Vanessa Modely: Lies, Luxury, and the UNESCO Scandal

Once a young woman from the French island of Réunion with dreams of fame, Vanessa Modely has become one of the most controversial self-made figures in recent French media. Her story is a strange mix of glamour, ambition, and fabrication—a tale that begins with a modest background and ends in a full-blown scandal involving UNESCO, fabricated titles, and a global campaign to make football part of humanity’s intangible heritage.

A Model from Réunion with Big Dreams

Born and raised on the island of La Réunion, Vanessa Modely’s early life offered no hints of the international figure she would later claim to be. Her childhood acquaintances describe her as lively and attention-seeking—someone “who always wanted to be seen.” By her late teens, she set her sights on fame and left the island to pursue a career in modeling and entertainment.

In 2003, she briefly appeared on the reality show L’île de la tentation (The Island of Temptation), which brought her a flash of attention. She later tried her luck in modeling, acting, and even singing, though none of these ventures achieved real success.

Despite her modest background—her father reportedly worked as a pool technician—Vanessa began to reinvent her own narrative. On several websites and media outlets that lacked verification, she portrayed herself as coming from “Indian aristocracy,” claiming to be the descendant of a royal order from the British Empire in India and even the great-granddaughter of a “divine philosopher.” None of these claims have ever been substantiated.

Rebranding Herself as ‘Princess Rani Vanouska’

By the mid-2010s, Vanessa Modely had undergone a complete transformation. The glamorous outfits of her modeling days gave way to traditional Indian garments and jeweled headpieces. She adopted a new name—Rani Vanouska T. Modely—and began calling herself “Her Highness,” signing posts online with the initials “HH.”

This reinvention was not limited to aesthetics. Through carefully curated photoshoots and social media posts, she constructed a persona of a royal philanthropist and cultural figure. Her online biographies described her as a global ambassador, a humanitarian, and a visionary. In truth, much of this image relied on her own storytelling and selective editing of her history.

The Path to UNESCO: A Volunteer Turned ‘Ambassador’

In 2015, Vanessa began volunteering for the French National Commission for UNESCO, working briefly as a goodwill volunteer. Her responsibilities were limited and short-lived—UNESCO confirmed she worked with them for only one year.

Yet from this fleeting association, Vanessa crafted an entirely new identity. She began referring to herself as an “Ambassadress for UNESCO”, a title that UNESCO has officially denied multiple times.

In 2018, she launched her own project, “Football World Heritage,” with the goal of having football (soccer) recognized as an element of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. The idea, though noble in spirit, was her personal initiative and not backed by the organization. Still, she began using UNESCO’s logo, speaking as though she were a representative of the institution, and even appointing “ambassadors” for her cause—an act that misled journalists and international partners.

The Qatar Scandal: When the Illusion Collapsed

In early 2021, the Qatari news outlet Doha News published an investigation that exposed the inconsistencies in Vanessa Modely’s claims. While visiting Qatar, she managed to meet the country’s football star Almoez Ali, convincing him to endorse her initiative.

She posted a photo on social media announcing him as a “new ambassador for UNESCO,” which triggered a media storm. Qatari newspapers proudly reported that their national football hero had been appointed by UNESCO. Within hours, UNESCO issued a public statement clarifying that neither Almoez Ali nor Vanessa Modely had any official role within the organization.

Caught in the backlash, Vanessa accused journalists of “misinterpreting” her words and insisted she had never officially named anyone ambassador. But the damage was done—her credibility crumbled, and what had been years of carefully curated prestige began to unravel.

UNESCO Takes Legal Action

The French National Commission for UNESCO, frustrated by years of misuse of its name, finally filed a legal complaint against Vanessa Modely for “fraudulent use of the UNESCO brand.”

UNESCO stated clearly:

“Ms. Modely has no link whatsoever with UNESCO and is not an ambassador.”

The organization revealed that it had sent multiple cease-and-desist letters to Modely since 2016, warning her to stop presenting herself as a representative. Despite these warnings, she continued to use UNESCO’s name in her speeches, interviews, and promotional materials.

According to UNESCO officials, Vanessa once had an honorary title as a “Goodwill Ambassador” at the French National Commission level—a purely symbolic and temporary recognition. That honorary status ended in 2016. Nonetheless, she kept referring to herself as “Ambassadress for UNESCO” long after her volunteer work had ended.

