Model Cindy Chady Turned Down Drake Music Video to Keep Shabbat

Model Cindy Chady began working at a young age, growing up with her mother and sister before entering the fashion industry at age 16. Coming from a strictly secular background, she describes recent years as a period of personal strengthening where her growing faith often clashed with industry expectations.

The Turning Point and Shabbat

At age 26, Chady's journey toward tradition was sparked by a profound personal crisis when she accompanied a close friend battling cancer. That friend, who had embraced religious observance during her illness, gifted Chady a prayer book. Reading the morning blessings opened her eyes to daily gratitude, leading her to keep Shabbat despite initial loneliness and the absence of a supportive traditional family.

«The soul is searching for something real. When you wake up in the morning and say thank you for walking, breathing, and living, you realize how many gifts you receive every single day.»

Turning Down Drake

The ultimate test arrived when Chady was offered a starring role in a music video for global superstar Drake, an opportunity that could have catapulted her international career. When rehearsals and production schedules fell on Shabbat, Chady unhesitatingly turned down the offer.

«I realized my livelihood and success depend solely on the Creator of Heaven and Earth, not on flesh and blood. If I let an agent or client dictate my life at the expense of my connection with Him, I will never be satisfied.»

A TikTok video sharing her pride in the decision went viral, garnering nearly a million views and massive public exposure.

A Spiritual Mission in Fashion

Today, Chady views her continued presence in the modeling world as a spiritual mission, bringing light into an industry of glamour and flash. While modesty remains a gradual and challenging journey for her, she embraces every obstacle as an opportunity to choose joy and strength over sorrow.