Bella and Gigi Hadid aren't the only models with Arab heritage — here are eight others


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It has been a long time coming — finally the fashion industry is breaking free of its self-imposed blonde hair, blue-eyed cliche.

Pick up any magazine and today it is filled with faces of every hue, tone and heritage, from hijabi pioneer Halima Aden to Tilila Oulhaj, who is redefining beauty with her freckles.

As a result, a wealth of young Arab women are storming the industry, ushering in a new era of representation around the world.

The Palestinian-Dutch Hadid sisters, Bella and Gigi, are perhaps the best-known models with Arab heritage today, but they are certainly not the only ones.

Here we look at eight other women who hail from the Mena region blazing a path in fashion.

Imaan Hammam

Imaan Hammam on the spring 2022 Versace runway. Photo: Versace
Imaan Hammam on the spring 2022 Versace runway. Photo: Versace

Imaan Hammam's heritage hails from the Netherlands, Egypt and Morocco. She was discovered at the age of 13 at Amsterdam Central Station, and went on to open the Givenchy spring-summer 2014 in Paris.

Since then she has appeared in Vogue across eight countries, and was one of the models chosen to appear on the cover of the 125th anniversary of the American edition.

She has starred in campaigns for Maison Margiela, Coach and Celine, as well as high street names as H&M and the now-defunct Topshop.

She's still only 25, but she's become a vocal force for diversity.

“I want to be a role model for young girls who are struggling with racism or struggling with their looks or with their skin colour," she told industry site Business of Fashion. "There aren’t many Arabic models, and being an African-Arabic model, I’m trying to open doors for more Arabic girls.”

Azza Slimene

Tunisian star Azza Slimene, 24, was discovered by the late designer Azzedine Alaia in Tunis, and made her runway debut walking for Chanel's autumn-winter show in 2018.

She's now signed to Next Model Management in Milan, Italy, but is also an actress, and appeared in the Tunisian television series Sons of Mofida.

Nora Attal

Nora Attal on the Chanel runway, Cruise 2022. Photo: Chanel
Nora Attal on the Chanel runway, Cruise 2022. Photo: Chanel

Moroccan-British Nora Attal was discovered by the British photographer Jamie Hawkesworth at the age of 14.

One of her first jobs was a campaign for JW Anderson.

Now 22, she announced this week she had married filmmaker Victor Bastidas.

She has become a runway favourite for the likes of Prada, Chanel, Fendi, Dior and Versace and recently appeared with her family in an Eid campaign for Ralph Lauren.

Habiba El-Kobrossy

Egyptian model Habiba El-Kobrossy. Photo: UNN Models
Egyptian model Habiba El-Kobrossy. Photo: UNN Models

Egyptian Habiba El-Kobrossy, 25, is a model and taekwondo sportswoman.

She goes by the handle of "Warrior princess" and while she's still at the beginning of her modelling career, she has already walked for Peter Pilotto and Cairo brand Sara Onsi.

Shahad Salman

Shahad Salman in the regional perfume campaign for Paco Rabanne. Photo: Paco Rabanne
Shahad Salman in the regional perfume campaign for Paco Rabanne. Photo: Paco Rabanne

Born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Shahad Salman credits her modelling career to Winnie Harlow, a fellow vitiligo sufferer. Salman was diagnosed at the age of 4.

She has starred on the cover of Vogue Arabia with Canadian model Harlow in 2019, launching her career. Now a vocal advocate for acceptance, Salman and Harlow are both champions for those with the condition.

Malika El-Maslouhi

Malika El-Maslouhi on the runway for the Missoni spring-summer 2022 show. Photo: Missoni
Malika El-Maslouhi on the runway for the Missoni spring-summer 2022 show. Photo: Missoni

Malika El-Maslouhi, 23, was born in Milan, to a Moroccan father and Italian mother, and with her unique beauty has walked for names such as Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch and Oscar de la Renta.

For spring 2022, El-Maslouhi starred in the Missoni advertising campaign.

Tilila Oulhaj

Tilila Oulhaj for Yves Saint-Laurent Beauty. Photo: YSL
Tilila Oulhaj for Yves Saint-Laurent Beauty. Photo: YSL

Tilila Oulhaj, 24, is redefining beauty with her full face of freckles.

Born in Azilal, in the Atlas Mountains, she has worked with Vogue Arabia, LÓfficiel and two years ago became the face of Pure Shots, the beauty collection by Yves Saint-Laurent.

She is now signed to agencies Select and Models One.

Sonia Ben Ammar

French-Tunisian Sonia Ben Ammar is only 23 but has already walked at a Dolce & Gabbana alta moda, as well as Miu Miu and Chanel. She recently released her first music album too. Expect plenty more from this powerhouse.

Gigi Hadid's style evolution — in pictures

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Expert input

If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?

“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett

“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche

“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox

“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite

 “I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy

“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra

MATCH INFO

RB Leipzig 2 (Klostermann 24', Schick 68')

Hertha Berlin 2 (Grujic 9', Piatek 82' pen)

Man of the match Matheus Cunha (Hertha Berlin

The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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if you go
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AWARDS
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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

Updated: June 12, 2022, 4:42 AM