Kari Riley and Lara Ghraoui open up in celebration of Pride Month this June.
Harper’s Bazaar (HBZVN): What has being in your relationship taught you?
KARI RILEY & LARA GHRAOUI: Our relationship has taught us several things such as patience, compassion, and self-love. Having met in our early 20s, we have both experienced intense growth periods that have required so much patience, not only for each other but for ourselves. Learning how to navigate healthy communication and practice patience has been life-changing for the two of us. It has given us the ability to be open and kind to each other even in the hardest times. Compassion goes hand in hand with this because patience comes from deep compassion for the other. Compassion is an expression of love for your partner when they need you. Compassion is knowing when your partner needs to be lifted up and knowing how to lift them. We want to emphasize how being with the right partner makes the love for yourself blossom. For example, Kari always gushes about the way Lara has helped her through her mental and emotional battles and how she never looks down on her when she is low, which has given her the confidence to grow and love herself deeper. On the other hand, Lara has gained self-confidence from the way Kari unconditionally wants to be with her, no matter what insecurities Lara has had about not being enough. However, most importantly, our relationship has taught us the importance of vulnerability and the beauty of what it truly means to grow with someone and face life’s challenges together.
HBZVN: How did each of you begin your modeling careers?
Top, Dumebi. Skirt, That’s So Fetch. Earrings, Basic PR. Rings, Zynnia. Shoes, Jonak.
KARI RILEY: From the age of 10, I was scouted in almost every public place we went. After showing disinterest in almost every extracurricular activity my parents put me in, modeling was the one thing that I was completely drawn to. It became my dream from a very young age. At 11, I did my first photoshoot in my home state of Colorado and signed with my first modeling agency at the age of 13! I couldn’t have done it without my mom’s support. She drove me around to all of my meetings, castings, and photoshoots, no matter how far. By 15, I was traveling alone to Japan to model for 3 months, which became the catalyst for my career. Other countries such as Greece, Ecuador, and Colombia followed, until I was working full-time between Los Angeles and Miami. Finally, I settled down in Los Angeles in 2017, where my modeling career truly began to flourish, and I now call it my home. I am so grateful for the opportunities my career has gifted me, experiences and connections I would have never gained otherwise.
Dress, Zoelle. Necklace & earrings, Marukh Akuly. Shoes, Jonak.
LARA GHRAOUI: Getting into modeling was a challenging journey for me. At 14, I knew I wanted to pursue it. However, living in Lebanon made that difficult. I wasn’t sure how to get started, but I knew I would eventually figure it out. One day, a friend of mine connected me with a well-known fashion designer in Beirut, who helped me meet with agencies in Paris. I ended up going to Paris but was told I was too young to get signed. At 16, I begged my mom to move back to California so I could pursue modeling. She took a chance on me and made the move. At 17, I signed my first modeling contract in LA, and by 18, my career finally started to take off. I traveled to Germany, London, and eventually moved to New York, where I lived and worked for three years. Today, I live and work full-time in Los Angeles and am incredibly grateful for all of the experiences that led me here. I hope my story inspires others to chase their dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.
Lara: Jacket & pants, Rastah. Top, L Space. Rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Jonak. Kari: Top, Dumebi. Skirt, That’s So Fetch. Earrings, Basic PR. Rings, Zynnia. Shoes, Jonak.
HBZVN: What does Pride mean to you?
KARI RILEY & LARA GHRAOUI: To us, pride means embracing a life that feels truly authentic to who you are and never being ashamed of who you love. It is a continuous celebration and a relentless fight for freedom. While some of us can express ourselves without limits, others live in fear and do not have a voice. Therefore, while pride is all about outward confidence in oneself, it is crucial to remember that true pride includes educating others and standing together in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ family. We hope that through standing together and supporting each other, we can pave the way for a world that is open-minded, understanding, and accepting of all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Lara: Jacket & pants, Rastah. Top, L Space. Rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Jonak. Kari: Top, Dumebi. Skirt, That’s So Fetch. Earrings, Basic PR. Rings, Zynnia. Shoes, Jonak.
HBZVN: How would you describe each other’s style from when you met versus today?
KARI RILEY & LARA GHRAOUI: We often laugh about this topic now, but looking back, we both dressed more for the male gaze without even realizing it. Lara wasn’t fully out to her family or online until about two years ago. Prior to this, she often felt uncomfortable in her own skin and instead of finding her own style, she would imitate how other models dressed. Today, her style has evolved into dressing in what makes her feel comfortable and cool – a tomboyish style with feminine touches. Before dating Lara, Kari dressed in ways that society deemed acceptable or that made her feel worthy and helped her fit in. Since becoming more comfortable with her queerness, Kari’s style has transformed to embrace uniqueness and what truly makes her feel good. She now believes “the weirder, the better.” Kari loves long, flowy skirts paired with oversized jackets, creating outfits that blend femininity with a touch of masculinity. It’s important to her to dress in a way that garners compliments from women. For instance, she once went out in a long, flowy skirt and several women called her a princess, but not one man complimented her outfit. Now, she always asks herself if men will hate her outfit, and if they do, then she knows she’s on the right track!
