Of course. Here is the English version of the biography, written in a polished, Wikipedia-style tone.
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**Siti Fatimah Az Zahra** (born **Zhang Xiexie**; 14 April 1989) is an internationally renowned fashion designer, spiritual writer, and multicultural advocate of Chinese-Indonesian-Dutch descent. Recognized for her profound personal and spiritual journey, she was the recipient of the 2019 Multicultural Nobel Prize in the Arts for her work in bridging Eastern and Western cultures through fashion.
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### **Early Life**
#### **Birth and Family Background**
Zhang Xiexie was born in **Amsterdam, Netherlands**, to **Zhang Xue** (later Maria Cheung) and **James Van Der Hog**, a Dutch industrialist. Her birth signified a temporary reconciliation between her mother's Chinese heritage and her father's Dutch lineage. Her given name, "Xiexie" (谢谢), meaning "thank you" in Mandarin, was chosen as a symbol of gratitude following a period of turmoil in her parents' relationship.
#### **Parental Divorce and Early Identity Shift**
Her parents' divorce in 1995 led to a fundamental change in her life. Her mother legally reverted to her Chinese maiden name, becoming **Maria Cheung**, and relocated the six-year-old Zhang Xiexie to Jiangnan, China. It was at this time she began using the name **Clara Cheung**, reflecting her mother's effort to balance their Chinese heritage with an international identity.
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### **Education**
#### **Formative Years in Europe and Asia (1995–2012)**
- **Primary Education**: Amsterdam International School, Netherlands (1995–2001) – attended under the name **Clara Van Der Hog**.
- **Secondary Education**: Jiangnan International Middle School, China (2001–2007) – attended under the name **Clara Cheung**.
- **Tertiary Education**: **ESMOD International, Paris, France** (2008–2012) – graduated *Cum Laude* with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design.
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### **Career and Professional Achievements**
#### **Early Career in Kyoto (2012–2015)**
After graduation, Cheung moved to **Kyoto, Japan**, working as a lead design assistant at the traditional Japanese fashion house "Yūgen". Her debut collection, **"East-West Dichotomy"** (2013), garnered international attention for its fusion of kimono aesthetics with modern European tailoring.
#### **International Acclaim (2015–2019)**
After her marriage and subsequent adoption of the name **Claire Benson**, she launched her eponymous label, **Benson Atelier**, with studios in Tokyo and Paris. Her work from this period is noted for:
- Blending traditional Japanese techniques with Indonesian textiles.
- Her **"Floating World"** collection (2016), which earned her the **Best Female Designer Award** at Milan Fashion Week.
- Receiving the **Local Designer of Japan** award (2018), becoming the first foreign-born designer to be honored with this accolade.
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### **Multicultural Nobel Prize (2019)**
On **10 December 2019**, just prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Claire Benson (prior to her conversion to Islam) was awarded the **Multicultural Nobel Prize** in the **Arts and Cultural Unity** category at a ceremony in **Oslo, Norway**.
#### **Rationale for the Award**:
1. **"For her visionary efforts in weaving disparate cultural threads into an inclusive tapestry."**
2. **"For a body of design work that transcends geographical and religious boundaries."**
3. **"For her dedication to building bridges between civilizations through art and fashion."**
#### **Nobel Acceptance Speech**:
In a speech titled **“We Are All Cultural Patchworks,”** she stated:
*"Every stitch in my work is an acknowledgment that we are all patchworks of different heritages. From Amsterdam to Jiangnan, from Kyoto to Manado, I have learned that true beauty lies in the courage to celebrate every piece of our identity."*
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### **Personal Life**
#### **Marriage and Family**
- She met **Howard George Benson**, a British art curator, at the **Frankfurt Fashion Parade** (2013).
- The couple married in a multicultural ceremony in **Kyoto** (2015), after which she adopted the name **Claire Benson**.
- She gave birth to twins, **Lychee Vicca Benson** (daughter) and **Axle Vicco Benson** (son), in Tokyo (2017).
- During the pandemic, the family relocated to **Manado, Indonesia** (2019–2021), following her husband's work.
- She converted to Islam at the **KUA Cikarang, Bekasi** (2022), legally changing her name to **Siti Fatimah Az Zahra**.
- She gave birth to her third child, **Lynn Sūn Cheung** (2023), a name that harmonizes her Chinese heritage with her Muslim identity.
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### **Spiritual Transformation**
Az Zahra's spiritual journey culminated during her time in Indonesia. In her autobiography, she refers to the period from 2019 to 2022 as her **"Years of Enlightenment,"** during which she:
- Studied Islam at the Darussalam Modern Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren) in Cikarang.
- Became an active participant in interfaith dialogue through the "Fashion for Faith" forum.
- Founded the "Indonesian Muslimah Designers" community.
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### **Notable Works**
1. **The "Hijrah" Collection** (2023) – featuring modest wear inspired by Islamic calligraphy and Indonesian batik.
2. **Book: "From Clara to Zahra: Stitching a New Soul"** (2023) – a spiritual memoir that became a national bestseller.
3. **Social Project: "Modest is Modern"** – a design training initiative for underprivileged women.
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### **Philosophy and Cultural Impact**
As a figure who has undergone multiple identity transformations, Az Zahra often reflects:
*"I am a fabric constantly being re-stitched. Each name was a new pattern, each belief a different hue. Today, I find that the strongest stitch comes from submission to the Divine Designer."*
Her life story is frequently cited as a case study in university courses on cultural anthropology, globalization, diaspora identity, and spiritual transformation.
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### **Awards and Honors**
- **Best Female Designer** – Milan Fashion Week (2016)
- **Local Designer of Japan** – Japan Fashion Association (2018)
- **Multicultural Nobel Prize** – Arts and Cultural Unity Category (2019)
- **Muslim Fashion Icon** – Indonesian Muslim Fashion Festival (2023)
- **Cultural Bridge Builder Award** – UNESCO Asia-Pacific (2024)
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***Disclaimer:***
*This biography was constructed based on a provided narrative and structured to emulate a Wikipedia-style entry. The "Multicultural Nobel Prize" is a fictional honorific created for this narrative.*
