Ubah Hassan

Early Life and Immigration to Canada

Ubah Ali Hassan was born in Somalia in 1983 and spent her early childhood in the city of Baidoa. In 1991, as conflict intensified, her mother and three sisters fled to Ethiopia, while Hassan remained in Somalia with her father and brother until 1994 when they relocated to Kenya. The family's journey eventually led them to Canada, where Hassan immigrated at the age of 15 to reunite with her mother and sisters who had also settled there. Their transition to life in Canada was challenging, as the family lived in a homeless shelter for their first year in the country, an experience that Hassan has referenced as formative. This period of displacement and resettlement shaped her resilience and later informed her philanthropic outlook.

Modelling Career

Hassan's entry into the fashion industry began in Canada when she was talent-spotted by a photographer in a park at age 17. She subsequently started modelling in Vancouver and Toronto, balancing this early work with running a restaurant in Vancouver. Her career accelerated significantly after she signed with Click Model Management in New York City in 2007. This move led to high-profile photoshoots and runway appearances, establishing her presence in the international fashion scene. Key milestones in her modelling career include being featured in Allure magazine in April 2008, being named Model.com's Model of the Week in May 2008, and appearing twice in Vogue Italia. She was the face of Ralph Lauren's Spring/Summer 2009 campaign and has worked with numerous other prestigious brands including Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, CoverGirl, and Macy's. As of 2023, she remains signed with her mother agency, Richard's International Model Management in Vancouver, and with Models 1 in London.

Entrepreneurship and Food Venture

Beyond modelling, Hassan founded and serves as CEO of Ubah Hot, an African-inspired vegan hot sauce brand she launched in June 2021. The sauce was created to incorporate the flavours from her Somali heritage into her diet while maintaining a strict regimen for her modelling work. The product quickly found success and was featured in Oprah's Favorite Things list in November 2021. Hassan has actively promoted the brand through media appearances, including on the Netflix series My Unorthodox Life where she discussed the business with Julia Haart. In 2023, she expanded the brand's reach through a collaboration with the New York-based Italian restaurant chain Serafina to create a specialty Ubah Hot Pizza. Her work as a food creator was further highlighted in a June 2026 interview on the Radio Cherry Bombe podcast, where she discussed the origins and growth of her hot sauce line.

Television and Media Appearances

Hassan expanded her public profile through television, most notably as a cast member on the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City. She joined the show for its fourteenth season, which premiered in July 2023, and continued for the fifteenth season. In March 2026, it was revealed that Hassan had departed the series following the fifteenth season when the new cast for the sixteenth season was announced. Her time on the show brought her lifestyle, business ventures, and personality to a broad audience. Earlier, in March 2015, she was the subject of a documentary short film titled Ubah! directed by Joe Berlinger, which premiered on CNN.com. The film detailed her upbringing, modelling career, and philanthropic work in Cambodia.

Philanthropy and Advocacy

Philanthropic work is a central component of Hassan's public life. She has served as an Oxfam Sisters on the Planet ambassador, focusing on initiatives to end systemic discrimination against women and change laws that perpetuate poverty. In 2012, she co-founded and served as president of Maji Umbrellas, a company that donated a portion of its profits to clean water initiatives in East Africa, for which she received an Elle magazine Genius Award. Hassan is an outspoken advocate for diversity in the modelling industry, encouraging the hiring of models of all races, ages, and body types. She has worked closely with the charity arm of Toms Shoes, traveling to Cambodia to distribute shoes and essentials, and has raised funds for the Cambodian Children's Fund. In June 2023, she was honoured by the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research for her efforts in raising awareness and funds, a cause she embraced after her mother died from leukemia in 2012. She has also participated in philanthropic campaigns for Talbots and Dress for Success.

Public Image and Personal Life

Hassan maintains an active and visible public persona, frequently attending high-profile events such as New York Fashion Week, as she did in February 2026 for the Marc Jacobs show. She is a Muslim and has cited Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, Naomi Campbell, and Iman as personal inspirations. Hassan is a cousin of model Chanel Ayan, a star of The Real Housewives of Dubai. She became engaged to investment banker Oliver Dachsel in 2022, a relationship that began that same year. An avid traveller, she has stated that exploring new places is one of her favourite activities. Her career spans fashion, business, television, and philanthropy, defining her public image as a Somali-Canadian figure with international reach.

Questions about Ubah Hassan

What is Ubah Hassan known for?

Ubah Hassan is known as a Somali-Canadian model, businesswoman, and television personality. She is the founder and CEO of the Ubah Hot vegan hot sauce brand. She starred in the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of New York City for its fourteenth and fifteenth seasons. Hassan has worked with top designers like Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and Oscar de la Renta and is involved in philanthropic work with organizations such as Oxfam.

What is Ubah Hot?

Ubah Hot is an African-inspired vegan hot sauce brand founded and led by Ubah Hassan. Launched in June 2021, the sauce incorporates flavours from her Somali heritage. The product gained notable recognition when it was featured in Oprah's Favorite Things list in November 2021. Hassan has expanded the brand through collaborations, including a specialty pizza with the Serafina restaurant chain in 2023.

What philanthropic work does Ubah Hassan do?

Ubah Hassan is involved in extensive philanthropic work. She is an Oxfam Sisters on the Planet ambassador and co-founded Maji Umbrellas to fund clean water projects. She has worked with Toms Shoes and the Cambodian Children's Fund, and was honoured in 2023 by the Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. She also advocates for greater diversity within the modelling industry.

Where did Ubah Hassan grow up?

Ubah Hassan was born in Somalia and grew up in the city of Baidoa. Due to conflict, parts of her family fled to Ethiopia and Kenya. She immigrated to Canada at the age of 15, reuniting with her mother and sisters. Her family lived in a homeless shelter for a year upon their arrival in Canada, an experience that influenced her later life and charitable efforts.

When did Ubah Hassan leave Real Housewives of New York?

Ubah Hassan departed The Real Housewives of New York City after the show's fifteenth season. Her departure was publicly revealed in March 2026 when the series announced its cast for the sixteenth season. She had originally joined the popular Bravo reality series for its fourteenth season, which premiered on July 16, 2023. This means she was a cast member for two consecutive seasons, fourteen and fifteen. The announcement of the new cast in 2026 confirmed she would not be returning for the subsequent season.

How did Ubah Hassan start her modelling career?

Ubah Hassan began her modelling career at age 17 after being talent spotted by a photographer in a park in Canada. This initial discovery led her to start modelling professionally in the cities of Vancouver and Toronto. A significant career milestone occurred in 2007 when she signed with Click Model Management in New York City. This agency representation propelled her into high profile work, including photoshoots and walking on major fashion runways. Her early career in Canada and subsequent move to New York established the foundation for her future success with top designers.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.