Grece Under Fire

Marc Cain ensemble.

Grece Ghanem’s voice, sporadic giggle included, is innocent and feminine. It suits her five-foot-two frame—although you might not guess these details by looking at her Instagram feed, @greceghanem. “When people meet me, they say, ‘Oh my god, you’re so petite!’ ” Savvy iPhone angles coupled with supermodel poses may give the illusion that she’s much taller, but it’s Ghanem’s serendipitous story and quinquagenarian chutzpah that render her larger than life.

At 54, Ghanem is a social media phenomenon. (Her first name, pronounced “Grace”, is actually a misspelling on her identity card.) The numbers are there in black and white: nearly 72,000 followers on Instagram—and counting. While a picture is worth a thousand words, Ghanem’s photos can rake in over 4,000 likes, which in Instagram currency translates to dollars and cents. Campaigns for Sephora, Reitmans, Kérastase, Browns x Adidas, and a handful of collaborations, such as the recurrent one with Club Monaco, have ensued and fans—or in Instagram-speak, followers—can expect more in 2019.

Salvatore Ferragamo leather jumpsuit and shoes; Nonie blouse.

Ghanem immigrated to Canada from Lebanon with her then–nine-year-old daughter in 2005. What started out as a mother-and-daughter hobby in the summer of 2016 has snowballed into a tiny enterprise. Cheyenne, now 23 and a graduate of McGill’s finance program, is her mother’s photographer, creative director, and manager, posting photos, answering e-mails, and finding “the good angles”. Last September, Ghanem was interviewed by Vogue, the holy grail of fashion.

But life hasn’t always been floral Gucci pantsuits and oversized Balenciaga sneakers. In Ghanem’s war-torn homeland, she lived in constant fear. “When I was living in the dorm [at the American University of Beirut], I didn’t know if I would make it to see my family on the weekend. I didn’t want this future for my daughter. This is why I moved to Canada.”

COS top; Hermès skirt; Gucci thong sandals, available at Nordstrom.

And when in Canada, her master’s in microbiology didn’t translate to the Canadian system. Having subbed for a fitness instructor in Beirut, she turned to Montreal’s YMCA and completed a one-year program to become a personal trainer. “I had to take care of myself and my daughter,” recalls Ghanem. “I had to start again from scratch.”

One result of all that working out is Ghanem’s compact, tightly sculpted physique. Beneath the bold fuchsia chin-to-ankle dresses, voluminous sleeves, and layers of mixed patterns is a body that would make Madonna proud. And it is Ghanem’s self-expression that resonates with fellow ’grammers, many of whom are much younger than she is. “It’s very motivating, challenging. The more I get followers, the more I feel the pressure. I feel like I have to keep on working and inspiring. A big number of my followers range from their late 20s to 40s.”

Loewe coat, available at Nordstrom; Nonie blouse; BOSS skirt; Marc Cain ankle boots; Hermès earrings. Artwork by Bruno Leydet, Yatagan, 2017.

Coach ruffle blouse, vest, and skirt.

Stella McCartney blazer, top, and pants, available at Nordstrom; Breguet Tradition Dame 7038 watch in 18-karat rose gold, bezel set with 68 brilliant-cut diamonds, mother-of-pearl dial off-set at 12 o’clock, and white alligator strap.blazer, top, and pants, available at Nordstrom; Breguet Tradition Dame 7038 watch in 18-karat rose gold, bezel set with 68 brilliant-cut diamonds, mother-of-pearl dial off-set at 12 o’clock, and white alligator strap.

SHARE