Bio
"Tasha de Vasconcelos, born in Mozambique, is supermodel and actress. Today, she has been the image in particular of fashion houses and jewelry : Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Balenciaga, Van Cleef & Arpels.
Tasha de Vasconcelos has been engaged since 1996 in the domain of health in Africa since (Nelson Mandela Children's Fund). Appointed Goodwill Ambassador by l'UNICEF en 1999, she founded in 2006 the AMOR foundation dedicated to maternal health and infantile in Africa astral region of her birth (Malawi, Mozambique). The Fondation AMOR has notably opened a first maternity hospital in Malawi in 2009 (Kasese), a second in 2013 (Zomba), a third in 2014 (Machinga) and fourth in 2015 (Thyolo)."
In 2016, Tasha de Vasconcelos has been appointed as a UN Women Global Champion for Planet 50-50 by 2030.
Tasha de Vasconcelos was born in Beira, in Mozambique, the daughter of engineer, Fernando João de Vasconcelos Mota e Cunha, a descendant of King Alfonso III de Leäo, member of one of Portugal’s oldest families, and her British mother, Jacqueline, a descendant of a King of Scotland of the XI century, and of a family from the north of France.
However at only 8 years old, Tasha had to face the cruelty of the civil war and a revolution, which tore her country apart, followed just five years later by that of Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe - where they had fled. At 13 she and her family moved first to Portugal, and then on to Canada.
First student at the University of British Columbia, she began her supermodel carrier in New York where she started working with Michel Comte, Peter Lindbergh, William Klein, Albert Watson, Patrick Demarchelier and Steven Meisel.
They immortalize for the covers of major international magazines: Vogue, Elle, and Tatler, Paris Match, or campaigns (qui font le tour du monde): Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dolce & Gabbana perfume… and catwalks for Lacroix, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent…
But Tasha’s true vocation is in her humanitarian work.
After special missions in 1996 for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in South Africa, UNICEF named her Goodwill Ambassador, first for children suffering from malnutrition in Bolivia in 1999, then for childhood victims of war in Algeria.
As Special Campaigner for Children she worked in Mozambique with UNAIDS,in 2006, campaigning against HIV/AIDS in Africa, and in recognition of her humanitarian work she has received a special UNESCO award, in 2005.
In 2006, her foundation AMOR – Aide Mondiale Orphelins Réconfort was born.
On the 15th April 2009 Tasha opened Amor’s first project, a maternity unit in Malawi, financed, built and equipped entirely by AMOR.
In 29th April 2009 Tasha de Vasconcelos was named as the official Ambassador of L’Institut Pasteur (Download the press release) a first for this renowned international leader in medical research.
On the 8 Mars 2010 (International Women’s day), President José Manuel Barroso gave to Tasha de Vasconcelos her new mission as ambassador for European Union for humanitarian causes.
"Beauty as a weapon"
Autobiography published by Michel Lafon
With Ms. Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women
2010 saw the publication of her autobiography “Beauty as a Weapon” published by Michel Lafon and she was also the subject of a documentary “La belle humanitaire” devoted to her and her humanitarian work.
In 2013, she was officially appointed Malawi Honorary Consul to Monaco.
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CONDENAST Glamour Beauty / Humanitarian award
Humanitarian work
1996: Humanitarian mission with Nelson Mandela, Pretoria, South Africa
1999: UNICEF humanitarian mission, Bolivia
2000: UNICEF humanitarian mission, Algeria
2005: UNESCO Humanitarian honour bestowed by secretary-general
2006: UNAIDS mission to Mozambique
2006: March: founded AMOR (Aide Mondiale Orphelins Reconfort) to reduce maternal mortality and help orphans and children worldwide through health care and education, especially in Africa.
2009: 15 April: opened first AMOR maternity hospital in Kasese, Malawi with HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
2009: 27 April: appointed first Ambassador for Institut Pasteur (where the AIDS virus was first identified) Paris, France.
2010: 8 March: appointed Humanitarian Ambassador for the European Union to combat poverty and social exclusion, Brussels, Belgium.
2010: November: Speaker, Women’s Forum, Deauville, France.
2011: March: Speaker, International Women’s Day on behalf of refugees in Iraq.
2011: CONDENAST Glamour Beauty / Humanitarian award
2012: June: further address at Villepinte, France, on behalf of Iraqi refugees.
2013: Appointed Honorary Consul of Malawi to Monaco
2014: speaker on ‘Audacity’, Cité de la Réussite, La Sorbonne, Paris, France.
2015: Official partnership with AMOR and Monaco Princely Government
2015: Joint project for girls school with the Vatican
2016: 7 January: officially appointed as a UN Women Global champion for Planet 50-50 by 2030
Visiting and meeting with Armando Guebuza, President of the Republique of Mozambique
2009 Ambassador Pasteur Institut
2010 Ambassador European Union for Humanitarian Causes
International Woman's Day speech
Concrete help given through AMOR
2009: First maternity hospital in Malawi in Kasese in association with Lifeline Malawi
2010: Mobile outreach clinics established in Malawi
2012: Nandumbo eye clinic established, Nanthomba, Malawi
2013: 22 tonnes of medical and paediatric equipment sent to Malawi
2013: Second maternity hospital in Malawi in Zomba
2014: First school in Malawi, Nanthomba Primary School, opened in Liwonde in association with Help Malawi
2014: 12 cartons of medical equipment delivered to Queen Elizabeth Hospital , Blantyre Malawi
2014: Exchange partnership and training programme with Princess Grace Hospital and AMOR
2014: Third maternity hospital in Malawi in Machinga
Recent TV and other media
2010: ‘La Belle Humanitaire’ 52 minute documentary, France Television
2011: Autobiography, ‘Beauty as a Weapon’ published, Michel Lafon, Paris, France
2013: Sky News report from London, UK
2013: Monaco television special report from Africa
2013: Sky News report from Monaco
2013: CCTV China, Special Report
2014: Monaco television special report from Monaco
2014: CNN special report, live from London, UK
2014: ‘Arise Africa’ TV special report, live from London, UK
2014: TVC News Live Africa special report
2014: CCTV China , Special report Newshour
2015: “Monaco Television special report”