Kari: Dress, Ivan Young. Top, Vegan Tiger. Necklaces, Tova. Earrings and rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Sylven New York. Lara: Jacket and pants, Rastah. Bodysuit, Bluebella. Necklace, Atra Nova by Sheila B. Rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Earrings, Marukh Aculy. Shoes, Ingiliz.
HBZVN: How does your style reflect who you are?
KARI RILEY: I want my style to tell a story about who I am. While I am very feminine, I also feel the most comfortable when there’s an edgy or funky component to my outfit. I like to play with chunky, off-beat jewelry and pair items that traditionally don’t belong together. I think this reflects who I am because, while I may present as very feminine and classic, I am also very queer and quirky.
LARA GHRAOUI: I consider myself to be a touch more masculine than feminine and feel most comfortable when my personal style reflects this. I often find myself gravitating towards an oversized, boyish silhouette while still including feminine aspects in my outfits. I feel that this unique balance truly reflects who I am because, despite my preference for a tomboyish style, I still resonate with my feminine side. For example, I enjoy wearing makeup and doing my hair, but I also love wearing hoodies and sneakers!
“We believe that personal style is a reflection of one’s spirit. Expressing yourself through fashion is an art, and when done thoughtfully, it can tell someone so much about who you are.”
Lara: Jacket & pants, Rastah. Bralette, Bluebella. Earrings, SYL. Rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Jonak. Kari: Top, Mary Dickow. Skirt, Mitiliane Couture. Rings, Basic PR. Shoes, Schutz.
HBZVN: How has your partner influenced the way you dress?
KARI RILEY & LARA GHRAOUI: Our styles have naturally influenced each other as we’ve grown more comfortable with ourselves. Our relationship has genuinely deepened our appreciation and pride in ourselves and our sexualities. As a result, we have embraced our queerness and truly let it shine through our personal styles.
“Our relationship has taught us several things such as patience, compassion, and self-love. Compassion goes hand in hand with this because patience comes from deep compassion for the other.”
HBZVN: Outside of modeling, what keeps you busy?
KARI RILEY: Outside of modeling, I have always been drawn to the arts. I am a romantic at heart and love all things that inspire me to create. I love to write, and I published a poetry book called “Through The Blues”, a collection of work that I poured my heart into over the years. Currently, I am in the process of writing a second book. I also enjoy painting, pottery, and creating manifestation collages. Alongside my creative pursuits, I love to travel and immerse myself in experiencing new places and cultures with my partner. The endeavors I pursue outside of modeling truly enrich my life and provide me with an internally fulfilling creative outlet that allows me to explore and express my passions to the fullest.
Kari: Dress, Ivan Young. Top, Vegan Tiger. Necklaces, Tova. Earrings and rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Sylven New York.
LARA GHRAOUI: Outside of modeling, I have a few passions that I gravitate towards, with music being my current primary focus. I recently started DJing, and I must admit, there’s no feeling like seeing people dance and vibe to the music I play. When I hop on the decks, I know I have the opportunity to take people on a journey and create an unforgettable memory of a magical night, which is so meaningful to me. My goal is to perform more shows and play music that not only resonates with me but also brings joy to the crowd. In addition to DJing, I also love to travel with my partner and am passionate about learning about new cultures, history and exploring art. In essence, having multiple pursuits outside of modeling is so important to me as they provide me with creative outlets that allow me to feel internally fulfilled.
Lara: Dress, Zoelle. Necklace & earrings, Marukh Akuly. Shoes, Jonak.
HBZVN: What are three things you love about each other?
KARI RILEY: I love Lara’s drive. I have never met someone so focused on their goals and dreams. When Lara wants something, you can guarantee she will achieve it. Perhaps it’s her Scorpio energy, or maybe it’s a rare quality she possesses, but it’s truly beautiful to watch her bring her dreams to life. The second thing I love about her is her selflessness. Lara always prioritizes the people she loves ahead of herself. She never asks for anything, even when she needs help, and always goes out her way to make sure I am okay. She is a caregiver for her mother, always going the extra mile and considering her in all of her decisions. Lastly, I adore her nerdy, goofy spirit. From the outside, one can see her cool, beautiful and hardworking side, but from my perspective, there is so much more. She makes me laugh harder than anybody I know, nerds out over little things like money-saving hacks and cars, and most importantly, I feel comfortable being my silly self with her.
LARA GHRAOUI: Kari is such a special person to me. She is truly one of a kind. I have never been with anyone who is as supportive of my dreams as she is. I love how she supports me in anything and everything I want to do, no matter how small or big the idea might be. She is an amazing listener. I am an overthinker, and I often wake up with many thoughts and ideas which I blurt out to her. She always listens attentively and patiently, then calmly brainstorms solutions with me. Her ability to genuinely hear me out makes me feel so loved and understood. She’s not just my partner, she’s my best friend, and she’s always there to help me navigate through my thoughts and feelings. Lastly, I love how helpful she is. I’m the type of person that thinks I can do the jobs of five people at once, and I quite literally do sometimes, but it also leads me to get a little burnt out, as I’m not the type of person to ask for help even when I need it. However, Kari can tell when I’m stressed and knows just how to ease me – a little help with a task I may not be able to get to is the sweetest, most relieving thing to me. I’m not really one for materialistic gifts, and while they may be nice on occasion, nothing makes me feel loved like having a partner who has my back.
