NEW YORK — Emtiaz Youssif-Benford’s entry into the fashion industry was unplanned. In 2022, the U.S. Army veteran attended a New York City casting call on impulse, without industry connections or prior modeling experience.
“I really just went to see what would happen,” Youssif-Benford said in a recent interview. “When they cast me, I was honestly shocked.”
That spontaneous decision launched a modeling career that has positioned her as an emerging voice in an industry she believes needs more diverse perspectives.
Military Service Shapes Industry Approach
Before modeling, Youssif-Benford served in the U.S. Army, including wartime deployment. The experience, she says, fundamentally shaped her approach to both work and life.
“The military teaches you structure,” she said. “But it also teaches you compassion. You learn what really matters.”
That military discipline now informs how she manages her career. Youssif-Benford organizes her work by deadlines and priority, a system that allows her to balance modeling commitments with advocacy and community service projects.
Using Platform for Social Impact
For Youssif-Benford, modeling represents more than professional opportunity. She views her visibility as a tool for promoting cultural understanding and respect.
“I don’t believe unity means everyone being the same,” she explained. “Unity is respect.”
Having navigated multiple cultures and communities, Youssif-Benford emphasizes honoring differences rather than erasing them. “I want empathy to be louder than judgment,” she said. “Because diversity is not a weakness. It’s our greatest strength.”
Building Career Alongside Service Work
Youssif-Benford has secured magazine features and is scheduled to walk in New York Fashion Week. However, she maintains that professional success must align with personal values.
“To me, success is earning what you’ve worked for,” she said. “It’s progress that comes from discipline and determination.”
Alongside her modeling work, she is developing projects focused on children with special needs and broader community initiatives. “Giving back is part of who I am,” she said.
Industry Response
Colleagues describe Youssif-Benford as bringing an uncommon ease to professional settings, a quality they attribute to her combination of military-honed discipline and approachable demeanor.
“I think people feel comfortable around me,” she said. “I like bringing ease into spaces.”
That presence, paired with her unconventional background, has helped establish her identity in a competitive industry. While her modeling career is still developing, Youssif-Benford has positioned herself as someone who views fashion as a platform for broader purpose rather than an end in itself.
As she prepares for upcoming New York Fashion Week appearances, Youssif-Benford continues to balance runway work with community service, maintaining that both pursuits reflect the same underlying commitment to service that defined her military career.
