Yael Shelbia

Yael Shelbia Cohen is an Israeli fashion model and actress who has gained international recognition through major commercial campaigns and television roles. She first established a presence in the modeling industry working with prominent Israeli commercial brands, serving as a model for Castro beginning in 2017 and later joining campaigns for Renuar starting in 2018.

Born on August 31, 2001, in Nahariya, Israel, she was raised in a national religious family associated with Orthodox Judaism and Religious Zionism. She grew up alongside four brothers; her mother worked as a librarian and real estate agent holding an advanced degree in urban planning, while her father worked in a factory. She adopted her middle name, Shelbia, as her professional surname, honoring her great-grandmother's family line of Mizrahi and Sephardi Tunisian-Jewish heritage. Shelbia began posting self-portraits on Instagram shortly before turning sixteen, which caught the attention of professional photographer Marina Moskowitz, initiating her career.

Her entry into modeling presented unique challenges due to her religious lifestyle, including observing Shabbat and maintaining kosher dietary standards. Her career path initially generated controversy within her religious high school community, though she was permitted to continue her education under specific guidelines supported by her family and educational authorities. Navigating these religious commitments occasionally impacted her work international travel, such as relying on basic kosher-friendly food during a job in Milan or forfeiting contracts that conflicted with her standards of dress or Sabbath observance.

Shelbia's career expanded rapidly in Israel and abroad, earning her comparisons to other prominent Israeli models. In 2018, she was chosen to model for Kim Kardashian's cosmetics brand, KKW Beauty, after Kardashian selected her images directly. The following year, she was selected as a lead model for Kylie Jenner's Biotic Skincare line. Her international media presence also included appearing on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Bulgaria in August 2020.

Expanding into dramatic media, Shelbia made her acting debut in 2019 after being cast in the Israeli television series Palmach. The teen historical adventure drama, which premiered in 2020 on Teen Nick via yes, is set in 1946 prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, featuring Shelbia in the role of Ruth Hirsch.

Her public profile grew further through industry accolades, notably when TC Candler named her the most beautiful woman in the world in 2020, following her inclusion on their annual lists in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Alongside her career, Shelbia enlisted in 2020 to serve as a soldier in the Israeli Air Force within the Israel Defense Forces. Personal relationships noted in public records include past partnerships with model Barak Shamir, businessman Brandon Korff, and singer Omer Adam.