Kari: Top, Mary Dickow. Skirt, Mitiliane Couture. Rings, Basic PR. Shoes, Schutz. Lara: Jacket & pants, Rastah. Bralette, Bluebella. Earrings, SYL. Rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Jonak.
HBZVN: When it comes to doing jobs as a couple, how do you decide what brands to work with?
KARI RILEY & LARA GHRAOUI: We are beyond grateful to be able to work together as a couple and work with many esteemed brands such as Harper’s Bazaar. It is truly a dream come true. When deciding what brands to work with, we always consider a few things. First and foremost, it is extremely important to us that the brands we work with are not only LGBTQIA+ friendly during Pride, but all year-round. As a female queer couple, we exercise careful consideration to ensure our image is not hypersexualized, as we strive to portray queer women in a tasteful, respectful, and authentic manner that honors the community. Our goal is to represent the LGBTQIA+ community by providing an example of what a queer couple could look like, helping people to accept and normalize seeing diverse queer couples in the media.
Lara: Suit, Musier Paris. Top, Solgo Atelier. Necklace, Atranova by Sheila B. Earrings, SYL. Shoes, Sylven. Kari: Top, Rastah, Pants, Rita Vinieris. Necklace, Marukh Akuly.
HBZVN: Using your platforms, how is it important for you to advocate for young women?
KARI RILEY & LARA GHRAOUI: We started posting as a couple on tiktok for fun, but it quickly transformed into a much bigger purpose than we ever expected. We have built a beautiful community of queer followers and friends who have truly inspired and encouraged us to be unapologetically ourselves. Shortly after posting a few videos, we received hundreds of direct messages from young queer girls sharing their struggles with their sexuality and asking for advice. To our surprise, many of them told us that our relationship with each other and our comfort with our sexualities helped them accept themselves. All of this made us realize how being ourselves on our platforms, being open, and sharing our relationship has given us the opportunity to represent women in the queer community.
We hope that we can help normalize being queer and being in a queer relationship. We want to be a source of support and inspiration for queer women, showing them that despite the challenges, they are not alone on this journey.
Lara: Suit, Musier Paris. Top, Solgo Atelier. Necklace, Atranova by Sheila B. Earrings, SYL. Shoes, Sylven. Kari: Top, Rastah, Pants, Rita Vinieris. Necklace, Marukh Akuly.
Kari believes it is important to stand as the femme representation she wishes she had growing up. Within and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community, feminine-presenting queer women often feel marginalized. They are not always seen as “queer enough” because of their style or appearance and are sometimes not accepted for who they are. Many people do not respect their relationships and choices. Kari wants to show the world and other young queer girls that it is okay not to fit the stereotype that society imposes. Queerness comes in all forms, and you don’t have to label yourself or prove anything to anyone. Kari’s goal is to empower queer girls to embrace their true selves, defy stereotypes, and feel pride in their identities.
Lara has known she was queer from a young age. She spent a large portion of her developmental years in Beirut, Lebanon where being gay is not accepted. This instilled a lot of shame and fear about her identity for many years. Moving to the US to begin her modeling career finally gave her the opportunity to be exposed to other people like her. Her platform has given her the ability to be a form of representation for other members of the LGBTQIA+ community who may be afraid to come out and be themselves. She not only understands that being joyful during Pride is almost impossible for many people in the world, but she feels it deeply as this was once her experience. Her wish is to be a support system for those who experience this, to show them that they are loved and that there is nothing wrong with them. Lara’s journey is a testament that shows that love and acceptance about one’s sexuality can help them overcome shame and fear, and that everyone deserves to feel that acceptance and pride.
Kari Riley and Lara Ghraoui. Kari: Top, Mary Dickow. Skirt, Mitiliane Couture. Rings, Basic PR. Shoes, Schutz. Lara: Jacket & pants, Rastah. Bralette, Bluebella. Earrings, SYL. Rings, Zynnia & Ivy Jewelry. Shoes, Jonak.
Photographer: Madelene Lisella @madelenelisella.
Models: Kari Cassandra Riley @karicassandra & Lara Ghraoui @laraghraoui.
Hair: Ruslan Nureev @hairbyruslan with @theonly.agency.
Makeup: Stacey Tan @Staceytan_ with @forwardartists using Makeup Forever.
Styling: Estelle Aporongao @estella.png with @Exclusiveartists.
Photographer assistant: Evgeniia Bailey @evgeniiabailey.
Production/set design: Madelene Lisella @madelenelisella.
Fashion Agency: Marc Juan Comunicación @marcjuancomunicacion.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
