After quitting the runway, she set up her own label in 1994, and spoke out actively against female circumcision, describing her own experience at age 9 in a book, "Katoucha, In My Flesh," published in 2007.
Ran away to Europe at 17 aiming to be a model. Her big break came when a designer at Lanvin spotted her in a line-up and hired her as a fitting model. Her first catwalk modeling was for Thierry Mugler at the start of the 1980s.
Disapeared after returning from a party on February 1, 2008. Her body was found floating in the Seine River in Paris on February 28, 2008.
Was a French supermodel and one of the world's first to have come from Africa. She participated in many fashion shows for such designers as Yves Saint Laurent, Thierry Mugler and Christian Lacroix.
Her book Katoucha, In My Flesh," published in 2007 was dedicated to her three children.
Had three children, older child a daughter named Amy.
Her daughter is Victoria's Secret Model Aiden Curtiss.