, a collection of 30 beautiful photos of a young Kouka Denis as a supermodel in the 1950s.
| Kouka Denis in hat by Claude St. Cyr, dress by Nina Ricci, necklace by Francis Winter, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
| Kouka Denis in hat by Gilbert Orcel, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
| Kouka Denis in black satin dinner/cocktail dress worn with emerald velvet cloche, by Givenchy, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
| Kouka Denis in Givenchy's translation of the cape in wool houndstooth in shades of Autumn, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1956 |
| Kouka Denis in hat by Rose Valois and dress by Carven, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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