Farida Khelfa

Farida Khelfa (born 23 May 1960) is a French-Algerian actress, documentary filmmaker, author, and model. A prominent figure in Parisian culture since the 1980s, she is recognized as one of the first models of North African descent to achieve international success.

Early life Khelfa, one of nine children, was born in Lyon, France in the working-class suburb of Vénissieux to strict Algerian immigrant parents. Her childhood was marked by severe trauma, including child abuse and incest. It was there that she befriended a young Christian Louboutin, who gave her a place to stay. Khelfa decided to become a model "without [too much] ambition except being free." She spent the next few years heavily involved in nightclub culture, where she would meet major figures of the fashion world. In the following years, she would become the muse to many important figures in the fashion world, including Jean-Paul Goude, Azzedine Alaïa, and Thierry Mugler. Khelfa stepped down as brand ambassador in 2017, stating that she needed time to focus on her own projects, particularly filmmaking. Despite this, Khelfa has continued to work with the brand, notably appearing on the Schiaparelli spring/summer 2020 Haute Couture runway in 2019. Most recently (as of April 2026), she worked with them in December 2024 on a photoshoot for 7 Hollywood Magazine.

In 2024, Khelfa wrote her first book, a memoir titled Une enfance française. Khelfa became the step-mother of stylist Camille Seydoux and actress Léa Seydoux, Seydoux's children from his first marriage to actress Valérie Schlumberger.

Khelfa's mother died in August 2022.

Filmography

Acting credits

Directing credits