A Web of Exaggeration and Illusion

Vanessa Modely’s behavior fits a broader pattern: blending truth with self-promotion until the line between fact and fiction disappears.

Her website and social media profiles are filled with photos alongside famous figures—politicians, business leaders, and celebrities. Among them are footballer Antoine Griezmann, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, and politician Éric Ciotti. While these images suggest endorsement, there is no public record or confirmation from any of them that they formally support her cause.

Modely has also claimed backing from the French Football Federation and even from certain Arab UNESCO member states. However, UNESCO itself confirmed that no official nomination or application to list football as a cultural heritage item has ever been filed.

The “Football World Heritage” Project

Despite the controversies, Vanessa Modely continues to promote her campaign to have football recognized as world heritage. The Football World Heritage website describes the sport as “a unifying force across nations,” featuring high-quality photos and slogans about peace and unity. Yet the site offers little actual substance—no documentation of applications, no clear organizational structure, and no proof of UNESCO involvement.

In July 2020, she appeared in a promotional video for the project, sitting in front of a spinning Earth, wearing an ornate gown and speaking of “the divine mission of football.” The video ends with her declaring football to be “the heartbeat of humanity.”

While many viewers found the video strange, it showcased her unique ability to merge performance art, spirituality, and self-branding into a single public persona.

Her Relationship with Forbes and the Media

Vanessa Modely has often cited Forbes magazine as proof of her legitimacy. She was indeed interviewed once by Forbes France for a short feature about football’s cultural role, but her connection to the magazine was largely overstated.

In the aftermath, she went as far as to Photoshop a fake Forbes magazine cover featuring her portrait and posted it as her profile picture online. Investigations later revealed that she had previously contributed small fashion pieces to Forbes France’s online section, which likely helped her secure an interview—but she was never officially profiled as a major figure.

From Parfum Paris Rouge to the “Modely” Empire

Before her UNESCO adventure, Vanessa had tried her hand at business. She launched a perfume brand, Paris Rouge by Modely, and claimed it was the first in a line of seven luxury fragrances under her label “Maison Modely.” The perfumes, marketed as “divine expressions of universal luxury,” never gained traction.

A website once described Maison Modely as “the apotheosis of divine elegance,” but the brand quickly faded from existence, leaving no tangible trace online.

Her father was even listed as the director general of “Groupe Modely,” though no records of the company’s operations exist today.

Vanessa Modely’s Defense: A Counterattack

After being accused by UNESCO and Doha News of misrepresentation, Vanessa Modely—or rather, her Football World Heritage organization—issued a formal response in March 2021.

In her statement, she reversed the narrative, claiming that she would be filing a lawsuit against Doha News for “defamation” and accusing a UNESCO official of “criminal misconduct.”

Her letter also reaffirmed that she had never lost her title as “Goodwill Ambassador” and cited supposed contracts signed between herself and Daniel Janicot, former president of the French National Commission for UNESCO. UNESCO, however, categorically denied these claims, reiterating that her affiliation ended in 2016 and that no valid contract exists.

The Myth Continues

Despite multiple controversies, legal warnings, and public denials, Vanessa Modely—now almost exclusively known as Princess Rani Vanouska T. Modely—continues to cultivate her image as a royal humanitarian and UNESCO ambassador.

Her social media accounts, adorned with pictures from luxury events, still carry the insignia “UNESCO” in connection with her football campaign. She attends high-profile events, organizes charity auctions, and shares spiritual messages blending world peace, football, and divine love.

But beneath the glitz, a troubling picture emerges—one of ambition untethered from reality. What began as an attempt to gain recognition has turned into a long-term act of self-reinvention, bordering on deception.

Conclusion

The story of Vanessa Modely is not simply about one woman’s ambition. It’s a mirror reflecting the power of modern image-building—the ability to construct global legitimacy through appearances, associations, and social media spectacle.

Her transformation from a Réunion model into “Princess Rani Vanouska” shows how personal branding can blur the lines between reality and illusion. For UNESCO, it is a cautionary tale about how its prestige can be exploited. For the public, it’s a reminder that in the digital age, a title, a photo, or even a hashtag can be enough to create—and sustain—a myth.

Written by

Nancy Drew

Updated

1 week ago