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.
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| 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.
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| Kouka Denis in hat by Claude St. Cyr, dress by Nina Ricci, necklace by Francis Winter, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in hat by Gilbert Orcel, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in black satin dinner/cocktail dress worn with emerald velvet cloche, by Givenchy, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in Givenchy's translation of the cape in wool houndstooth in shades of Autumn, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in hat by Rose Valois and dress by Carven, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in large cape that circles to the side and is fastened with single button by Givenchy, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in large woven straw hat in three shades of beige by Legroux Soeurs, pearls by Francis Winter, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in rose two-piece dress by Maggy Rouff, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in white lace hat with single pink rose by Legroux, polka-dot dress by Nina Ricci, gold minaudière and earclips by Sterlé, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis is wearing a green velvet toque by Janette Colombier, ocelot jacket is by Jassel, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis is wearing a sumptuous ruby velvet evening ensemble by Balenciaga, jewellry by Francis Winter, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis is wearing Givenchy's brown wool suit with rounded shoulders and stand-up collar, handbag and gloves by Roger Model, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis is wearing white plush and black velvet trotter adorned with a short voilette by Rose Valois, photo by Georges Saad, 1956 |
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| Kouka Denis in a Balinese-inspired turban of pale yellow satin by Janette, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in black silk organza dress with full skirt by Germaine Lécomte, minaudiere by Mellerio dits Meller, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in charming white embroidered linen dress by Carven, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in light headress that features a fall of dotted ostrich feathers by Claude St. Cyr, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in pretty dance dress of black and white lace ruffled at the hem belted in green satin adorned with pink rose, by Givenchy, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in silk shantung mandarin orange coat-dress by Guy Laroche, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in small black velvet cap adorned with white egret feathers by Paulette, gown by Nina Ricci, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in turban hat of silk printed with roses and pink chiffon band wrapped around, by Gilbert Orcel, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in white silk dress printed with violets worn with white silk shantung coat by Carven, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis is wearing turban of fine midnight-blue tulle embroidered with sparkling paillettes by Legroux, white mink coat is by Revillon, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka is wearing a black velvet headdress with a ponytail of sparkling white feathers by Bernard Devaux for Le Monnier, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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| Kouka Denis in beaded satin evening gown by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, photo by Willy Maywald, 1958 |
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| Kouka Denis in (Yves Saint Laurent) Dior's dress called "Novia", Spring/Summer Collection Longue Line 1959, photo by Mark Shaw, atelier Maison Dior, Paris |
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| Kouka Denis in coat and scarf ensemble by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, photo by Willy Maywald, Paris, 1959 |
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| Kouka Denis in two-toned dress by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, photo by Willy Maywald, Paris, 1959 |
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| Kouka Denis wearing a 'Novia' dress from Dior's (YSL) Spring/Summer 1959 Haute Couture Collection, photo by Mark Shaw, 1959 |
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| Kouka Denis wears the perfect town suit with leopard pill box hat by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, photo by Willy Maywald, Paris, 1959 |
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